VA benefits for a veteran’s surviving spouse: DIC and Survivors Pension

General information, not legal, tax or financial advice. Last reviewed Oct 30, 2026.

Quick answerThere are two main monthly VA benefits. Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) is tax free and is for survivors when a service member died in the line of duty or a veteran died from a service-connected condition, or had been rated totally disabled for a set period. The basic 2026 rate for a surviving spouse is $1,699.36 a month. Survivors Pension is needs-based and is for survivors of wartime veterans. You can’t get both; VA pays whichever is higher. Most survivors apply on VA Form 21P-534EZ.

DIC: who qualifiesFederal law

The veteran or service member: died on active duty, active duty for training or inactive-duty training; or died from a service-connected illness or injury; or didn’t, but had a service-connected disability rated totally disabling for at least 10 years before death, or since release from active duty and for at least 5 years before death, or for at least 1 year before death if a former prisoner of war who died after Sept. 30, 1999.

The surviving spouse: lived with the veteran without a break until death (or wasn’t at fault for a separation), and married within 15 years of the discharge from the period of service when the qualifying condition began or worsened, or was married at least 1 year, or had a child with the veteran.

Remarriage: you can still get DIC if you remarried on or after Dec. 16, 2003 at age 57 or older, or on or after Jan. 5, 2021 at age 55 or older.

Children and parents: unmarried children under 18 (or under 23 in school) who aren’t on the spouse’s award can qualify. Parents with income below VA’s limit can qualify if the death was in the line of duty or service connected; they use VA Form 21P-535.

DIC eligibility for spouses, children and parents; totally-disabling rating periods; remarriage ages; application forms. Source: VA – About DIC for spouses, dependents and parents, checked Oct 30, 2026.

DIC: 2026 monthly rates for a surviving spouseFederal law

Item	Monthly amount
Basic rate (veteran died on or after Jan. 1, 1993)	$1,699.36
8-year provision: veteran rated totally disabling for the 8 full years before death and you were married those 8 years	+ $360.85
Aid and Attendance (you need help with daily activities)	+ $421.00
Housebound	+ $197.22
Each child under 18	+ $421.00
Transitional benefit with a child under 18, first 2 years after the death	+ $359.00

Rates effective Dec. 1, 2025. VA uses a different, pay-grade-based table if the veteran died before Jan. 1, 1993. DIC payments are tax exempt. You can receive a full Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) annuity and full DIC at the same time; the old SBP-DIC offset ended Jan. 1, 2023.

2026 DIC rates and added amounts; pre-1993 table; tax-exempt; DIC vs Survivors Pension (VA pays the higher); end of SBP-DIC offset. Source: VA – Current DIC rates for spouses and dependents, checked Oct 30, 2026.

Survivors Pension: who qualifiesFederal law

The veteran wasn’t dishonorably discharged and served at least 1 day during a wartime period: at least 90 days of active service if they entered on or before Sept. 7, 1980, or generally at least 24 months (or the full period called up) if they entered later.
The surviving spouse hasn’t remarried, lived with the veteran continuously from marriage until death (some separations for health, work or the veteran’s misconduct are allowed), and has family income and net worth within limits set by Congress. Net worth doesn’t count your house, car and most furnishings.
Children qualify if unmarried and under 18, under 23 in a VA-approved school, or disabled before 18.
Wartime periods include World War II (Dec. 7, 1941 – Dec. 31, 1946), Korea (June 27, 1950 – Jan. 31, 1955), Vietnam (Nov. 1, 1955 – May 7, 1975 for service in Vietnam; Aug. 5, 1964 – May 7, 1975 elsewhere) and the Gulf War (Aug. 2, 1990 to a date not yet set).

Survivors Pension eligibility, net worth definition, continuous cohabitation, children, wartime periods, application options. Source: VA – Survivors Pension, checked Oct 30, 2026.

How to apply

Report the death to VA if the veteran was receiving benefits, to avoid an overpayment debt.
Consider filing an intent to file first. It can protect an earlier start date while you gather evidence.
Complete VA Form 21P-534EZ (DIC, Survivors Pension and/or Accrued Benefits). If the service member died on active duty, a casualty assistance officer helps with Form 21P-534a.
Apply with an accredited representative (attorney, claims agent or Veterans Service Organization), upload through QuickSubmit, visit a VA regional office, or mail to the Pension Intake Center, PO Box 5365, Janesville, WI 53547-5365.
Include evidence such as service records and medical records showing the cause of death or the disability rating.

Forms, intent to file, ways to apply and the mailing address. Source: VA – About DIC for spouses, dependents and parents, checked Oct 30, 2026.
Reporting a death to avoid overpayment debt. Source: VA – Survivors Pension, checked Oct 30, 2026.

Social Security survivor benefits are separate. See Social Security when someone dies.

Not yet verified: state benefits for surviving spouses of veterans in New Hampshire, California, Texas, Florida and Ohio, such as property tax relief.

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