What End-of-Life Benefits and Death Care Resources Are Available for Veterans?
By CRYSTAL BAI •
The short answer: Veterans have access to significant end-of-life benefits including VA hospice and palliative care, burial allowances ($300–$2,000), free burial in national cemeteries, Memorial Affairs services, and the VA MISSION Act community care program. Many veterans and families don't know these benefits exist.
VA Hospice and Palliative Care for Veterans
The Department of Veterans Affairs provides comprehensive hospice and palliative care services to eligible veterans. VA hospice can be delivered at VA medical centers, VA community living centers (nursing homes), through community hospice organizations via the VA MISSION Act, or at home. Eligibility is based on VA enrollment, not discharge status.
VA Burial Benefits
National Cemetery burial: Free burial in a national cemetery for eligible veterans, spouses, and dependents — includes opening/closing, liner, headstone/marker, and perpetual care. Burial allowance: $300 (non-service connected) to $2,000+ (service-connected, hospitalized in VA at time of death) to help with funeral costs. Presidential Memorial Certificate: A signed certificate honoring a veteran's service, available at no cost to next of kin.
Home Burial in a National Cemetery
Eligible veterans may be buried in any of the 155+ national cemeteries across the country. The National Cemetery Scheduling Office (1-800-535-1117) handles scheduling. Families pay only for transportation to the cemetery — all other costs are covered.
Additional Benefits and Resources
The VA Caregiver Support Program assists caregivers of veterans. Veterans Crisis Line (988, then Press 1) serves veterans in mental health crisis. The Missing in America Project supports veterans with proper burial who may otherwise go unburied. State veterans cemeteries are often available for veterans not near national cemeteries.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can veterans get free burial in a national cemetery?
Yes. Eligible veterans receive free burial in a national cemetery, including opening and closing of the grave, a liner, headstone or marker, and perpetual care. Only transportation costs are paid by the family.
What is the VA burial allowance?
The VA burial allowance ranges from $300 for non-service-connected deaths to $2,000+ for service-connected deaths or veterans who died while hospitalized at a VA facility.
Does the VA provide hospice care for veterans?
Yes. The VA provides hospice and palliative care to enrolled veterans at VA facilities, community living centers, and through community partners via the VA MISSION Act.
Can a death doula work alongside VA hospice for a veteran?
Yes. A death doula provides complementary non-medical support alongside VA clinical care — including legacy work, family guidance, and vigil companionship.
Renidy connects grieving families with compassionate death doulas and AI-powered funeral planning tools. Try our free AI funeral planner or find a death doula near you.