Veterans burial benefits

Veterans who weren't dishonorably discharged can usually be buried in a national cemetery at no cost, including the grave, the opening and closing, and the headstone. That's true for ashes as well as a casket. Spouses and dependent children can be buried there too. The nearest national cemetery to South Bend is Fort Custer, near Battle Creek, Michigan.

Burial in a national cemetery

The VA provides, “all at no cost to the family”:

• A grave in any national cemetery with space
• Opening and closing the grave
• A government headstone, marker, or niche cover
• Care of the grave for good

Ashes can be buried in the ground or placed in a columbarium, with the same honors as a casket. What you buy from a funeral home (the funeral itself, a casket or urn, transport) is still at the family's expense, though the burial allowance below can help.

To schedule a burial, the funeral home or family calls the National Cemetery Scheduling Office at 800-535-1117 (weekdays 8:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Eastern). Have the veteran's DD214 or other discharge papers ready.

Planning ahead? A veteran or spouse can ask the VA to confirm eligibility now, with VA Form 40-10007. It's called a pre-need determination, and it makes the call at the time of need much simpler.

Burial in a hometown cemetery

Many families choose a cemetery close to home instead. The VA still provides a headstone, marker, or medallion at no cost, plus a burial flag and a Presidential Memorial Certificate. The cemetery can charge its own fees, such as for setting the marker, so ask for its price list.

• Headstone or flat marker: VA Form 40-1330.
• Medallion to attach to a headstone you bought yourself: VA Form 40-1330M.
• Spouses and children buried in a private cemetery don't get their own VA headstone, but the VA can add their name to the veteran's.

Questions about a private-cemetery headstone: 800-697-6947 (weekdays 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern). More on what a cemetery burial costs.

The burial allowance

If you paid for the funeral and won't be paid back by anyone else, the VA may help with the cost. It covers every kind of burial, including cremation. Amounts for a veteran who died on or after October 1, 2026:

For a death not connected to service, the veteran also has to meet one more condition, such as receiving a VA pension or compensation, or dying under VA care. Apply online at va.gov or with VA Form 21P-530EZ. In most cases you have two years after the burial to file. A surviving spouse listed on the veteran's VA record is often paid automatically, without filing. Questions: 800-827-1000.

Flag, honors, and certificate

• Burial flag: the funeral director usually gets it for you. You can also get one at a VA office or a post office (call first).
• Military funeral honors: at least two service members, the playing of Taps, and the folding and presenting of the flag. The funeral home asks for honors.
• Presidential Memorial Certificate: a certificate signed by the current president. Family or a close friend can request it.

Free help near South Bend

St. Joseph County's Veterans Service Officer can help you gather papers and file claims, at no charge. County-City Building, 227 W. Jefferson Blvd, South Bend. 574-235-9978.