A Survivor's Guide to VA Benefits: DIC, Survivors Pension, and SBP Explained
Navigating the loss of a Veteran is incredibly difficult. This comprehensive guide provides essential information about survivor benefits, financial assistance, and support resources available to help you and your family during this challenging time.
The Department of Defense and Department of Veterans Affairs provide comprehensive benefits and support to survivors of service members and Veterans. Understanding these benefits can help ease the financial burden during this difficult time and ensure you receive all the assistance you're entitled to.
This guide covers immediate financial assistance, long-term survivor benefits, pension programs, and specialized support services available through the VA Office of Survivors Assistance.
The Death Gratuity program provides a special tax-free payment of $100,000 to eligible survivors of members of the Armed Forces who die while on active duty or while serving in certain reserve statuses.
Key Features
- Amount: $100,000 (tax-free)
- Same regardless of cause of death
- Purpose: Immediate cash to meet financial needs before other survivor benefits become available
Eligibility
Eligible survivors of Armed Forces members who die while on active duty or while serving in certain reserve statuses.
More Information: militarypay.defense.gov/Benefits/Death-Gratuity
The Survivor Benefit Plan is a Department of Defense sponsored and subsidized program that provides up to 55 percent of a service member's retired pay to an eligible beneficiary upon the death of the member.
Automatic Coverage
- No-cost automatic coverage for members serving on active duty
- Reserve component members who die of a service-connected cause while performing inactive duty training
Elective Coverage
- Active-duty members can purchase coverage upon retirement
- Reserve component members can elect coverage when they have 20 years of qualifying service for reserve retired pay
More Information: militarypay.defense.gov/Benefits/Survivor-Benefit-Program
DIC is a tax-free monetary benefit generally payable to eligible survivors of military service members who died in the line of duty or eligible survivors of Veterans whose death resulted from a service-related injury or disease.
Eligibility for Totally Disabled Veterans
DIC may also be paid to certain survivors of Veterans who were totally disabled from service-connected conditions at the time of death, even though their service-connected disabilities did not cause their deaths. The survivor qualifies if the Veteran was:
- Continuously rated totally disabled for a period of 10 years immediately preceding death; OR
- Continuously rated totally disabled from the date of military discharge and for at least 5 years immediately preceding death; OR
- A former POW who was continuously rated totally disabled for a period of at least one year immediately preceding death
Current Rates: www.va.gov/disability/survivor-dic-rates
To qualify for DIC, a surviving spouse must meet the following requirements:
- Married to a service member who died on active duty, active duty for training, or inactive duty training; OR
- Validly married the Veteran before January 1, 1957; OR
- Married the Veteran within 15 years of discharge from the period of military service in which the disease or injury that caused the Veteran's death began or was aggravated; OR
- Was married to the Veteran for at least one year; OR
- Had a child with the Veteran and cohabitated with the Veteran continuously until the Veteran's death; OR
- If separated, was not at fault for the separation and is not currently remarried
Important Remarriage Update
A surviving spouse who remarries on or after January 5, 2021, upon attaining age 55 remains eligible for DIC benefits. A surviving spouse who previously lost eligibility to DIC due to a remarriage occurring between the ages of 55 and 57, would now be eligible to have the benefit reinstated effective January 5, 2021.
A surviving child may be eligible if not included on the surviving spouse's DIC and meets the following criteria:
- Unmarried and under age 18; OR
- Between the ages of 18 and 23 and attending school at an approved institution
Note: A child adopted out of the Veteran's family may be eligible for DIC if all other eligibility criteria are met.
Parents' DIC is an income-based benefit for parents who were financially dependent on a Service member or Veteran who died from a service-related cause.
Important Notes
- When countable income exceeds the limit set by law, no benefits are payable
- The spouse's income must also be included if the parent is living with a spouse
Aid and Attendance/Housebound Benefits
If a Veteran died on or after January 1, 1993, the Veteran's surviving spouse may receive additional benefits beyond the basic DIC rate if the spouse:
- Is residing in a skilled nursing facility; OR
- Requires the regular assistance of another person to perform the activities of daily living; OR
- Is permanently housebound
DIC 8-Year Special Allowances
If a deceased Veteran was considered "permanent and totally disabled" for eight (8) continuous years prior to death and the surviving spouse was married to the Veteran for those same eight years, the surviving spouse may be entitled to an additional monthly benefit.
Qualifying Conditions
- Veteran had 100% rating or permanent and total individual unemployability
- Continuous for 8 years prior to death
- Surviving spouse was married to Veteran for those same 8 years
Child Supplement: If there are surviving dependent children under age 18 in the care of the surviving spouse, an additional child supplement payment may be added to the DIC award for the initial two (2) years of entitlement. This additional amount will be automatically terminated two years after the DIC award grant.
Restored Entitlement Program for Survivors
An additional special benefit may be payable to Survivors of a Veteran who died of service-connected causes prior to August 13, 1981. The amount of the benefit is based on information provided by the Social Security Administration.
Survivors Pension is an income and net worth-based program payable to low-income surviving spouses or children who have not married/remarried since the death of the Veteran.
How It Works
- Any benefit payable is reduced by annual income from other sources, such as Social Security
- If the Survivor has unreimbursed medical expenses, these costs can be deducted from countable income to increase the benefit amount
- Costs of care at an Assisted Living or Skilled Nursing Facility can be deducted
Veteran Eligibility Requirements
The deceased Veteran must have met the following requirements:
- If the Veteran served on or before September 7, 1980: at least 90 days of active military service, with at least one day during a wartime period
- If the Veteran entered active duty after September 7, 1980: generally must have served at least 24 months or the full tour of duty with at least one day during a wartime period
- Discharged from military service under other than dishonorable conditions
Surviving Child Eligibility
To qualify as a surviving child of a deceased Veteran, the child must meet the following requirements:
- Under age 18; OR
- Under age 23 if attending a VA-approved school; OR
- Permanently incapable of self-support due to a disability diagnosed before age 18
How to Apply
Download and complete VA Form 21P-534EZ, "Application for DIC, Death Pension, and/or Accrued Benefits"
Mail to:
Pension Intake Center
P.O. Box 5365
Janesville, WI 53547
More Information: www.va.gov/pension/survivors-pension
Survivors who are eligible for pension and require the aid and attendance of another person, or are housebound, may be eligible for a higher maximum annual pension rate.
Important Notes
- These benefits are paid in addition to monthly pension
- They are not paid without eligibility to survivor's pension
- Since aid and attendance and housebound allowances increase the pension amount, people who are not eligible for a basic pension due to excessive income may be eligible for pension at these increased rates
- A surviving spouse may not receive aid and attendance benefits and housebound benefits at the same time
How to Apply
Submit VA Form 21-2680, Examination for Housebound Status or Permanent Need for Regular Aid and Attendance
Mail to:
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Pension Intake Center
P.O. Box 5365
Janesville, WI 53547
Required Evidence: Include copies of any evidence, preferably a report from an attending physician or a nursing home, validating the need for aid and attendance or housebound status.
The report should contain enough detail to determine whether there is disease or injury producing physical or mental impairment, loss of coordination or conditions affecting the ability to dress and undress, to feed oneself, to attend to sanitary needs, and to keep oneself ordinarily clean and presentable; or whether confined to the immediate premises due to disability.
More Information: www.va.gov/pension/aid-attendance-housebound
Reductions for Medicaid Covered Nursing Facility Care
Surviving spouses without dependents or surviving children who are in a Medicaid-approved nursing facility and are covered by a Medicaid plan for services furnished by the nursing facility are limited to receiving $90 per month in pension benefits. No part of the $90 monthly pension may be used to reduce the amount of Medicaid paid to a nursing facility.
VA has an Office of Survivors Assistance (OSA) that serves as information experts about the benefits available for survivors. They can help you navigate the complex landscape of survivor benefits and ensure you receive all the assistance you're entitled to.
Contact Information
Email: officeofsurvivors@va.gov
Website: www.va.gov/survivors
How They Can Help
- Answer questions about survivor benefits
- Guide you through the application process
- Provide information about eligibility requirements
- Connect you with additional resources and support services
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