Does everyone need to file VA Form 21P-530EZ?

No. If the surviving spouse is already listed on the veteran's VA profile, the burial payment may be issued automatically without a form. Anyone else claiming the benefit — next of kin, an executor, or a funeral home — needs to file.

Can a funeral home file the form instead of the family?

Yes. Funeral home representatives are explicitly allowed to file on the family's behalf. Many funeral homes handle this as a routine part of arranging a veteran's burial, so it's worth asking directly.

What happens if I don't have the veteran's DD214?

The DD214 isn't always strictly required, but including it speeds up processing because it proves discharge status. Without it, the VA may need to search for discharge records itself, which can add delay.

Is there a deadline to file VA Form 21P-530EZ?

For a service-connected death, there's no deadline for the burial or transportation allowance. For a non-service-connected death, you generally have 2 years from the burial date, except when the veteran died under VA care or you're only claiming the plot allowance.

How much does VA Form 21P-530EZ actually get you?

For deaths on or after October 1, 2025, the combined maximum between the burial allowance and plot allowance is $2,004. The exact amount depends on the circumstances of the death and where the veteran is buried.

VA Form 21P-530EZ: What It Is and Who Should File It

When a veteran dies, someone in the family usually has to file paperwork with the VA to get money back for the funeral. That paperwork is VA Form 21P-530EZ. It's short, it costs nothing to file, and knowing who fills it out and what to attach saves weeks of back-and-forth with the VA's Pension Intake Center.

What Is VA Form 21P-530EZ For?

VA Form 21P-530EZ, the "Application for Burial Benefits," is how you formally ask the VA to pay out benefits under Chapter 23 of Title 38. Depending on the circumstances of the veteran's death, it can be used to claim:

The VA burial allowance (a set payment toward funeral and burial costs)
The plot or interment allowance (a separate payment if the veteran isn't buried in a VA national cemetery)
Reimbursement for transporting the veteran's remains, in limited cases

It does not cover the cost of a casket, headstone request, or Presidential Memorial Certificate — those go through different processes. For a full breakdown of what the VA does and doesn't pay for, see Does the VA Pay for a Veteran's Funeral?

Who Can File the Form?

According to the VA's burial allowance page, more than one type of person can be the one to file:

The surviving spouse
A surviving partner from a legal union
Surviving children
The veteran's parents
The executor or administrator of the estate
A family member or friend, even without a formal executor role
A representative from a funeral home, cemetery, or veterans' service organization

There's one exception worth knowing: if the surviving spouse is already listed on the veteran's VA profile, that spouse may receive the burial payment automatically, with no form required. Everyone else needs to file.

What Documents Do You Need?

The form itself asks basic identifying information, but you'll need supporting paperwork attached before the VA can process it:

The veteran's death certificate, showing cause of death
A copy of the veteran's DD214 or other separation documents (not always required, but it speeds up processing since it proves the discharge status)
An itemized receipt for transportation costs, if you're claiming that reimbursement
For claims tied to a service-connected death, medical records or a signed authorization (VA Form 21-4138, 21-4142, or 21-4142a) letting the VA pull private medical records

If you don't have the DD214 on hand, the VA can sometimes locate discharge records itself, but expect delays. Track it down before you file if you can.

How Much Can You Claim?

The form is what you file — the amount you get depends on the current VA burial allowance rates, which change every October 1. For deaths on or after October 1, 2025, the VA's published table shows:

Benefit	Amount
Burial allowance	$1,002
Plot/interment allowance	$1,002
Combined maximum	$2,004

These figures apply regardless of whether the death was service-connected, but the filing deadline changes depending on that distinction — see the next section. For a longer look at how these numbers compare to what a funeral actually costs, see How Much Is the VA Burial Allowance in 2026? and What a Veteran's Funeral Actually Costs in 2026.

Is There a Deadline to File?

Yes, and it depends on why the veteran died:

Service-connected death: No time limit on filing for the burial or transportation allowance.
Non-service-connected death: You generally have 2 years from the date of burial to file.
Exceptions to the 2-year rule: There's no deadline if the veteran died while under VA care (in a VA facility or a VA-contracted facility), and no deadline for claiming the plot or interment allowance specifically.

If you're not sure which category applies, file as soon as you reasonably can. Missing a deadline because of uncertainty is the most avoidable way to lose a benefit you're entitled to.

How and Where Do You Submit It?

You have three options:

Online, through the VA's application portal — this is the fastest route and lets you upload the death certificate and DD214 directly.
By mail, sending the completed form and attachments to: Department of Veterans Affairs, Pension Intake Center, PO Box 5365, Janesville, WI 53547-5365.
By phone, calling the VA to ask questions or get help with the process, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. ET.

Many funeral homes will file this form on the family's behalf as part of handling the arrangements. Ask directly — it's a normal part of their job, and it saves the family from tracking down paperwork during an already difficult week.

What to Do About It

Start by figuring out which category the death falls into — service-connected or not — since that determines your filing deadline. Gather the death certificate and DD214 before you sit down to file; that alone prevents most of the back-and-forth delays. If a funeral home is handling arrangements, ask whether they'll submit the form for you. And if the surviving spouse is already listed in the veteran's VA file, check whether payment is automatic before assuming a form is even needed.

The VA burial allowance and plot allowance help, but they typically cover a fraction of what a funeral actually costs. It's worth understanding that gap before you're the one making arrangements under time pressure.