Honoring a loved one who served in the military is a deeply meaningful act. For families navigating a recent loss, understanding veteran funeral benefits can provide not only financial relief but also a sense of national gratitude. These benefits exist to recognize the commitment and sacrifice of those who served our country. But in the midst of grief, it can be difficult to know what support is available and how to access it.

Veteran funeral benefits are services and financial assistance provided by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and related organizations to honor eligible military service members. These benefits may cover funeral costs, burial in a national cemetery, military honors, and other support options.

According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), its National Cemetery Administration (NCA) handles roughly 130,000 + veterans and family interments annually under its burial-benefits program (Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) et al., 2018).

Eligibility typically applies to:

• Veterans who were discharged under conditions other than dishonorable
  

• Military members who die on active duty
  

• Certain members of the Reserves and National Guard
  

• Eligible spouses and dependent children
  
  

It's always best to check with the VA or your chosen funeral provider to verify current eligibility based on individual circumstances.

Here are some of the most commonly used VA benefits families should know about:

Eligible veterans can be buried in any of the 155 national cemeteries across the United States, including the Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery.

What it includes:

• Gravesite and grave opening/closing
  

• Government-issued headstone or marker
  

• Perpetual care of the gravesite
  

• Burial flag and Presidential Memorial Certificate
  
  

There is no cost to the family for these services.

This is a partial reimbursement to help with funeral and burial expenses. In 2026, the rates vary depending on service-connected or non-service-connected death.

For example:

• Service-connected death: Up to $2,000
  

• Non-service-connected death (hospitalized by VA): Up to $948
  

• Non-service-connected death (not hospitalized by VA): Up to $300 burial allowance and $948 for a burial plot
  
  

Tip: According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), applications for burial allowance must include a completed VA Form 21P-530EZ (Application for Burial Benefits) along with a copy of the veteran’s discharge papers (DD214) and death certificate (Veterans Burial Allowance and Transportation Benefits | Veterans Affairs, 2025).

This formal ceremony includes:

• Folding and presentation of the American flag
  

• The playing of Taps by a bugler or electronic device
  

• Honor guard participation by at least two uniformed military personnel
  
  

All eligible veterans are entitled to receive these honors at no cost.

The VA provides a free government headstone or marker for the gravesite of any eligible veteran.

Families may choose from:

• Upright marble or granite headstones
  

• Flat bronze, granite, or marble markers
  

• Bronze medallions for privately purchased headstones
  
  

You can also request an inscription that reflects your loved one’s branch of service and awards.

This engraved paper certificate, signed by the President, honors the memory of the veteran’s service. Families can request multiple copies.

1. Gather Documentation
   

• Discharge paperwork (DD214)
  

• Death certificate
  

• Receipts or invoices for funeral/burial costs (if requesting reimbursement)
  
  

2. Contact the VA or a Funeral Director Experienced in Military Services
   

• Funeral homes like Mansfield Funeral Home & Cremations can assist with paperwork and coordination of benefits.
  
  

3. Submit the Right Forms
   

• For burial allowances: VA Form 21P-530
  

• For headstones/markers: VA Form 40-1330
  

• For military honors: Coordinate through the funeral home or local military honors team
  
  

4. Plan Ahead When Possible
   

• Veterans can pre-register for burial in a national cemetery and keep their documentation ready to reduce stress later.
  
  

Myth: Only combat veterans qualify for benefits.
Truth: Any eligible veteran with an honorable (or general under honorable) discharge qualifies.

Myth: Families must use a national cemetery.
Truth: Burial benefits can apply to private cemeteries as well, including headstones and military honors.

Myth: Benefits automatically apply.
Truth: Most benefits must be applied for, and documentation is required.

At Mansfield Funeral Home & Cremations, we are deeply honored to serve the veteran community of Mansfield, TX and the greater Dallas-Fort Worth area. We help families:

• Navigate VA paperwork and claims
  

• Coordinate military funeral honors
  

• Arrange personalized veteran tributes, including flag displays, buglers, and honor guards
  

• Offer custom keepsakes like flag cases, memorial jewelry, and tribute videos
  
  

We understand that honoring a veteran means more than following tradition. It means celebrating their story, their values, and their service in a way that’s both respectful and personal.

Veteran funeral benefits are not just about financial help; they’re a nation’s way of saying thank you. Knowing what support is available and how to access it can provide peace of mind during one of life’s most challenging seasons.

Whether you're planning ahead or need support now, Mansfield Funeral Home & Cremations is here to guide you every step of the way with clarity, care, and deep respect for our heroes. Contact us to learn how we can help you honor your loved one’s service the way they deserve.

Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Advisory Committee on Women Veterans (ACWV), Harris, O., USN, Ret., Bobb, K., Kirk, L., MDANG, Ret., Germano, K., USMC, Ret., West, J., USN, Yarbrough, B., USA, Ret., McLaughlin, S., MA ARNG, Mendoza, Y., Richardson, K., McIntosh, M., USA, Ret., Wright, W., USAF, Ret., Department of Labor (DOL), Walden, F., Nuble, L., Hayes, P., National Cemetery Administration (NCA), National Institutes of Health Center for Women Veterans (CWV), . . . Service Women’s Action Network. (2018). Advisory Committee on Women Veterans Meeting, Washington, DC May 8-10, 2018. In Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), & Department of Defense (DoD), Advisory Committee on Women Veterans Meeting (pp. 2–4). https://www.va.gov/womenvet/docs/acwv/acwvMinutes201805.pdf

Veterans burial allowance and transportation benefits | Veterans Affairs. (2025, September 15). Veterans Affairs. https://www.va.gov/burials-memorials/veterans-burial-allowance/