Veteran Funeral Benefits PA

Veteran Funeral Benefits in Pennsylvania:

What Families Need to Know

Every veteran earned the right to be laid to rest with the honor their service deserves. But burial benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs aren't automatic, families have to know they exist, know how to apply, and often have to ask at the exact moment they're least prepared to navigate paperwork. This guide breaks down what's actually available to veteran families in the Philadelphia area in 2026, so nothing gets missed.

Department of Veterans Affairs Burial Benefits Overview

The Department of Veterans Affairs offers several forms of support to eligible veterans and their families, and the dollar amounts were updated for deaths occurring on or after October 1, 2025:

• Service-connected death: up to $2,000 toward burial and funeral expenses
• Non-service-connected death (veteran was under Department of Veterans Affairs hospitalization or care): up to $1,002 toward burial and funeral expenses
• Plot or interment allowance: up to $1,002 when burial is not in a Department of Veterans Affairs national cemetery
• Free burial in a Department of Veterans Affairs national cemetery, including the gravesite, opening and closing, and perpetual care
• A government headstone, marker, or medallion at no cost
• Transportation reimbursement in certain cases when a veteran is buried in a national cemetery

A word of caution we give every family: you may have seen ads online promising a "$25,000 Department of Veterans Affairs burial benefit." That figure doesn't exist in any Department of Veterans Affairs program, and it's frequently used by scammers targeting grieving families. The real numbers above are what families are actually entitled to, still meaningful, but modest, which is why we always recommend confirming eligibility and applying promptly rather than assuming a windfall.

Eligibility for the burial allowance requires a discharge under conditions other than dishonorable. Non-service-connected claims generally must be filed within two years of the burial; there's no time limit for service-connected burial allowance claims or for transportation reimbursement claims. We help families gather the right documentation, DD-214 discharge papers, a death certificate, and an itemized funeral bill, so the application isn't one more thing to figure out alone.

Military Funeral Honors

Every eligible veteran is entitled to military funeral honors, which at minimum includes the folding and presentation of the American flag and the playing of Taps, performed by at least two uniformed service members, at least one from the veteran's branch. Larger honor details, rifle volleys, and additional ceremonial elements may be arranged depending on rank, branch, and the family's wishes.

Military funeral honors are requested through the funeral home, not the family directly. As part of our veteran services, our staff coordinates directly with the appropriate branch liaison to schedule honors alongside the funeral or cemetery service, so the timing lines up and nothing gets lost in translation between agencies.

Veteran Headstones and Markers

The Department of Veterans Affairs provides a government headstone, marker, or bronze medallion (to affix to a privately purchased headstone) at no cost for any eligible veteran, whether they're buried in a national cemetery, state veterans' cemetery, or a private cemetery. Families can choose from several styles and, in many cases, personalize the inscription with the veteran's branch, rank, war era, and awards.

One detail families are often surprised by: once cremated remains are placed in a private urn or a niche, the Department of Veterans Affairs is no longer able to provide a government marker for that location, so it's worth deciding on burial versus cremation-with-memorial placement with this in mind if a marker matters to your family.

National Cemeteries Near Philadelphia

Families in Philadelphia have several Department of Veterans Affairs national cemetery options within a reasonable drive:

• Philadelphia National Cemetery — located in West Oak Lane, established in 1862, with more than 13,000 burials on 13 acres. Managed under Washington Crossing National Cemetery.
• Washington Crossing National Cemetery — a 205-acre cemetery in Bucks County, about three miles from Washington Crossing Historic Park, serving as the primary active national cemetery for the greater Philadelphia region.
• Beverly National Cemetery — across the river in Burlington County, New Jersey, an easy trip via the Walt Whitman Bridge.
• Indiantown Gap National Cemetery — in Lebanon County, serving veterans throughout central and eastern Pennsylvania, home to the Pennsylvania Veterans' Memorial.

Burial in a national cemetery is free for the veteran; eligible spouses and dependent children may also be buried there. We coordinate directly with the National Cemetery Scheduling Office to arrange the date and time, so your family only needs to show up.

How Pennsylvania Burial Co. & Baldi Funeral Home  Supports Veteran Families

We've had the privilege of serving South Philadelphia's veteran families for generations, and it's reflected in our Veteran Memorial Wall here at 1327-31 South Broad Street, a standing tribute to the veterans we've had the honor of laying to rest. When you work with us on a veteran's arrangements, our team:

• Verifies eligibility and helps assemble the discharge and service documentation the Department of Veterans Affairs requires
• Files the burial allowance and plot allowance applications on the family's behalf
• Requests and schedules military funeral honors with the appropriate branch
• Coordinates burial at Philadelphia National Cemetery, Washington Crossing, Beverly, or Indiantown Gap, or arranges a government marker for a private cemetery
• Walks veterans through pre-planning their own arrangements now, so these decisions and benefits are already locked in before their family needs them

No family should have to learn about these benefits for the first time in the middle of grief. If you're planning ahead for yourself or a loved one who served, or if you're facing an immediate need, call us at (215) 334-1717or (215) 389-2414, we'll walk you through exactly what your veteran has earned and make sure they receive it.

Pennsylvania Burial Company – Baldi Funeral Home

1327-31 South Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA 19147

📞 (215) 334-1717 | (215) 389-2414

🌐 www.pennsylvaniaburialcompany.com

Four Generations of Our Family Serving Your Family Since 1921.