Veterans burial benefits for Orlando families

Updated September 26, 2026 · Orlando Funeral Guide editorial team

Veterans and some of their family members may be eligible for burial in a VA national cemetery, and some families qualify for VA allowances toward burial and funeral costs. Tell your funeral director early that your loved one served, and find the DD-214 (discharge papers).

National cemeteries near Orlando

The VA listed burial space as open at both cemeteries when we reviewed this page. Burials are scheduled through the VA’s National Cemetery Scheduling Office, 800-535-1117. Your funeral director usually makes that call.

Planning ahead? Veterans and eligible family members can apply for a VA pre-need eligibility decision letter before it is needed, which makes scheduling easier for the family later.

Who is eligible for burial in a national cemetery

According to the VA, one of the following must be true:

• A veteran who did not receive a dishonorable discharge.
• A service member who died on active duty, active duty for training, or inactive duty for training.
• The spouse or surviving spouse of a veteran, even if they remarried after the veteran’s death.
• A minor child of a veteran or, in some cases, an unmarried adult dependent child.

Rules for National Guard and Reserve members and some other groups are listed on the VA eligibility page.

VA burial allowances

Survivors paying for a veteran’s burial may qualify for:

• a burial allowance, toward burial and funeral costs
• a plot or interment allowance
• reimbursement for transporting the veteran’s remains to a national cemetery

Eligibility depends on the circumstances. For example, the death was service-connected, the veteran was receiving VA pension or compensation, or the veteran died while under VA care. Allowance amounts change, so check the current amounts on VA.gov.

Documents typically needed:

• the death certificate with cause of death
• itemized receipts for transportation costs, if you paid them
• the veteran’s DD-214 or other separation documents

Deadline: if the death was not service-connected, claims generally must be filed within 2 years after the burial, though there are exceptions.

Honors and memorial items

Ask your funeral director about military burial honors. Families can also apply to the VA for:

• a headstone, marker, or medallion
• a Presidential Memorial Certificate
• a plaque or urn

The VA’s headstone and marker line is 800-697-6947.

Cremation and veterans

VA burial benefits cover all legal burial types, including cremation. Florida law also requires funeral establishments to make a reasonable effort to identify unclaimed cremated remains of eligible veterans and arrange interment in a national cemetery.

Related

• Funeral planning checklist — includes a veterans section
• How to get a death certificate with cause of death
• Burial vs. cremation