Benefits for Survivors and Dependents
What is Veterans Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC)?
Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) is a tax-free monthly monetary benefit payable to the surviving dependents of a deceased veteran. There is no minimum active-duty service requirement for DIC claims; however, there may be a 90-day length-of-service requirement if the cause of death was a chronic disease.
Benefits for Surviving Spouse and Dependents
As with disability compensation for a veteran, DIC benefits for a surviving spouse and/or surviving dependent is not income-based. It is the benefit payable if the veteran died while on active duty, in the line of duty (not due to willful misconduct); or, when death was after service, if a service-connected disability either directly caused, or contributed substantially to and materially hastened, the veteran’s death.
It is not required that a service connection was established prior to the veteran’s death for the condition which caused or contributed to death. The rules and procedures for establishing service connection for a veteran’s death are similar to the rules for establishing a service-connected disability for a living veteran, with due consideration of the finality of the evidence in a death claim.
Get Expert Assistance with Survivor and Dependent Benefits
The Department of Military and Veterans Affairs' accredited Veterans Service Officers (VSOs) provide expert assistance with Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC), pensions, CHAMPVA health insurance, and other survivor and dependent benefits.
Who Is eligible?
As a surviving spouse, you may be eligible for VA benefits or compensation if you meet these requirements.
One of these must be true:
- You lived with the Veteran or service member without a break until their death, or
- If you’re separated, you weren’t at fault for the separation
And one of these must be true:
- You married the Veteran or service member within 15 years of their discharge from the period of military service during which the qualifying illness or injury started or got worse, or
- You were married to the Veteran or service member for at least 1 year, or
- You had a child with the Veteran or service member
Note: If you remarried, you can receive or continue to receive compensation if one of these describes you:
- You remarried on or after December 16, 2003, and you were 57 years of age or older at the time you remarried, or
- You remarried on or after January 5, 2021, and you were 55 years of age or older at the time you remarried
As a surviving child, you may be eligible for VA benefits or compensation if you meet these requirements.
All of these must be true:
- You aren’t married, and
- You aren’t included on the surviving spouse’s compensation, and
- You’re under the age of 18 (or under the age of 23 if attending school)
Note: If you were adopted out of the Veteran’s or service member’s family, but meet all other eligibility criteria, you still qualify for compensation.
Are there any state-specific education benefits for surviving spouse and dependents?
Dependents can apply for VA education benefits by reviewing the pamphlet and following the application process. You may also be eligible for the California Department of Veterans Affairs College tuition fee waiver program, which requires a review for eligibility determination.
I'm applying for CHAMPVA and have other health insurance. How do I handle that?
If you’re applying for CHAMPVA (Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs) and have other health insurance to declare, or need to report changes in your non-VA health insurance, such as new beneficiaries or coverage changes, you must provide this information during the application process. Our VSOs can guide you through the process of declaring other health insurance when applying for CHAMPVA.