National Cemetery Administration launches first campaign to encourage pre-need veteran burial eligibility.
Plan Today, Honor Forever, is the first nationwide campaign the Department of Veterans Affairs National Cemetery Administration (NCA) has conducted to promote pre-need veteran burial eligibility and burial memorial benefits. It launched July 1, resulting in a record number of pre-need veteran applications submitted in one month – 9,375. The month of August followed close behind with 9,350 applications.
The pre-need eligibility application allows veterans and spouses to find out if they are eligible for burial in a VA national cemetery or a VA grant-funded cemetery prior to their passing, or if they are eligible for memorial benefits such as a headstone, flat marker or bronze medallion for use in private cemeteries.
The objective of the campaign is to increase pre-need eligibility applications, build awareness of VA’s burial and memorial benefits, and support end-of-life planning. Currently, the NCA estimates that only 16% of the veteran population choose burial in a VA national cemetery. With the VA operating more than 155 national cemeteries and maintaining more than four million graves burial services at VA national cemeteries are provided at no cost to eligible veterans, their spouses and qualifying family members.
Start your pre-need application.
Pre-need applications require the veteran’s Social Security number, date and place of birth, military status and service history (dates, discharge character, rank – information commonly found on a DD 214 or other separation documents). If you do not have discharge documents, NCA staff will help obtain the information needed to determine eligibility.
Since Jan. 1, 2025, NCA has approved 65,822 pre-need applications. And 300,000 applications since 2021.
Websites to help with pre-need burial:
- Veterans Benefits