National Cemetery Administration

NOTES:

» Veterans eligible for burial in a VA national, state or tribal Veterans cemetery may receive a government headstone or marker, a U.S. burial flag, and a Presidential Memorial Certificate, even if they are not buried in a national cemetery.

» If a Veteran dies while at a VA facility under authorized VA admission, and the remains are unclaimed, the facility director will ensure proper burial for the Veteran as defined by Section 213 of Public Law 114-223.

» If a Veteran dies at a non-VA facility under authorized admission at VA's expense, and is unclaimed, contact the closest VA healthcare facility to arrange for proper burial of the unclaimed Veteran.

Monetary Burial Benefit Descriptions:

Casket or Urn: An individual or entity that pays for the casket or urn used to inter an unclaimed Veteran in a VA national cemetery or a VA-funded state or tribal Veterans cemetery may apply for reimbursement of the purchase price using VA Form 40-10088, Request for Reimbursement of Casket/Urn. The casket or urn must meet certain standards and must be used for burial or inurnment of the unclaimed Veteran in a national cemetery or a VA-funded state or tribal Veterans cemetery. Reimbursement is for actual cost, not to exceed an annually established average, published each year in the Federal Register. Review the Casket or Urn Reimbursement Program section for current calendar year reimbursement amounts, standards for reimbursable caskets and urns, and instructions on how to apply.

Transportation to a National Cemetery (Transportation Reimbursement): Any individual or entity that pays for the transportation of an unclaimed Veteran's remains to a national cemetery for burial may apply for reimbursement of the costs using VA Form 21P-530, Application for Burial Benefits. The application must include a receipt, preferably on letterhead, showing who paid the costs, the name of the deceased Veteran, the specific transportation expenses incurred, and the dates of the services rendered. Reimbursement will not exceed the cost of transporting the unclaimed Veteran's remains to the national cemetery closest to the Veteran's last place of residence in which burial space is available. NOTE: Applicants should annotate "unclaimed remains" to define relationship to the Veteran when completing VA Form 21P-530, Application for Burial Benefits. Use one VA Form 21P-530, to apply for both the Transportation Reimbursement and Burial Allowance benefits.

Burial Allowance: Any individual or entity that pays for the costs associated with preparing the remains of an unclaimed Veteran for burial or inurnment may be eligible for a burial allowance. Submit burial allowance requests using VA Form 21P-530, Application for Burial Benefits. For more information, read VBA's Burial and Plot Interment Allowances Fact Sheet. NOTE: Applicants should annotate "unclaimed remains" to define relationship to the Veteran when completing VA Form 21P-530, Application for Burial Benefits. Use one VA Form 21P-530, to apply for both the Transportation Reimbursement and Burial Allowance benefits.

Plot or Interment Allowances: Any individual or entity that pays for a plot for an unclaimed Veteran's burial outside of a national cemetery (or other cemetery under the jurisdiction of the U.S.) may be eligible for a plot allowance. Submit plot allowance requests for burial in a private or tribal cemetery using VA Form 21P-530, Application for Burial Benefits. If the burial was in a state Veterans cemetery, the state, agency or political subdivision of a state may be eligible to receive the plot allowance. States should submit plot allowance requests using VA Form 21P-530a, State Application for Interment Allowance (Under 38 U.S.C. Chapter 23). For more information, read VBA's Burial and Plot Interment Allowances Fact Sheet.