Veterans and their families can find out if they're eligible for burial benefits here

If you or a family member is a veteran, you may be eligible for burial in a military cemetery, either national, state, tribal, or local, or even Arlington National Cemetery.

Identify which of the following scenarios applies to you as you consider what burial options you want to utilize.

If you are:

• A service member with honorable discharge (or the spouse, minor child, or adult dependent of someone) who:

  • dies on Title 10 federal active duty (other than for training), or,

  • is a veteran who retired from active duty and is receiving retirement pay, or

  • is a veteran who received the Medal of Honor, Distinguished Service Cross (Air Force or Navy), Distinguished Service Medal, Silver Star, or Purple Heart, or

  • is a former prisoner of war who, while a prisoner of war, served honorably in the active military, naval or air service; whose last period of service terminated honorably; and who died on or after Nov. 30, 1993

then you qualify for in-ground burial (interment) at Arlington National Cemetery.

Additionally, if you are:

• A service member with honorable discharge (or the spouse, minor child, or adult dependent of someone) who:

  • dies on active duty for training only under Title 10 , or,

  • is a member of a Reserve component of the Armed Forces, and/or a member of the Army National Guard or the Air National Guard, whose death occurs under honorable conditions while on active duty for training or performing full-time service

  • was a member of the Reserve Officers' Training Corps of the Army, Navy, or Air Force whose death occurs under honorable conditions while attending an authorized training camp or on an authorized practice cruise, performing authorized travel to or from that camp or cruise, or hospitalized or undergoing treatment at the expense of the United States for injury or disease contracted or incurred under honorable conditions while attending that camp or cruise, performing that travel, or undergoing that hospitalization or treatment at the expense of the United States,

then you qualify for above-ground inurnment in the Columbarium Court/Niche Wall at Arlington National Cemetery. (This involves the placement of an urn in the wall rather than in-ground burial.)

Please note: All of the individuals eligible for in-ground interment are also eligible for above-ground inurnment.

Additionally, if you are the surviving spouse, minor child, or permanently dependent child of any person already buried in Arlington National Cemetery, then you qualify for in-ground interment (burial) at Arlington National Cemetery.

If you want to consider other options, there are also national military cemeteries overseen by the VA. To be considered for burial at a national military cemetery, you must satisfy one of the following criteria:

• you are a veteran who didn’t receive a dishonorable discharge, or

• you are a service member who died while on active duty, active duty for training, or inactive duty for training, or

• you are the spouse or minor child of a Veteran, even if the Veteran died first, or

• in some cases, you are the unmarried adult dependent child of a Veteran (for exceptions, click here)

Benefits to being buried at a VA national site include:

• A gravesite in any of the national cemeteries that have available space

• Opening and closing of the grave

• A burial liner provided by the government

• A headstone or marker provided by the government

• Care of the gravesite by the VA

If you want to verify your eligibility to be buried in a VA national cemetery, click here to access a pre-need eligibility survey.

Finally, those who qualify for burial in a national cemetery will most likely qualify for burial in a state, tribal, or local military cemetery. If you wish to be buried in a state, local, or tribal military cemetery, first verify your eligibility at the link above, then click here to locate a state, local, or tribal cemetery. As a last step, contact that cemetery directly to verify, as criteria may be subject to change.