Families arranging a veteran’s funeral in Brooklyn may have questions about VA burial benefits in Brooklyn, military funeral honors, financial assistance, and whether burial is available at a national cemetery near New York City.
The answers depend on the veteran’s eligibility, the cemetery, and whether the family chooses traditional casket burial or cremation. Some national cemeteries near New York City have reached capacity for new casket burials, while others continue to accept cremated remains or other burial options.
For families who want burial in a national cemetery, the location can also affect how the funeral and committal service are planned. Fortunately, eligible veterans may receive certain federal burial and memorial benefits whether the family chooses an available national cemetery or private cemetery.
Understanding these options ahead of time can make an already difficult planning process easier for families.
National Cemeteries Near NYC
Several national cemeteries serve veterans and their families throughout New York City and the surrounding area, but their current burial options vary.
Cypress Hills National Cemetery in Brooklyn has served the city’s veterans and their families since the Civil War era. It is closed to most new burials, although an eligible family member may still qualify to be buried in an existing gravesite when space is available.
St. Albans National Cemetery in Queens accepts only cremated remains. The cemetery opened for new intermentsin 2025 to provide a national cemetery option closer to veterans and families in the New York City area.
Long Island National Cemetery in Farmingdale currently accepts cremated remains in available niches.
For families seeking casket burial, Calverton National Cemetery in Riverhead remains open for casketed burials and cremated remains. It also sits roughly 75 miles east of Brooklyn.
How Cemetery Location Can Affect the Service Day
The cemetery a family chooses can have a practical effect on the funeral schedule.
A family choosing cremation may hold a funeral or memorial service in Brooklyn and then have the veteran’s cremated remains buried at St. Albans in Queens. For relatives in New York City, this keeps the funeral and committal relatively close together.
A family choosing casket burial at a national cemetery may instead use Calverton in Riverhead. Families need to allow for the additional travel time when scheduling the funeral procession and cemetery committal. The cemetery also assigns the committal time based on its schedule.
Some families hold the full service at Fairhaven Memorial Chapel and travel to the cemetery with a smaller group. Others adjust the service time around the cemetery appointment and the needs of relatives who plan to attend.
Burial in a private cemetery in Brooklyn or Queens remains an option. Eligible veterans may still qualify for several federal burial and memorial benefits when choosing a private cemetery.
Need help comparing cemetery and service options? Fairhaven Memorial Chapel can help your family understand how the cemetery location may affect the funeral schedule, transportation, military honors, and other arrangements. Call us at (718) 622-4442 to talk through your options.
What VA Burial Benefits Are Available in Brooklyn?
Whether a family chooses a national cemetery or a private one, several VA burial benefits in Brooklyn may be available to eligible veterans and their families. The VA’s burial and memorial benefits include information about eligibility, burial in a national cemetery, memorial items, and burial allowances.
Federal benefits that may be available include:
- A United States burial flag
- Military funeral honors
- A government headstone, marker, or niche cover
- A medallion for a privately purchased headstone
- A Presidential Memorial Certificate
- Burial allowances toward certain funeral, plot, or transportation costs
For burial in a national cemetery, the VA generally provides the gravesite or niche, opening and closing of the grave, and perpetual care at no cost to eligible veterans or to the family.
For burial in a private cemetery, the VA may provide a government headstone or marker, or a medallion for a privately purchased headstone. However, the private cemetery may still charge for the burial plot, opening and closing of the grave, and installation of the marker.
Families should find out what the cemetery charges before making final arrangements.
Understanding VA Burial Allowance Amounts
VA burial allowances can reimburse families for some eligible funeral and burial expenses. The amount depends on the circumstances surrounding the veteran’s death and burial, including whether the veteran’s death was service-connected and whether the family qualifies for additional plot, interment, or transportation assistance.
For deaths on or after October 1, 2025, the VA lists a burial allowance of $1,002 for certain non-service-connected deaths. Eligible families may also qualify for a separate $1,002 plot or interment allowance. For certain service-connected deaths,the VA may pay up to $2,000 toward burial expenses. In cases where a headstone or marker allowance applies, the maximum amount is $441 for deaths on or after October 1, 2025.
Because VA benefit amounts and eligibility requirements can change, families should verify current rates directly through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs before relying on a particular amount.
Not every family qualifies for every payment. Eligibility may depend on the circumstances surrounding the veteran’s death, whether they were receiving VA care or compensation, and where the burial takes place.
VA Burial Allowance Deadlines
Deadlines also depend on the type of burial benefit being requested.
For many non-service-connected burial allowance claims, the applicant or family must file within two years after the veteran’s burial. Different rules and exceptions apply, including certain deaths under VA care and some claims involving plot, interment, or transportation costs.
There is no time limit for certain burial or transportation allowance claims involving a service-connected death.
An eligible surviving spouse listed on the veteran’s VA profile may not need to file a separate claim. In some cases, the VA can issue payment automatically after receiving notice of the veteran’s death.
Because individual circumstances differ, families should confirm the applicable deadline with the VA rather than assuming a claim will qualify automatically.
New York State Supplemental Burial Allowance
In addition to federal VA burial benefits, New York State offers a Supplemental Burial Allowance of up to $6,000 to certain eligible service members and their surviving family members. The allowance goes toward funeral and cemetery costs that federal benefits do not cover.
Eligibility is limited. The allowance applies to qualifying service members who died in a combat zone, died while receiving hazardous duty pay, or died from wounds sustained in either circumstance. Most veteran deaths do not qualify.
The service member must also meet one of two conditions:
- They were a New York State resident when they died
- They belonged to the New York Army National Guard or New York Air National Guard when they entered the period of active duty during which they died
A qualifying family member who paid part or all of the funeral costs may apply for the allowance. The application falls under Article 17, Section 354-B of the Consolidated Laws of New York.
Applicants may need to provide the following copies of several documents along with the form:
- Proof of the combat-related death, such as a military casualty report or a death certificate listing cause of death
- Proof of New York residency at the time of death, or of New York National Guard membership when active duty began
- Documentation showing what the family paid toward the funeral or interment expenses
- Proof of the applicant’s family relationship to the service member
- Documentation showing any amount the VA already paid toward the funeral or interment expenses
Acceptable proof of residency includes a New York State driver’s license or non-driver ID, a voter registration card, a recent utility bill, a residential lease, or a state tax document.
The New York State Department of Veterans Services administers the allowance. Families can reach a Veterans Benefits Advisor at 1-888-838-7697 to confirm eligibility requirements and application procedures directly before applying.
Military Funeral Honors in NY
Military funeral honors provide a meaningful way to recognize a veteran’s service to the United States.
The veteran’s branch of military service arranges military funeral honors separately from any VA burial allowance claim.
At minimum, eligible veterans may receive a funeral honors detail including at least two uniformed military service members, the playing of Taps, and the folding and presentation of the United States burial flag to the veteran’s next of kin. At least one member of the detail represents the veteran’s branch of service. There is no cost to the family or the funeral home for military funeral honors.
For Army veterans in New York, the New York Army National Guard coordinates military funeral honors. Other military service branches have their own procedures and contacts for arranging honors.
Families generally ask their funeral director to arrange military funeral honors on their behalf. For Army veterans in New York, funeral directors should submit DMNA Form 86 to the appropriate detachment at least 48 hours before the service. Submitting the request earlier may be helpful when the funeral falls near a weekend or holiday. Cremation does not affect eligibility for honors.
DD Form 214 and Other Records Families May Need
The DD Form 214, or another official military separation record, is one of the most important documents for arranging veteran burial benefits. It establishes information such as dates of service and discharge status, which help the VA confirm eligibility.
Families may also be asked for:
- A certified death certificate
- An itemized funeral bill for allowance claims
- Marriage or birth certificates when applying for family benefits
- Receipts for transportation costs, when applicable
If the family cannot locate the DD Form 214, the next of kin can request a copy from the National Archives. A missing discharge record does not always prevent arrangements from moving forward, but the VA may need additional time to verify eligibility.
Fairhaven Memorial Chapel can help families navigate this paperwork. If you are arranging services for a veteran and are unsure which records you need, contact our team at (718) 622-4442. We can help identify the funeral-related documentation required and coordinate applicable military honors and cemetery arrangements.
NYC Final Honors Program for Unclaimed Veterans
New York City also has a program for veterans whose remains have not been claimed.
The NYC Department of Veteran’s Services runs a Final Honors Program that arranges military funerals with honors for qualifying unclaimed or abandoned New York City veterans. Anyone aware of a deceased veteran at risk of an unclaimed burial can contact that office directly for additional information.
How Fairhaven Helps With Veteran Funeral Arrangements
Fairhaven Memorial Chapel helps families complete the paperwork required for VA burial benefits and coordinates with the appropriate branch of service for military funeral honors associated with VA burial benefits in Brooklyn.
We also help retrieve discharge records when a family cannot find them. When a family chooses a national cemetery, we can coordinate the scheduling and transportation to locations such as Calverton or St. Albans.
The VA ultimately determines burial eligibility and approves benefit claims. Fairhaven cannot make those determinations, but we can help families understand the process, gather the required paperwork, and connect with the agencies responsible for approving benefits.
Families planning ahead can also confirm national cemetery eligibility through a pre-need determination from the VA. Confirming eligibility in advance means relatives have fewer records to track down later, although pre-need approval does not reserve a specific gravesite or niche.
For questions about veteran’s services, cemetery options, or what a veteran in your family may be eligible for, call Fairhaven Memorial Chapel at (718) 622-4442. Our staff is available 24 hours a day to help Brooklyn families make veteran funeral arrangements and understand the burial options available to them.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a spouse or dependent be buried with an eligible veteran in a national cemetery?
Yes, in many cases. A spouse, surviving spouse, and certain dependent children of an eligible veteran may also qualify for burial in a VA national cemetery. An eligible spouse or dependent may qualify even if they die before the veteran.
How is a burial at a national cemetery scheduled, and how soon can it take place?
The family or funeral director can contact the VA National Cemetery Scheduling Office to request burial. The VA confirms eligibility and works with the family or funeral home to schedule the committal. Availability depends on the cemetery and the type of burial requested, so the cemetery date may not always be the same day as the funeral service.
Does the VA help pay to transport a veteran to a national cemetery?
Sometimes. The VA may reimburse eligible transportation costs when a veteran is buried in a national cemetery. Whether reimbursement applies depends on the circumstances, so families should confirm eligibility before assuming transportation costs will be covered.
Can a family choose which national cemetery a veteran is buried in?
Families can request burial in a VA national cemetery with available space, but availability differs by cemetery. Some cemeteries are closed to new burials or accept only certain types of remains. A specific gravesite also cannot be reserved in advance.
What if a Veteran is being buried outside New York or another country?
Burial somewhere other than New York does not automatically end a veteran’s eligibility for federal burial or memorial benefits. The benefits available will depend on the veteran’s eligibility and where the burial takes place. For an international burial, the family will also need to meet the requirements of the receiving country.