How to Notify Veterans Affairs

Call the VA at 1-800-827-1000 (available Monday through Friday, 8 AM to 9 PM ET) and say: "I need to report the death of a veteran, [name], and inquire about survivor benefits." Have the veteran's DD-214, Social Security number, and date of death ready. You can also visit your local VA regional office in person or submit claims online at va.gov.

The VA offers several burial benefits: free burial in one of 155 national cemeteries (including the gravesite, vault liner, headstone, opening and closing of the grave, and perpetual care), a burial allowance for veterans buried in private cemeteries (up to $2,000 for service-connected deaths or $948 for non-service-connected deaths as of 2025), a free government headstone or marker for any eligible veteran's grave (even in private cemeteries), and a burial flag. File VA Form 40-1330 for the headstone and VA Form 21P-530 for the burial allowance. The burial allowance claim must be filed within 2 years of burial.

Survivors may qualify for ongoing financial benefits. Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) is a tax-free monthly payment to surviving spouses, children, and dependent parents of veterans who died from a service-connected condition or who were rated 100 percent disabled for at least 10 years. The 2025 base rate for surviving spouses is $1,612.74 per month, with additional allowances for dependent children and housebound survivors. The Survivors Pension is available to low-income surviving spouses and children of wartime veterans. File VA Form 21P-534EZ for DIC or VA Form 21P-534a for the Survivors Pension. Veterans service organizations (VFW, American Legion, DAV) provide free accredited representatives who can help you navigate the claims process.