Dependent & Survivor Benefits

Overview

When a veteran passes away, their spouse, children, or dependent parents may be entitled to a range of VA benefits — but the system involves several different programs, each with its own application and eligibility rules. This guide walks through the core survivor benefits: compensation, pension, life insurance, education benefits, and health coverage, so families know what to look for and where to start.

Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC)

DIC is a tax-free monthly benefit paid to eligible survivors of veterans who died from a service-connected condition, or who were rated totally disabled for a qualifying period before death. It's filed using VA Form 21P-534EZ (Application for DIC, Survivors Pension, and/or Accrued Benefits). Eligibility generally requires the surviving spouse to have been married to the veteran at the time of death (with some exceptions for remarriage after age 57), or to be an unmarried dependent child.

Survivors Pension

Separate from DIC, the Survivors Pension is a needs-based benefit for low-income surviving spouses and unmarried children of wartime veterans — available even if the veteran's death wasn't service-connected. It's filed on the same Form 21P-534EZ, and income and net worth limits apply. A survivor may qualify for DIC, Survivors Pension, or neither, depending on their specific situation — it's worth applying and letting the VA make the determination rather than assuming ineligibility.

Burial and Memorial Benefits

The VA provides burial benefits including a burial allowance, a government headstone or marker, a burial flag, and eligibility for burial in a VA national cemetery for the veteran and, in many cases, their spouse and dependents. Some of these benefits require filing within specific time windows after the veteran's death, so it's worth looking into promptly rather than waiting.

SGLI and VGLI Life Insurance

If the veteran had Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance (SGLI) or converted to Veterans' Group Life Insurance (VGLI) after separation, beneficiaries file a claim through the Office of Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance (OSGLI) — this is a separate process from VA disability or DIC claims, with its own paperwork and timeline.

Social Security Survivor Benefits

Separate from VA benefits entirely, a surviving spouse and dependent children may also be eligible for Social Security survivor benefits based on the veteran's work record. This is filed directly with the Social Security Administration, not the VA, and is worth pursuing alongside any VA claims rather than assuming one covers the other.

CHAMPVA Health Coverage

CHAMPVA provides health care coverage for the spouse or child of a veteran who is permanently and totally disabled from a service-connected condition, or who died from a service-connected condition or while rated permanently and totally disabled. It functions similarly to insurance, covering a share of medical costs for eligible dependents and survivors.

Education Benefits for Dependents

The Fry Scholarship (for survivors of a service member who died in the line of duty) and the Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance program, Chapter 35 (for dependents of veterans who are permanently and totally disabled or who died from a service-connected cause) can both help cover tuition and provide a monthly housing allowance for a spouse or child pursuing education.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Assuming only one benefit applies — many survivors qualify for DIC or pension, SGLI/VGLI, Social Security, and education benefits all at once; each is a separate application
• Missing time-sensitive burial benefit windows — some burial and memorial benefits have filing deadlines after the date of death
• Not applying because of uncertainty about eligibility — DIC and Survivors Pension have different qualifying paths; let the VA make the determination rather than assuming you don't qualify
• Overlooking CHAMPVA — many surviving spouses don't realize they may have ongoing health coverage available

Free VSO Help

Veteran Service Organizations like DAV, VFW, and the American Legion offer free help filing survivor claims, and grief support resources like TAPS and Military OneSource are available for families navigating this process.