Reimbursement of Burial Expenses in a Service-Connected Death

The Veterans Administration (VA) will pay a burial allowance up to $2,000 if the veteran's death is service-connected. In some instances, VA also will pay the cost of transporting the remains of a service-disabled veteran to the national cemetery nearest the home of the deceased that has available grave sites. In such cases, the person who bore the veteran's burial expenses may claim reimbursement from the VA.

Death While Eligible for Pension or Compensation

VA will pay a $300 burial and funeral expense allowance for veterans who, at the time of death, were entitled to receive pension or compensation or would have been entitled to compensation except for receiving military retirement pay. Eligibility also may be established when death occurs in a VA facility, a nursing home under VA contract, or a state veterans nursing home. Additional costs of transportation of the remains may be paid.

VA will pay a $300 plot allowance when a veteran is not buried in a cemetery that is under U.S. government jurisdiction under one of the following circumstances:

• The veteran was discharged from active duty because of disability incurred or aggravated in the line of duty.
• The veteran was in receipt of compensation or pension or would have been except for receiving military retired pay.
• The veteran died in a VA facility.

The $300 plot allowance may be paid to the state if a veteran is buried without charge for the cost of a plot or interment in a state-owned cemetery reserved solely for veteran burials. Burial expenses paid by the deceased's employer or a state agency will not be reimbursed.

Is there a time limit for filing a reimbursement claim?

There is no time limit for filing reimbursement claims of service-connected deaths. In other deaths, claims must be filed within two years after permanent burial or cremation.

For information on monetary benefits, call 1-800-827-1000.

For more information about your legal rights as a veteran, please contact the Veterans Legal Assistance Project at Legal Services of New Jersey by calling LSNJ’s statewide, toll-free legal hotline, LSNJ-LAW™, at 1-888-LSNJ-LAW (1-888-576-5529) Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Outside of New Jersey, please call 732-572-9100 and ask to be transferred to the hotline.

See Military Funeral Honors for New Jersey Veterans