Schedule a burial for a Veteran or family member 
Find out how to make burial plans for a Veteran, spouse, or dependent family member. 

How do I schedule a burial for a Veteran or other family member? 


If you have a pre-need decision letter that confirms eligibility 
To start , you may want to choose a funeral director to help you plan the burial. Then either you or the funeral director can call the National Cemetery Scheduling Office at 800 - 535 - 1117 to request a burial. Keep in mind that the pre - need decision letter doesn t identify a specific cemetery or gravesite, since it s not possible to reserve these in advance. In some cases , we may review your eligibility again at your time of death, as laws and circumstances may have changed since your pre - need application. You don t need to do anything else except prepare yourself and your family for the funeral. Find out what to expect at a military funeral or memorial service 

If you don t have a pre-need decision letter 
To start , you may want to choose a funeral director to help you plan the burial. Then either you or the funeral director will need to take these 3 steps to schedule the burial. 

Gather the information and documents you ll need to identify the deceased when you call the National Cemetery Scheduling Office 
You ll need the DD214 or other discharge documents of the Veteran or service member whose military serviced will be used to determine eligibility for burial in a VA national cemetery. Their discharge from service needs to have been under conditions other than dishonorable. We may also need other documents to verify a relationship to a Veteran or the status of a dependent. These may include a death certificate, letters from your doctor, a divorce decree, a statement from the Social Security Administration, or other documents to support your claim. Find out which discharge documents we accept along with your applicationFind out how to request the Veteran s DD214 If you can t find these 

user: hello I need information about si Can I get help paying for burial costs?

assistant: yes. If you are the registered spouse, legally recognized spouse, or legally designated designated relative of a veteran

user: I'm not the spouse or a designated relative

user: What things do you need to verify the family member's relationship with the deceased veteran?

assistant: These may include a death certificate, letters from your doctor, a divorce decree, a statement from the Social Security Administration, or other documents to support your claim.

user: And what are these documents for?

assistant: With these documents and other documents we can verify a relationship with a veteran or the status of a dependent.

user: and can I choose a funeral director?

assistant: of course you may want to choose a funeral director to help you plan the funeral. Then you or the funeral director can call the National Cemetery Programming Office at 800 - 535 - 1117 to request a burial.

user: What if the person's spouse died previously and was buried in a VA national cemetery, what information will they need?

assistant: You will need the spouse's full name, as well as the cemetery section and the number of the site where they were buried.