THE VETERANS' PRESS: VA income after death of spouse

If you’re the surviving spouse, child, or parent of a service member who died in the line of duty, or the survivor of a veteran who died from a service-related injury or illness, you may be able to get a tax-free monetary benefit called VA Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (VA DIC). Find out if you can get VA benefits or compensation.

Am I eligible for VA DIC as a surviving spouse or dependent?

As a surviving spouse.

Eligibility

• You may be eligible for VA benefits or compensation if you meet these requirements.

One of these must be true:

• You lived with the veteran or service member without a break until their death, or

• If you’re separated, you weren’t at fault for the separation.

And one of these must be true:

• 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 one 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 Dec. 16, 2003, and you were 57 years of age or older at the time you remarried, or

• You remarried on or after Jan. 5, 2021, and you were 55 years of age or older at the time you remarried.

Evidence

You’ll 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.

Provide evidence showing

that one of these is true:

• 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, they must have had this rating:

• For at least 10 years before their death, or

• Since their release from active duty and for at least five years immediately before their death, or

• For at least one year before their death if they were a former prisoner of war who died after Sept. 30, 1999.

Note: “Totally disabling” means the veteran’s injuries made it impossible for them to work.

Surviving spouse rates if the veteran died on or after Jan. 1, 1993.

If you’re the surviving spouse of a veteran:

• Your monthly payment rate is: $1,562.74

Effective Dec. 1, 2022

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.

Added amounts for surviving spouses:

Effective Dec. 1, 2022

If this description is true; You may qualify for this benefit; Added monthly amount (in U.S. $):

• The veteran had a VA disability rating of totally disabling (including for individual unemployability) for at least the eight full years leading up to their death, and you were married to the veteran for those same eight years; eight-year provision; 331.84

• You have a disability and need help with regular daily activities (like eating, bathing, or dressing); Aid and Attendance; 387.15

• You can’t leave your house due to a disability; Housebound allowance; 181.37

• • •

Complete list of added amounts at VA.gov.

For local help or information, see the “North Idaho Resource Directory” in The Veterans' Press.