“My family member was a veteran, the VA will be paying for everything.”

Unfortunately this is a common misconception. The VA will not pay the funeral home for cremation or funeral expenses directly, but will reimburse you if certain criteria is met. Fortunately, placement in a National Cemetery is completely paid for. Emerald Cremation and Burial will take care of scheduling your loved one’s urn or casket burial at a National Cemetery at no additional cost. Tahoma National Cemetery in Kent, Washington allows for above-ground (Niche) urn placements or in-ground burial of an urn or casket for a deceased veteran and their spouse. A DD214 will be required to get this process started.

Service-related Death

VA will pay up to $2,000 toward burial expenses for deaths on or after September 11, 2001. If the Veteran is buried in a VA national cemetery, some or all of the cost of transporting the deceased may be reimbursed.

Non-service-related Death

VA will pay up to $796 toward burial and funeral expenses for deaths on or after October 1, 2019 (if hospitalized by VA at time of death), or $300 toward burial and funeral expenses (if not hospitalized by VA at time of death), and a $796 plot-interment allowance (if not buried in a national cemetery).