Illinois VA Cemetery Burial: Free Veteran Interment Guide

VA Cemetery Burial Benefits Illinois

Eligible Illinois veterans can receive no-cost burial in VA national cemeteries, including Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery in Elwood. Benefits include a gravesite, opening and closing of the grave, a government headstone or marker, perpetual care, a burial flag, and a Presidential Memorial Certificate. Burial allowances range from $300 to $2,000 based on service connection and location of death.

Quick Facts

What Are VA Cemetery Burial Benefits in Illinois?

VA cemetery burial benefits provide eligible veterans with no-cost interment in a VA national cemetery, along with associated honors and memorial items. Illinois is home to Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery in Elwood, a 982-acre cemetery that serves veterans across the Chicago metropolitan area and northern Illinois .

These benefits are administered by the VA’s National Cemetery Administration (NCA). The NCA operates 155 national cemeteries across the country, including two in Illinois: Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery in Elwood and Rock Island National Cemetery in Rock Island. Additionally, the VA provides grant funding to state veterans cemeteries, and Illinois operates its own state veterans cemetery system.

Why This Matters: A private cemetery burial can cost $10,000 or more when you factor in the plot, opening and closing, headstone, and perpetual care. VA cemetery burial benefits eliminate most or all of these costs for eligible veterans and their families.

What Veterans Should Do Next: Apply for a pre-need eligibility determination to confirm your eligibility before the time of need. Keep your DD214 accessible. Share your burial wishes with family members.

Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery

Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery in Elwood is the primary VA national cemetery serving veterans in Illinois. Located about 50 miles southwest of Chicago on the former Joliet Arsenal site, the cemetery opened in 1999 and spans 982 acres .

Features and Memorials

The cemetery includes a memorial walk commemorating service members from 20th-century wars across 15 memorials. Notable features include:

• An 18-foot granite obelisk with a bronze eagle commemorating the 2,403 Americans who died at Pearl Harbor

• A life-size bronze statue of Abraham Lincoln, dedicated September 11, 2016

• A Blue Star Memorial Marker donated by the District VIII Garden Club of Illinois

The cemetery is named for President Abraham Lincoln, who signed legislation establishing the national cemetery system during the Civil War. Six Medal of Honor recipients are interred at Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery .

Eligibility for Burial at Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery

Burial at Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery follows standard VA national cemetery eligibility rules. Veterans who didn’t receive a dishonorable discharge are eligible, along with their spouses and dependent children .

Who Qualifies for VA Burial Benefits in Illinois

Veterans, service members, and certain family members qualify for burial in VA national cemeteries. The primary requirement is military service under conditions other than dishonorable.

Veteran Eligibility

A veteran qualifies for burial in a VA national cemetery if they meet both of these requirements :

• The veteran didn’t receive a dishonorable discharge, and

• The veteran met minimum active-duty service requirements

Minimum service requirements vary by era. For veterans who served after September 7, 1980, the general requirement is 24 months of continuous active duty or the full period for which they were called to active duty (with a minimum of 90 days).

Spouse and Dependent Eligibility

The following family members may be eligible for burial in a VA national cemetery even if they predecease the veteran :

• The spouse or surviving spouse of a veteran (even if they remarried after the veteran’s death)

• The minor child of a veteran (even if the veteran died first)

• In some cases, the unmarried adult dependent child of a veteran

National Guard and Reserve Members

National Guard and Reserve members may be eligible if they meet any of these requirements :

• Met legal minimum active-duty service requirements, were called to active duty, served their full term, and didn’t receive a dishonorable discharge

• Were entitled to retirement pay at time of death (or would have been if not under age 60)

• Died while hospitalized or getting treatment at U.S. expense for an injury or illness from active duty for training or inactive duty training

• Became disabled or died from a disease or injury caused or worsened by service during active duty for training

• Became disabled or died from an injury or certain cardiovascular disorders caused or worsened by service during inactive duty training

VA Burial Allowances for Illinois Veterans

VA burial allowances are flat-rate monetary benefits that help cover burial, funeral, and plot costs. The amount depends on whether the veteran’s death was service-connected and where they died.

2026 Burial Allowance Rates

These rates are subject to change . The VA also reimburses transportation costs for moving a veteran’s remains to a national cemetery .

Who Can Claim Burial Allowances

The following individuals may claim burial allowances if they paid for the veteran’s burial and won’t be reimbursed by another organization :

• Surviving spouse

• Surviving partner from a legal union

• Surviving child

• Parent

• Executor or administrator of the estate

• Family member or friend who paid burial costs

• Representative from a funeral home or cemetery

Filing Deadlines

If the veteran’s death was service-connected, there is no time limit for filing a burial allowance claim. If the death was not service-connected, you must file within two years after burial, with exceptions for veterans who died under VA care or when claiming plot/interment or transportation allowances .

How to Schedule a Burial in Illinois

Scheduling a burial at a VA national cemetery in Illinois starts with a call to the National Cemetery Scheduling Office. The process is straightforward if you have the veteran’s discharge documents ready.

Step-by-Step Scheduling Process

Step 1: Gather Documents and Information

You’ll need the veteran’s DD214 or other discharge documents. If you can’t find these, VA can help locate them, though it may take several days .

Information needed about the deceased :

• Full name, gender, Social Security number

• Date of birth, date of death

• Military service number (Veteran ID)

• Marital status

• ZIP code and county at time of death

• Type of burial (casket or cremation)

Information needed about next of kin :

• Name, relationship, Social Security number

• Phone number and address

Step 2: Choose Burial Details

Decide on :

• Cemetery preference (Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery or another)

• Type of burial (casket or cremation)

• Headstone, marker, or niche cover type

• Religious emblem or inscription

• Military honors requested

• Burial flag and Presidential Memorial Certificate

Step 3: Contact the National Cemetery Scheduling Office

Call 800-535-1117 (TTY: 711). The office is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. ET .

You can fax discharge papers to 866-900-6417 or email them to NCA.Scheduling@va.gov with the person’s name in the subject line .

Using a Funeral Director

You may choose a funeral director to help with the process. Funeral directors are familiar with the scheduling system and can handle the paperwork and coordination on your behalf .

Pre-Need Eligibility Determination

A pre-need eligibility determination lets you confirm in advance that you qualify for burial in a VA national cemetery. This simplifies the process for your family at the time of need.

How to Apply for Pre-Need Eligibility

Apply online, by mail, or by fax. You’ll need :

• Personal information (Social Security number, date of birth)

• Military history

• Preferred VA national cemetery

• A copy of your DD214 or separation documents (if available)

If applying on behalf of someone else, you’ll need documentation showing your authority to act on their behalf .

Mail applications to:
NCA Evidence Intake Center
PO Box 5237
Janesville, WI 53547

What Happens After Approval

You’ll receive a pre-need decision letter confirming eligibility. Keep this letter in a safe place and tell your family where it is. At the time of need, your family member or funeral director will need it when calling to schedule burial .

The pre-need decision letter does not reserve a specific gravesite. Final eligibility is confirmed at the time of death, as laws and circumstances may have changed .

Memorial Items and Honors

VA provides several memorial items at no cost to honor a veteran’s service. These include headstones, markers, burial flags, and Presidential Memorial Certificates.

Headstones and Markers

VA provides a government headstone or marker for the unmarked grave of any eligible veteran in any cemetery worldwide, regardless of date of death . For veterans who died on or after November 1, 1990, whose grave is marked with a privately purchased headstone, VA may provide a medallion to affix to the private headstone .

Apply for a headstone, marker, or medallion using VA Form 40-1330 .

Burial Flags

A United States flag is provided at no cost to drape the casket or accompany the urn of a veteran who served honorably. Only one burial flag is provided per veteran .

Presidential Memorial Certificates

A Presidential Memorial Certificate is a gold-embossed paper certificate bearing the President’s signature. It honors the memory of a veteran and expresses the country’s grateful recognition of their service. Multiple certificates may be requested for a veteran .

Military Funeral Honors

Eligible veterans may receive military funeral honors, including the playing of “Taps” and flag folding and presentation. Honorably discharged veterans may receive honors from their branch of service or from a Volunteer Honor Squad .

Illinois State Veterans Cemeteries and Benefits

Illinois offers additional burial benefits through state programs and the Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs. These complement federal VA burial benefits.

Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs Burial Programs

The Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs (IDVA) provides several burial-related benefits :

• Global War on Terrorism Survivors Compensation: Monetary compensation to survivors of military personnel killed in action

• Vietnam Veteran Survivors Compensation: Monetary compensation to survivors

• Headstone or Grave Marker Reimbursement: Reimbursement for privately purchased headstones

• Grave Registration: Recording of veterans’ graves

• Indigent Veterans Burial: Provides burial for honorably discharged indigent veterans and their families

Contact the IDVA for specific eligibility requirements and application procedures. There is no fee for these services .

State Veterans Cemeteries in Illinois

Illinois operates state veterans cemeteries that provide burial benefits similar to VA national cemeteries. These cemeteries are funded in part by VA grants and follow similar eligibility rules. Contact the IDVA for information on specific state cemetery locations and eligibility.

Common Mistakes Families Make

Avoiding these errors helps ensure a smooth burial process and prevents delays in receiving benefits.

Not having the DD214 accessible. The DD214 is the primary document used to verify eligibility. Without it, VA may need several days to locate service records, delaying burial scheduling .

Waiting until the time of need to check eligibility. A pre-need eligibility determination confirms your eligibility in advance and streamlines the process for your family. Apply early .

Assuming burial benefits are automatic. While some benefits are provided automatically, others require applications. Burial allowances, for example, must be claimed within specific timeframes .

Not notifying the funeral director about VA benefits. Funeral directors experienced with veterans’ burials can handle much of the scheduling and paperwork. Inform them of your veteran status and burial wishes .

Choosing an urn or plaque when planning a national cemetery burial. If a family chooses a commemorative urn or plaque to honor a veteran whose remains are not interred, VA is prohibited by law from also interring that veteran in a national cemetery or providing a headstone or marker. This decision cannot be undone .

Missing the two-year filing deadline for non-service-connected burial allowances. If the veteran’s death was not service-connected, file within two years of burial unless an exception applies .

Common Questions

What VA national cemeteries are in Illinois?

Illinois has two VA national cemeteries: Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery in Elwood and Rock Island National Cemetery in Rock Island. Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery is the larger of the two, spanning 982 acres southwest of Chicago .

Who is eligible for burial in a VA national cemetery?

Veterans who didn’t receive a dishonorable discharge and met minimum active-duty service requirements are eligible. Spouses, surviving spouses (even if remarried), minor children, and in some cases unmarried adult dependent children are also eligible .

How much does it cost to be buried in a VA national cemetery?

There is no cost to the family for burial in a VA national cemetery. Benefits include the gravesite, opening and closing of the grave, a burial liner, a government headstone or marker, and perpetual care .

What burial allowances are available for Illinois veterans in 2026?

For service-connected deaths, the allowance is up to $2,000 (deaths on or after 9/11/01) or $1,500 (before 9/11/01). For non-service-connected deaths, the burial allowance is $300 or $762 depending on location of death, plus a $762 plot allowance .

How do I schedule a burial at Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery?

Call the National Cemetery Scheduling Office at 800-535-1117. Have the veteran’s DD214 and personal information ready. You can also work through a funeral director who can handle scheduling on your behalf .

What is a pre-need eligibility determination?

It’s a VA decision confirming in advance that you qualify for burial in a VA national cemetery. Applying early simplifies the process for your family at the time of need. Apply online, by mail, or by fax using VA Form 40-10007 .

What documents do I need to schedule a burial?

You need the veteran’s DD214 or other discharge documents showing service under conditions other than dishonorable. If you can’t find them, VA can help locate them, though this takes time. You’ll also need personal information about the deceased and next of kin .

Can I get a headstone for a veteran buried in a private cemetery in Illinois?

Yes. VA provides a headstone, marker, or medallion for eligible veterans buried in private cemeteries. Spouses and dependent children buried in private cemeteries are not eligible for these benefits. Apply using VA Form 40-1330 .

What is a Presidential Memorial Certificate?

It’s a gold-embossed certificate bearing the President’s signature that honors a veteran’s memory. You may be eligible if the veteran is eligible for burial in a national cemetery and you’re the next of kin, family member, or close friend. Multiple certificates may be requested .

How long does it take VA to process a burial claim?

VA has reduced burial claim processing times to an average of 31 days in 2026, down from 70 days previously—a reduction of more than 50 percent .

Can National Guard members be buried in VA national cemeteries in Illinois?

Yes, if they meet eligibility requirements. National Guard members who met minimum active-duty service requirements, were entitled to retirement pay, or became disabled or died from service-related conditions may be eligible .

Does Illinois offer state burial benefits for veterans?

Yes. The Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs provides compensation for survivors of military personnel killed in action, headstone reimbursement, grave registration, and burial for indigent veterans. Services are free. Contact IDVA for details .

Key Takeaways

• Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery in Elwood is the primary VA national cemetery serving Illinois veterans, spanning 982 acres with space for casket and cremation burials.

• Burial in a VA national cemetery is free for eligible veterans and includes the gravesite, opening and closing, a headstone or marker, and perpetual care.

• Eligibility requires discharge under conditions other than dishonorable and meeting minimum active-duty service requirements.

• Spouses, surviving spouses (even if remarried), and dependent children may also be eligible for burial.

• VA burial allowances range from $300 to $2,000 depending on service connection and location of death.

• Burial claim processing times averaged 31 days in 2026, down from 70 days previously.

• Apply for a pre-need eligibility determination to confirm your eligibility in advance and simplify the process for your family.

• The DD214 is the key document needed to verify eligibility—keep it accessible and share its location with family.

• Illinois offers additional state burial benefits through the Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs, including survivor compensation and indigent veteran burial.

• Presidential Memorial Certificates and burial flags are provided at no cost to honor a veteran’s service.

Official Resources

• VA Burial Benefits: https://www.va.gov/burials-memorials/

• Eligibility for Burial in a VA National Cemetery: https://www.va.gov/burials-memorials/eligibility/

• Schedule a Burial: https://www.va.gov/burials-memorials/schedule-a-burial/

• Pre-Need Eligibility: https://www.va.gov/burials-memorials/pre-need-eligibility/

• Burial Allowances: https://www.va.gov/burials-memorials/veterans-burial-allowance/

• Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery: https://cem.va.gov/cems/nchp/abrahamlincoln.asp

• VA Form 40-1330 (Headstone/Marker): https://www.va.gov/forms/40-1330/

• Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs: https://veterans.illinois.gov/

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