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Life insurance and burial benefits for North Dakota veterans

North Dakota veterans can be laid to rest at Fargo National Cemetery in Harwood, the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery in Mandan, or the tribal All Nations Veterans Cemetery in Fort Yates. At the Mandan cemetery, the plot, grave opening and closing, and headstone are free for the veteran and an eligible spouse or dependent, though families still buy the casket, liner, or urn. Veterans rated 50% or more disabled may qualify for a property tax credit on their home, and the state offers aid loans and hardship grants. Funeral home services are still a family expense, which is why some veterans add a modest life insurance policy.

Facts checked against the sources listed below.

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Veterans in the state

46,000

Estimate, 2026

VA national cemeteries

1

Located in North Dakota

State veterans cemeteries

2

Built with VA grants

State agency

ND

North Dakota Department of Veterans Affairs

Life insurance options for North Dakota veterans

Military life insurance is federal, so the options are the same in every state: convert SGLI to VGLI after separation, apply for VALife if you have a service-connected rating, or buy private coverage. Healthy veterans often compare VGLI against private term life, since VGLI rates rise every five years.

Veterans cemeteries in North Dakota

VA national cemeteries

State veterans cemeteries

Burial in a VA national cemetery, a government headstone or marker, and a burial flag are available to eligible veterans at no cost; see VA burial benefits for current allowances. Source: VA National Cemetery Administration: Cemeteries in North Dakota

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A licensed agent can check private options side by side with VGLI and VALife. Free, with no obligation.

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North Dakota state benefits for veterans

Burial at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery in Mandan is free for the veteran and an eligible spouse or dependent, including the plot, opening and closing of the grave, and the headstone; the family buys the casket, grave liner, or urn through a funeral home. Source: North Dakota National Guard: Veterans Cemetery, Cost of Burial

Honorably discharged veterans with a service-connected disability rating of 50% or more who live in and own their home can reduce its taxable value by up to $9,000 at a 100% rating, scaled down to $4,500 at 50%; apply to the local assessor or county director of tax equalization by April 1. Source: North Dakota Office of State Tax Commissioner: Disabled Veteran's Property Tax Credit

The North Dakota Veterans Aid Loan Program lends veterans and un-remarried surviving spouses up to $8,000 at 8% interest for up to 48 months, and borrowers who repay on time may get half of their interest back. Source: North Dakota Department of Veterans Affairs: Veterans Aid Loan

Hardship Assistance Grants of up to $5,000 per year help North Dakota veterans, spouses, and un-remarried surviving spouses with income and asset limits cover needs such as dental, hearing, medical travel, and housing costs. Source: North Dakota Department of Veterans Affairs: Hardship Assistance Grants

For help applying, contact the North Dakota Department of Veterans Affairs.

Planning for final costs too? See final expense insurance in North Dakota.

Frequently asked questions

Where can veterans be buried in North Dakota?

North Dakota has 1 VA national cemetery and 2 state veterans cemeteries, including Fargo National Cemetery in Harwood. Eligibility rules apply; the cemetery or North Dakota Department of Veterans Affairs can confirm.

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Can North Dakota veterans keep their military life insurance after leaving service?

SGLI can be converted to VGLI within 1 year and 120 days after separation, with no health questions if you apply within 240 days. Veterans with a service-connected rating may also qualify for VA Life Insurance (VALife). These are federal programs, so the rules are the same in every state.

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Do disabled veterans get a property tax break in North Dakota?

Honorably discharged veterans with a service-connected disability rating of 50% or more who live in and own their home can reduce its taxable value by up to $9,000 at a 100% rating, scaled down to $4,500 at 50%; apply to the local assessor or county director of tax equalization by April 1.

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Does North Dakota pay a burial benefit for veterans?

Burial at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery in Mandan is free for the veteran and an eligible spouse or dependent, including the plot, opening and closing of the grave, and the headstone; the family buys the casket, grave liner, or urn through a funeral home.

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Sources

  1. VA National Cemetery Administration: Cemeteries in North Dakota
  2. VA VetPop2023 state estimates
  3. North Dakota National Guard: Veterans Cemetery, Cost of Burial
  4. North Dakota Office of State Tax Commissioner: Disabled Veteran's Property Tax Credit
  5. North Dakota Department of Veterans Affairs: Veterans Aid Loan
  6. North Dakota Department of Veterans Affairs: Hardship Assistance Grants
  7. North Dakota Department of Veterans Affairs

Veterans guides for other states