Did you know that if your are the surviving parent, spouse or child of a member who was in the service, and died in the line of duty, or survivor of a veteran who died in the line of duty, you may be eligible for compensation under the VA Dependency and Indemnity Compensation?
Let's expand on this so that you may learn if you qualify:
If your are a surviving parent:
You may be eligible for VA benefits or compensation if you meet these requirements. These two criteria must be true:
You’re the biological, adoptive, or foster parent of the Veteran or service member, and
Your income is below a certain amount
Please Note: We define a foster parent as someone who served
in the role of a parent to the Veteran or service member before their last entry into active service. You will need to provide evidence with your claim showing that one of these descriptions is true for the Veteran or service member. Evidence may include documents like military service records, doctor’s reports, and medical test results.
The service member died from an injury or illness while on active duty or in the line of duty while on active duty for training, or
The service member died from an injury or certain illnesses in the line of duty while on inactive training, or
The Veteran died from a service-connected illness or injury
Please Note: If you’re the survivor of a Veteran who died from COVID-19 and a service-related condition made their illness worse, you may be eligible for VA DIC. When we review your application, we will discuss whether a service-related condition contributed to your loved one’s illness.
If your are a surviving spouse
You may be eligible for VA benefits or compensation if you meet these requirements:
You lived with the Veteran or service member without a break until their death, or
If you’re separated, you weren’t responsible for the separation
And
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
You’ll need to provide evidence with your claim showing that one of these descriptions is true for the Veteran or service member. Evidence includes documents like military service records, doctor’s reports, and medical test results.
Documents should confirm the following:
The service member died while on active duty, active duty for training, or inactive-duty training, or
The Veteran died from a service-connected illness or injury, or
The Veteran didn’t die from a service-connected illness or injury, but was eligible to receive VA compensation for a service-connected disability rated as totally disabling for a certain period of time
If the Veteran’s eligibility was due to a rating of totally disabling (impossible to work due to injuries) , it is compulsory that they would have had one of these ratings:
For at least 10 years before their death, or
Since their release from active duty and for at least 5 years immediately before their death, or
For at least 1 year before their death if they were a former prisoner of war who died after September 30, 1999
If you are a surviving child
You may be eligible for VA benefits or compensation if you meet these requirements.
These criteria 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)
Please 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.
You will need to provide proof with your claim showing that one of thes
e descriptions is true for the Veteran or service member. Evidence may include documents like military service records, doctor’s reports, and medical test results.
The service member died while on active duty, active duty for training, or inactive-duty training, or
The Veteran died from a service-connected illness or injury, or
The Veteran didn’t die from a service-connected illness or injury, but was eligible to receive VA compensation for a service-connected disability that was rated as totally disabling for a certain period of time
If the Veteran’s eligibility was due to a service-connected disability rated as totally disabling (impossible to work due to injuries), it is compulsory that they would have had one of these ratings:
For at least 10 years before their death, or
Since their release from active duty and for at least 5 years immediately before their death, or
For at least 1 year before their death if they were a former prisoner of war who died after September 30, 1999
What are your benefits and How do you apply?
If you qualify and meet the above criteria based on the specific category, you can get tax-free monetary benefits. The amount you receive depends on the type of survivor you are. VA DIC rates differ depending on
If one or both parents are alive for surviving children
If veteran died on, before or after January 1, 1993 for surviving spouses
First you’ll need to fill out an application for benefits. The app
lication you fill out will depend on your survivor status.
If you’re the surviving spouse or child of a service member who died while on active duty, your military casualty assistance officer will help you to complete an Application for DIC, Death Pension, and/or Accrued Benefits by a Surviving Spouse or Child (VA Form 21P-534a). The officer will help you mail the form to the correct VA regional office.
If you’re the surviving spouse or child of a Veteran, fill out an Application for DIC, Death Pension, and/or Accrued Benefits (VA Form 21P-534EZ).
If you’re a surviving parent, fill out an Application for Dependency and Indemnity Compensation by Parent(s) (VA Form 21P-535).
Information for survivors with PACT Act-related claims
If you think you’re eligible for VA DIC under the PACT Act, you can submit an application to the VA by clicking here.
If you are not service connected, or if you need education or resources Veterans Claim Servants Education and Consulting is here for you. Please call us at 904 605 0431 or get started by clicking here. As always thank you for your service to America!
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