Government Benefits for Funeral Expenses: VA, Social Security & More

Key points

Veterans have the most substantial benefits: burial in a national cemetery, a government headstone or marker, a burial flag, military funeral honors, and in some cases a burial allowance.
Social Security pays a one-time $255 lump-sum death payment to an eligible surviving spouse or child — not to the funeral home, and not to everyone.
FEMA can help when a death is caused by a federally declared disaster; crime victim compensation can help after a death caused by violent crime.
For everyone else, help usually comes from county or city indigent burial programs, which vary widely.

Veterans burial benefits (VA)

Benefits depend on the veteran's discharge status, service, and — for cash allowances — the circumstances of death. A funeral director can usually help request most of these. Have the veteran's discharge papers (often a DD-214) ready; if you can't find them, they can be requested from the National Archives.

Burial in a national cemetery

Eligible veterans can be buried in a VA national cemetery at no cost to the family. This generally includes the gravesite, opening and closing of the grave, a grave liner for casketed remains, a government headstone or marker, and perpetual care. Cremated remains can also be buried or placed in a columbarium. Eligible spouses and some dependents can also be buried in a national cemetery. Many states operate state veterans cemeteries with their own eligibility rules. The funeral home and family still pay for funeral home services, such as transportation, preparation and any casket or urn, unless another benefit applies.

Headstones, markers, flags and certificates

Headstone or marker: VA can provide a government headstone or marker for an eligible veteran's grave in any cemetery, or a medallion for an existing privately purchased headstone. Private cemeteries may charge a setting fee.
Burial flag: a United States flag to drape the casket or accompany the urn, typically presented to the next of kin.
Presidential Memorial Certificate: an engraved certificate honoring the veteran's service, available to family members.
Military funeral honors: eligible veterans can receive honors that include the folding and presentation of the flag and the playing of Taps. These are requested through the funeral director.

Burial and plot allowances

VA may pay toward burial and funeral costs in some cases:

Service-connected deaths: for deaths on or after September 11, 2001, VA pays up to $2,000 toward burial expenses.
Non-service-connected deaths: VA may pay a burial allowance and a separate plot or interment allowance if the veteran met certain conditions — for example, they were receiving VA pension or compensation, or died while in VA care. These amounts are adjusted each year; check the VA's burial allowance page for the current maximums.
Transportation: VA may reimburse some costs of transporting the remains to a national cemetery.

In some cases VA pays an eligible surviving spouse automatically. Otherwise, the person who paid the costs applies, usually using VA Form 21P-530EZ. Time limits apply to some claims, so apply promptly.

Social Security pays a one-time lump sum of $255. It is paid to:

a surviving spouse who was living with the person, or
a surviving spouse who was living apart but receiving certain Social Security benefits on the person's record, or
if there is no eligible spouse, a child who is eligible for benefits on the person's record.

It must be applied for within two years of the death. In most cases the funeral home reports the death to Social Security, but the family still needs to contact Social Security about the lump sum and any monthly survivor benefits. Monthly survivor benefits for eligible widows, widowers, children and dependent parents are often far more significant than the lump sum.

If a death was caused directly or indirectly by a federally declared disaster, FEMA's Individuals and Households Program may help with funeral expenses not covered by insurance or other sources. Assistance is available only in areas included in a disaster declaration and has application deadlines.

Deaths caused by violent crime

Every state has a crime victim compensation program that can help pay funeral and burial costs when a death results from a violent crime. These programs are generally a payer of last resort, usually require that the crime was reported to law enforcement, and have their own limits and deadlines. Victim advocates — often in the prosecutor's office — can help with the application.

If a death resulted from a work injury or occupational illness, state workers' compensation laws usually provide death benefits that include an amount toward funeral expenses. Amounts and deadlines vary by state; contact the employer's workers' compensation insurer or your state's workers' compensation agency.

County and city burial assistance

Many counties and some cities help with burial or cremation when the person and family cannot afford it. These programs are often called indigent burial, public assistance burial or county cremation programs. They typically:

have income and asset limits,
cover only a basic cremation or burial, sometimes with no service, and
must be applied for before arrangements are made or contracts signed.

Contact the county's social or human services department, or ask a local funeral director, who will usually know how the local program works. Tribal governments and the Bureau of Indian Affairs may offer burial assistance for eligible tribal members.

Benefits that affect planning ahead

If you receive SSI or Medicaid and are planning ahead, special rules allow you to set aside money for your funeral without it counting against you. For SSI, up to $1,500 in designated burial funds can be excluded, and burial spaces such as a plot or casket can also be excluded. Medicaid rules on prepaid funeral contracts are set by each state; ask your state Medicaid agency or an elder law attorney before buying a contract. See prepaying for a funeral.

Other sources of help

Life insurance and employer benefits, including group life insurance through work, unions or professional associations.
Faith communities and fraternal organizations, some of which help members with funeral costs.
Payment plans or assignment of insurance proceeds, which some funeral homes accept.

Funeral expenses are generally not deductible on an individual income tax return. They may be deductible on a federal estate tax return, which few estates need to file.

If the money available still won't cover a funeral, see what to do if you can't afford a funeral and affordable funeral options.

Sources and references

Social Security Administration: Survivors Benefits (including the lump-sum death payment)
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs: Burials and memorials
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs: Veterans burial allowance and transportation benefits
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs: Eligibility for burial in a VA national cemetery
National Archives: Request military service records (DD-214)
Federal Emergency Management Agency: Individuals and Households Program
National Association of Crime Victim Compensation Boards: Crime victim compensation programs by state
Social Security Administration: Spotlight on burial funds (SSI)

Rules, benefit amounts and prices change. Where a source is a government agency, check it directly for current figures. See our sources and fact-checking policy.

This guide is general educational information from Serene Farewells, an independent publisher. It is not legal, medical, financial or tax advice, and Serene Farewells is not a funeral provider. Laws and prices vary by state and provider. Spot an error? Tell us.