Navigation VA Expanded Burial Benefits
The VA has amended its regulations regarding burial benefits to comply with the statutory changes enacted by the Johnny Isakson and David P. Roe, M.D. Veterans Health Care and Benefits Improvement Act of 2020 and the Burial Equity for Guards and Reserves Act of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2022.
These changes expand reimbursement of transportation expenses, to include costs for transporting remains, to state or Tribal Veteran’s cemeteries in addition to previously eligible national cemeteries. The changes also institute a more generous single payment rate for non-service-connected burial benefits and extend the VA plot or interment allowance to Tribal organizations.
Burial benefits are available to individuals who pay for a Veteran’s burial and funeral costs that are not reimbursed by any other organization. The VA provides burial benefits for all legal burial types, including cremation, burial at sea, and donation of remains to a medical school. Individuals eligible for burial reimbursement benefits include a surviving spouse or legal partner, surviving child, parent or executor of the Veteran’s estate. The VA may pay burial benefits to a funeral home or third party who handled burial arrangements for a Veteran whose remains are unclaimed.
