Who Gets Your VA Benefits After You Die? A Great Video

Since I've received several emails inquiring about VA Veterans Death Benefits, rather than trying to explain what I've recently learned, I thought I would post this very informative video for you.

For a detailed explanation about the VA Veterans DIC Benefits that go along with the video, I copied and pasted the following information from the VA website for you. I hope it helps.

Dependency and Indemnity Compensation

What is Dependency and Indemnity Compensation?

Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) is a monthly benefit.

It is paid to eligible survivors of:

• Servicemembers who died while on active duty, active duty for training or inactive duty training, OR
• Veterans who died as a result of a service-connected injury or disease, OR
• Veterans who did not die as a result of a service-connected injury or disease, but were totally disabled by a service-connected disability: 

1. For at least 10 years before death, OR 
2. Since their release from active duty and for at least five years before death, OR 
3. For at least one year before death, if they were a former prisoner of war and died after Sept. 30, 1999. 

Who is eligible? 

Surviving Spouses 

You may be eligible for DIC benefits if you are a surviving spouse who: 

• Married a Servicemember who died on active duty, active duty for training, or inactive duty training, OR 
• Married the deceased Veteran before Jan. 1, 1957, OR 
• Married a Veteran who died from a service-connected injury or disease, if the marriage began within 15 years of discharge,OR 
• Married the deceased Veteran for at least one year, OR 
• Had a child with the Veteran and cohabitated with the Veteran until their death. 

[DIC benefits if separated or remarried:]

Note: If you have a child with the Veteran but were separated, you must not be at fault for the separation and not be remarried to be eligible. A surviving spouse who remarries after the Veteran’s death may still be eligible for benefits: 

• If you remarried on or after January 1, 2004, and were at least 57 years old, you may still be eligible.
• If you remarried on or after December 16, 2003, were at least 57 years old, and your claim was received before December 16, 2004, you may still be eligible. 
• If you remarried on or after January 5, 2021, and were at least 55 years old, you may still be eligible. 

Additional information is available at www.va.gov/disability/dependency-indemnitycompensation/

Surviving Children 

If you are a surviving child, you may be eligible for DIC if the Veteran parent: 

• Died in the line of duty, OR 
• Died as a result of a service-connected injury or disease. You also must be unmarried and either: 
• Under the age of 18, OR 
• Between the ages of 18 and 23 and currently attending school. 

Certain helpless adult children may also be eligible. 

You can call 800-827-1000 for eligibility requirements. 

Parents 

If you are a surviving parent, you may be eligible for DIC if the Veteran child: 

• Died in the line of duty, OR 
• Died as a result of a service-connected injury or disease. 

You can find more information about Parents’ DIC at 

www.va.gov/disability/dependency-indemnity-compensation/

How Much Does VA Pay? 

• View the benefits tables for surviving spouses and children at www.benefits.va.gov/Compensation/current_rates_dic.asp 

• View the benefits table for parents at www.benefits.va.gov/Pension/current_rates_Parents_DIC_pen.asp

For benefit rates: https://www.va.gov/family-and-caregiver-benefits/survivor-compensation/dependency-indemnity-compensation/survivor-rates/

Surviving spouse rates if the Veteran died on or after January 1, 1993

If you’re the surviving spouse of a Veteran

Your monthly payment rate is: $1,653.07

Effective December 1, 2024

You may also be eligible for added amounts based on certain factors. Find any descriptions in the table below that are true for you. Add the amount listed in the Added monthly amount column of each description to your monthly payment. This is your total monthly payment.

How Can You Apply? 

Apply for DIC benefits by filling out: 

• VA Form 21P-534EZ, “Application for DIC, Death Pension and Accrued Benefits.” 

Access this form: www.va.gov/disability/dependency-indemnity-compensation/ 

• VA Form 21P-535, “Application for Dependency and Indemnity Compensation by Parent(s),” 

Access this form: www.va.gov/disability/dependency-indemnity-compensation/

Documents may be submitted by mail, in person at a VA regional office, or electronically. However, VA recommends submitting correspondence electronically as this is the fastest method of receipt. 

VA provides several tools to assist in electronic submission. To learn more about how to submit documents and claims electronically, visit www.va.gov/disability/uploadsupporting-evidence. 

You can also go directly to AccessVA to digitally upload any correspondence using Direct Upload. 

By visiting www.va.gov you can also check your claim status and learn about other VA benefits. If you need assistance, you can find a local, accredited representative at https://www.benefits.va.gov/vso/

Bring your application to a VA regional office near you. Find a VA regional office near you at 

Find VA Locations | Veterans Affairs. 

If you prefer to mail your correspondence, please use the related mailing address below: 

Department of Veterans Affairs 

Pension Intake Center 

P.O. Box 5365 

Janesville, WI  

53547-5365 

For more information, call 800-827-1000, or contact your local VA regional benefit office. 

The above information was updated in May 2022.

Here is also a PDF file on the above information:

https://benefits.va.gov/BENEFITS/factsheets/survivors/dic.pdf

I sure hope this helps answer some of your questions. 

Tom Correa