The Veterans Administration provides benefits for a veteran's burial and/or cremation if the next-of-kin can provide a copy of discharge papers (Form DD-214) that indicate a discharge other than dishonorable.  These benefits include the following: 

• a flag
• a grave marker
• military honors at the graveside
• a Presidential Merit Certificate

If the burial takes place in a veterans’ cemetery, there are these additional benefits:

• a grave
• a burial vault  
• an adjacent grave reserved for a surviving spouse and/or dependent child(ren).  The vault and marker are not free for the dependent child(ren) or the spouse unless she or he is also a veteran.  

If you cannot locate the veteran’s discharge papers, it's pretty easy to get a new copy.  This website will tell you what you need to send with your request.  www.archives.gov/veterans/index.html.

There are additional monetary allowances toward burial expenses in special circumstances such as if the veteran's death occurs in a federal VA hospital, or if the veteran was receiving a VA pension at the time of death.  Because federal and state guidelines vary depending on the circumstances, we will be glad to offer information on an individual basis. The Veterans Administration website also has a lot of very helpful information. www.cem.va.gov

If a soldier dies during wartime, the benefits are very different and more inclusive.  For details on this, visit the website mentioned in the previous paragraph.

Burial is also permitted in any national veterans cemetery in the United States, depending on the availability of graves.  There may be additional transportation costs involved if you choose a veterans cemetery which is outside the area.  If you’re interested in burial in Arlington National Cemetery, there are specific service-related requirements and we can help determine if someone is eligible. There is also information at www.arlingtoncemetery.org/funeral_information/index.html.

Some veterans have life insurance coverage with a company called Government National Life Insurance. Their office number is 1-800-669-8477.