VA Form 21P-530EZ

Application for Burial Benefits

Burial & MemorialOfficial VA form on VA.gov

Who fills it

survivor

Journey phase

Burial & Memorial

Estimated time

30-45 minutes.

When to file

Within 2 years of the date the veteran was buried. Earlier is better - the claim takes time to process.

The veteran died and you paid for funeral and burial expenses. You are seeking partial VA reimbursement.

Gather before you start

—Veteran's death certificate (certified copy)

—Itemized funeral home bill or receipt showing what was paid

—Proof you paid the expenses (receipt, bank statement)

—If claiming service-connected death rate: VA rating decisions showing SC conditions

—DD-214 if not already on file with VA

—Cemetery receipt or evidence of burial location (for plot allowance)

Attach with the form

—Death certificate (certified)

—Itemized funeral bill showing all charges and payments

—Receipts proving you personally paid the expenses

—Cemetery receipt (if claiming plot allowance)

—Transportation receipts if claiming transportation costs

Section I - Claimant Identification

1 field

Blocks 1-6Your name, SSN, address, relationship to veteranPII

Your information as the person who paid the funeral expenses. Relationship: surviving spouse, child, parent, executor of estate, funeral home (if they paid and are claiming). If a funeral home is claiming on behalf of an estate, they should have their own VA account.

Example

(your legal name, SSN, relationship to veteran)

Common mistakes

Filing under the veteran's identity instead of your own - you are the claimant, not the veteran.

Section II - Veteran Information

1 field · 2 citations

Blocks 7-12Veteran name, SSN, VA File Number, date and cause of deathPII

The veteran's identifying information. Include VA File Number from prior VA correspondence. Cause of death is critical - if the veteran died from a service-connected condition, the reimbursement rate is significantly higher.

Example

(veteran's name, VA file number, date of death, cause of death)

Common mistakes

Not providing cause of death - VA needs this to determine which burial rate applies (service-connected vs non-service-connected).
Not including VA File Number - claim cannot be matched to veteran's existing file.

Authority

38 CFR 38.620 - Categories of veterans and family members eligible for burial in a VA national cemetery.

38 USC 2301 - Burial allowance entitlement for eligible veterans.

Section III - Burial and Funeral Expenses

1 field · 2 citations

Blocks 13-22Itemized funeral and burial expenses paidRepeatable

List all expenses you paid: funeral home services (preparation, casket, transport to funeral home), cemetery plot or interment fee, headstone or marker (if not getting VA-furnished marker), grave opening and closing, transportation of remains. Keep itemized receipts from the funeral home. The VA burial allowance covers a portion of these costs, not necessarily all of them.

Example

e.g., Funeral home services: $4,200; Casket: $1,800; Cemetery plot: $2,500; Grave opening: $500; Total paid: $9,000

Common mistakes

Including expenses not paid by you (e.g., expenses paid by a life insurance payout) - only expenses you actually paid out-of-pocket qualify.
Not keeping itemized receipts from the funeral home - a general receipt is insufficient; VA needs line-item detail.
Not claiming transportation reimbursement if the veteran died in a VA facility - VA pays transportation from a VA facility to the burial site.

Authority

38 USC 2302 - Reimbursement rates for funeral and burial expenses.

M21-1 VII.i.2 - Burial allowance amounts and eligibility tiers.

Section IV - Place of Burial

1 field

Blocks 23-26Cemetery name, address, grave location

Name and address of the cemetery where the veteran is buried (or will be buried). If buried in a national cemetery, VA provides the headstone/marker separately. If buried in a private cemetery, you can claim the plot allowance AND separately request a government-furnished headstone (VA Form 40-1330).

Example

e.g., Evergreen Memorial Park, 123 Cemetery Rd, Tucson AZ 85701; Section 4, Lot 22, Grave 3

Common mistakes

Not noting burial in a national cemetery - national cemetery burial changes some cost calculations.
Not knowing you can get a government-furnished marker for private cemetery burial - file 40-1330 separately.

Section V - Certification

1 field

Blocks 27-28Claimant signature and datePII

Sign and date under penalty of perjury. Attach all receipts before submitting.

Example

(your signature/date)

Common mistakes

Missing the 2-year filing deadline - burial benefits are permanently forfeited after 2 years from burial date.
Not attaching receipts - claim cannot be processed without proof of payment.

Statutory & regulatory authority

38 CFR 38.620 - Categories of veterans and family members eligible for burial in a VA national cemetery.

38 USC 2301 - Burial allowance entitlement for eligible veterans.

38 USC 2302 - Reimbursement rates for funeral and burial expenses.

38 USC 2303 - Plot allowance and transportation cost reimbursement.

M21-1 VII.i.2 - Burial allowance amounts and eligibility tiers.

VA Form 21P-530EZ

Application for Burial Benefits

Burial & MemorialOfficial VA form on VA.gov

Who fills it

survivor

Journey phase

Burial & Memorial

Estimated time

30-45 minutes.

When to file

Within 2 years of the date the veteran was buried. Earlier is better - the claim takes time to process.

The veteran died and you paid for funeral and burial expenses. You are seeking partial VA reimbursement.

Gather before you start

—Veteran's death certificate (certified copy)

—Itemized funeral home bill or receipt showing what was paid

—Proof you paid the expenses (receipt, bank statement)

—If claiming service-connected death rate: VA rating decisions showing SC conditions

—DD-214 if not already on file with VA

—Cemetery receipt or evidence of burial location (for plot allowance)

Attach with the form

—Death certificate (certified)

—Itemized funeral bill showing all charges and payments

—Receipts proving you personally paid the expenses

—Cemetery receipt (if claiming plot allowance)

—Transportation receipts if claiming transportation costs

Section I - Claimant Identification

1 field

Blocks 1-6Your name, SSN, address, relationship to veteranPII

Example

(your legal name, SSN, relationship to veteran)

Common mistakes

Filing under the veteran's identity instead of your own - you are the claimant, not the veteran.

Section II - Veteran Information

1 field · 2 citations

Blocks 7-12Veteran name, SSN, VA File Number, date and cause of deathPII

Example

(veteran's name, VA file number, date of death, cause of death)

Common mistakes

Not providing cause of death - VA needs this to determine which burial rate applies (service-connected vs non-service-connected).
Not including VA File Number - claim cannot be matched to veteran's existing file.

Authority

38 CFR 38.620 - Categories of veterans and family members eligible for burial in a VA national cemetery.

38 USC 2301 - Burial allowance entitlement for eligible veterans.

Section III - Burial and Funeral Expenses

1 field · 2 citations

Blocks 13-22Itemized funeral and burial expenses paidRepeatable

Example

e.g., Funeral home services: $4,200; Casket: $1,800; Cemetery plot: $2,500; Grave opening: $500; Total paid: $9,000

Common mistakes

Including expenses not paid by you (e.g., expenses paid by a life insurance payout) - only expenses you actually paid out-of-pocket qualify.
Not keeping itemized receipts from the funeral home - a general receipt is insufficient; VA needs line-item detail.
Not claiming transportation reimbursement if the veteran died in a VA facility - VA pays transportation from a VA facility to the burial site.

Authority

38 USC 2302 - Reimbursement rates for funeral and burial expenses.

M21-1 VII.i.2 - Burial allowance amounts and eligibility tiers.

Section IV - Place of Burial

1 field

Blocks 23-26Cemetery name, address, grave location

Example

e.g., Evergreen Memorial Park, 123 Cemetery Rd, Tucson AZ 85701; Section 4, Lot 22, Grave 3

Common mistakes

Not noting burial in a national cemetery - national cemetery burial changes some cost calculations.
Not knowing you can get a government-furnished marker for private cemetery burial - file 40-1330 separately.

Section V - Certification

1 field

Blocks 27-28Claimant signature and datePII

Sign and date under penalty of perjury. Attach all receipts before submitting.

Example

(your signature/date)

Common mistakes

Missing the 2-year filing deadline - burial benefits are permanently forfeited after 2 years from burial date.
Not attaching receipts - claim cannot be processed without proof of payment.

Statutory & regulatory authority

38 CFR 38.620 - Categories of veterans and family members eligible for burial in a VA national cemetery.

38 USC 2301 - Burial allowance entitlement for eligible veterans.

38 USC 2302 - Reimbursement rates for funeral and burial expenses.

38 USC 2303 - Plot allowance and transportation cost reimbursement.

M21-1 VII.i.2 - Burial allowance amounts and eligibility tiers.

VA Form 21P-530EZ

Application for Burial Benefits

Burial & MemorialOfficial VA form on VA.gov

Who fills it

survivor

Journey phase

Burial & Memorial

Estimated time

30-45 minutes.

When to file

Within 2 years of the date the veteran was buried. Earlier is better - the claim takes time to process.

The veteran died and you paid for funeral and burial expenses. You are seeking partial VA reimbursement.

Gather before you start

—Veteran's death certificate (certified copy)

—Itemized funeral home bill or receipt showing what was paid

—Proof you paid the expenses (receipt, bank statement)

—If claiming service-connected death rate: VA rating decisions showing SC conditions

—DD-214 if not already on file with VA

—Cemetery receipt or evidence of burial location (for plot allowance)

Attach with the form

—Death certificate (certified)

—Itemized funeral bill showing all charges and payments

—Receipts proving you personally paid the expenses

—Cemetery receipt (if claiming plot allowance)

—Transportation receipts if claiming transportation costs

Section I - Claimant Identification

1 field

Blocks 1-6Your name, SSN, address, relationship to veteranPII

Example

(your legal name, SSN, relationship to veteran)

Common mistakes

Filing under the veteran's identity instead of your own - you are the claimant, not the veteran.

Section II - Veteran Information

1 field · 2 citations

Blocks 7-12Veteran name, SSN, VA File Number, date and cause of deathPII

Example

(veteran's name, VA file number, date of death, cause of death)

Common mistakes

Not providing cause of death - VA needs this to determine which burial rate applies (service-connected vs non-service-connected).
Not including VA File Number - claim cannot be matched to veteran's existing file.

Authority

38 CFR 38.620 - Categories of veterans and family members eligible for burial in a VA national cemetery.

38 USC 2301 - Burial allowance entitlement for eligible veterans.

Section III - Burial and Funeral Expenses

1 field · 2 citations

Blocks 13-22Itemized funeral and burial expenses paidRepeatable

Example

e.g., Funeral home services: $4,200; Casket: $1,800; Cemetery plot: $2,500; Grave opening: $500; Total paid: $9,000

Common mistakes

Including expenses not paid by you (e.g., expenses paid by a life insurance payout) - only expenses you actually paid out-of-pocket qualify.
Not keeping itemized receipts from the funeral home - a general receipt is insufficient; VA needs line-item detail.
Not claiming transportation reimbursement if the veteran died in a VA facility - VA pays transportation from a VA facility to the burial site.

Authority

38 USC 2302 - Reimbursement rates for funeral and burial expenses.

M21-1 VII.i.2 - Burial allowance amounts and eligibility tiers.

Section IV - Place of Burial

1 field

Blocks 23-26Cemetery name, address, grave location

Example

e.g., Evergreen Memorial Park, 123 Cemetery Rd, Tucson AZ 85701; Section 4, Lot 22, Grave 3

Common mistakes

Not noting burial in a national cemetery - national cemetery burial changes some cost calculations.
Not knowing you can get a government-furnished marker for private cemetery burial - file 40-1330 separately.

Section V - Certification

1 field

Blocks 27-28Claimant signature and datePII

Sign and date under penalty of perjury. Attach all receipts before submitting.

Example

(your signature/date)

Common mistakes

Missing the 2-year filing deadline - burial benefits are permanently forfeited after 2 years from burial date.
Not attaching receipts - claim cannot be processed without proof of payment.

Statutory & regulatory authority

38 CFR 38.620 - Categories of veterans and family members eligible for burial in a VA national cemetery.

38 USC 2301 - Burial allowance entitlement for eligible veterans.

38 USC 2302 - Reimbursement rates for funeral and burial expenses.

38 USC 2303 - Plot allowance and transportation cost reimbursement.

M21-1 VII.i.2 - Burial allowance amounts and eligibility tiers.

VA Form 21P-530EZ

Application for Burial Benefits

Burial & MemorialOfficial VA form on VA.gov

Who fills it

survivor

Journey phase

Burial & Memorial

Estimated time

30-45 minutes.

When to file

Within 2 years of the date the veteran was buried. Earlier is better - the claim takes time to process.

The veteran died and you paid for funeral and burial expenses. You are seeking partial VA reimbursement.

Gather before you start

—Veteran's death certificate (certified copy)

—Itemized funeral home bill or receipt showing what was paid

—Proof you paid the expenses (receipt, bank statement)

—If claiming service-connected death rate: VA rating decisions showing SC conditions

—DD-214 if not already on file with VA

—Cemetery receipt or evidence of burial location (for plot allowance)

Attach with the form

—Death certificate (certified)

—Itemized funeral bill showing all charges and payments

—Receipts proving you personally paid the expenses

—Cemetery receipt (if claiming plot allowance)

—Transportation receipts if claiming transportation costs

Section I - Claimant Identification

1 field

Blocks 1-6Your name, SSN, address, relationship to veteranPII

Example

(your legal name, SSN, relationship to veteran)

Common mistakes

Filing under the veteran's identity instead of your own - you are the claimant, not the veteran.

Section II - Veteran Information

1 field · 2 citations

Blocks 7-12Veteran name, SSN, VA File Number, date and cause of deathPII

Example

(veteran's name, VA file number, date of death, cause of death)

Common mistakes

Not providing cause of death - VA needs this to determine which burial rate applies (service-connected vs non-service-connected).
Not including VA File Number - claim cannot be matched to veteran's existing file.

Authority

38 CFR 38.620 - Categories of veterans and family members eligible for burial in a VA national cemetery.

38 USC 2301 - Burial allowance entitlement for eligible veterans.

Section III - Burial and Funeral Expenses

1 field · 2 citations

Blocks 13-22Itemized funeral and burial expenses paidRepeatable

Example

e.g., Funeral home services: $4,200; Casket: $1,800; Cemetery plot: $2,500; Grave opening: $500; Total paid: $9,000

Common mistakes

Including expenses not paid by you (e.g., expenses paid by a life insurance payout) - only expenses you actually paid out-of-pocket qualify.
Not keeping itemized receipts from the funeral home - a general receipt is insufficient; VA needs line-item detail.
Not claiming transportation reimbursement if the veteran died in a VA facility - VA pays transportation from a VA facility to the burial site.

Authority

38 USC 2302 - Reimbursement rates for funeral and burial expenses.

M21-1 VII.i.2 - Burial allowance amounts and eligibility tiers.

Section IV - Place of Burial

1 field

Blocks 23-26Cemetery name, address, grave location

Example

e.g., Evergreen Memorial Park, 123 Cemetery Rd, Tucson AZ 85701; Section 4, Lot 22, Grave 3

Common mistakes

Not noting burial in a national cemetery - national cemetery burial changes some cost calculations.
Not knowing you can get a government-furnished marker for private cemetery burial - file 40-1330 separately.

Section V - Certification

1 field

Blocks 27-28Claimant signature and datePII

Sign and date under penalty of perjury. Attach all receipts before submitting.

Example

(your signature/date)

Common mistakes

Missing the 2-year filing deadline - burial benefits are permanently forfeited after 2 years from burial date.
Not attaching receipts - claim cannot be processed without proof of payment.

Statutory & regulatory authority

38 CFR 38.620 - Categories of veterans and family members eligible for burial in a VA national cemetery.

38 USC 2301 - Burial allowance entitlement for eligible veterans.

38 USC 2302 - Reimbursement rates for funeral and burial expenses.

38 USC 2303 - Plot allowance and transportation cost reimbursement.

M21-1 VII.i.2 - Burial allowance amounts and eligibility tiers.