Survivors and Dependents Benefits

Dependency and Indemnity Compensation

Eligible survivors of certain deceased veterans may receive monthly Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC). Survivors of deceased veterans in these categories may be eligible for benefits:

• Military servicemembers who died while on active duty.
• Veterans whose death resulted from a service-related injury or disease.
• Veterans whose death resulted from a nonservice-related injury or disease, and who was receiving VA compensation for a service-connected disability that was rated as totally disabling.

How It Works

Eligible spouses receive $1,033 a month. Also, for each surviving dependent under 18, they receive an additional $237 per child.

If there isn’t a surviving spouse, the deceased veteran’s children are entitled to receive compensation.

The monthly compensation amount depends on the number of surviving children; the more children, the larger the amount. However, the benefit is split evenly among all surviving children.

• One surviving child—$438 each month
• Two surviving children—$629 each month

• Three surviving children—$819 each month

For more than three children, the monthly benefit is $819 plus $157 for each additional child.

If eight children are surviving, they each will receive $200.50 a month.

Surviving children are eligible if they are:

• Unmarried AND under the age of 18.
• If they are between the ages of 18 and 23 and are attending college.

Find out whether you are eligible and then apply for Dependency and Indemnity Compensation.