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Resources & Frequently Asked Questions
Resources

Resources & Commonly Asked Questions

Can the Last Post Fund help pay for a veteran's funeral?

The Veterans Affairs Canada Funeral and Burial Program, run by the Last Post Fund.

Updated September 29, 2026

The Last Post Fund is a non-profit organization that has served veterans since 1909. It runs the Veterans Affairs Canada Funeral and Burial Program, which helps pay for a dignified funeral, burial or cremation, and a military grave marker, for eligible veterans.

Who may qualify

The veteran must meet the military service criteria, and either the service-related or the financial criteria.

Military service

The veteran must have been:

  • a former member of the Canadian Armed Forces, or of any earlier naval, army or air forces of Canada or Newfoundland
  • a Canadian Merchant Navy veteran of the Second World War or the Korean War, or
  • an Allied veteran who served with the Allied Forces during the Second World War or the Korean War, and who lived in Canada for at least 10 years, or lived in Canada before enlisting and was living in Canada when they died

Veterans Affairs Canada defines a veteran as any former member of the Canadian Armed Forces who successfully completed basic training and was honourably discharged.

Service-related or financial need

If the veteran received, or qualified for, a disability benefit from Veterans Affairs Canada and died as a result of that service-related condition, they qualify "as a matter of right."

Otherwise, a financial means test looks at the estate's net assets at the time of death. For a veteran with a spouse or dependent children, the couple's combined assets are considered, not counting a base amount of $45,683.24, $700 per dependent child, the family home and vehicle, and income received in the month of death.

What it can cover

As of September 2026, the maximum toward funeral home costs, such as professional services and a casket or urn, is $7,376 plus tax. Beyond that amount, the program may also cover a grave or niche and its opening and closing, cremation, a grave liner if needed, and a military-style grave marker. Maximums apply.

How and when to apply

You must apply within one year of the veteran's death.

  • If you contact the Last Post Fund before firm arrangements are made, it can confirm eligibility and contract directly with the funeral home.
  • If the family or estate has already made and paid for the arrangements, you can apply for full or partial reimbursement within the year.

To apply or ask questions:

  • Toll-free: 1-800-465-7113 (Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Eastern time)
  • Email: info@lastpost.ca
  • Online: Funeral and Burial Program

Have the veteran's military service record and financial information ready. Before approving help, the Last Post Fund does a short interview with the next of kin, executor or other responsible person.

An application can't be made before the death, but the Last Post Fund can tell you in advance what information you'll need. You can also read about the program on the Veterans Affairs Canada website or call Veterans Affairs Canada at 1-866-522-2122.

If the person who died was a veteran, let us know when you contact us, so we can help you check with the Last Post Fund early.