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BENEFITS FOR SURVIVORS

DEPENDENCY AND INDEMNITY COMPENSATION (DIC)

DIC is a monthly benefit payable to surviving spouses, unmarried children under 18, helpless children, those between 18 and 23 if attending a VA-approved school, and low-income parents of service personnel or veterans who died from:

• A disease or injury incurred or aggravated while on active duty

• An injury incurred or aggravated while on inactive duty training

• A disability compensable by VA

DIC payments may also be authorized if, at time of death:

• The veteran was continuously rated totally disabled but death was not the result of a service-connected physical disability

Payments of DIC are subject to offset by amounts received from judicial proceedings brought on account of the veteran's death.  All other income of the recipient is not a factor in the award of DIC.

Surviving spouses of veterans who died after Jan. 1, 1993 receive $993 monthly. An additional $213 is added to the basic rate if the deceased veteran had been rated totally disabled 8 continuous years prior to death and the surviving spouse was married to the veteran those same 8 years.

DIC payments are also made to children or parents, but the amount of award depends on the recipients' other income.

DEATH PENSION

Surviving spouses and unmarried children of deceased veterans with wartime service may be eligible for a death pension based on need. Children must be under age 18, or up to age 23 if attending a VA-approved school. Pension is not payable to those with estates large enough to provide maintenance.

Improved Pension Rates (2005)

The allowance increases by $1,734 for each dependent child.

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