Survivors and Dependents Benefits

Parents Dependency and Indemnity Compensation

Parents’ Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (Parents DIC) is an income-based, monthly benefit paid to the eligible parents of deceased veterans. If your annual income is less than the limit designated by the VA, you may receive the difference between the VA’s limit and your annual income.

Annual Income Limits

  • Parent not living with a spouse—$12,034
  • Parent living with a spouse—$16,176

How It Works

Example 1: Parent not Living With a Spouse

For this example, assume your annual income is $9,000. You would receive $3,024 each year, the difference between $9,000 and the VA annual income limit of $12,034.

JoeMath

   

    $12,034  (annual income limit) 
-  $  9,000   (your annual income)                  

    $3,024    (amount you recieve each year)

The VA breaks up your benefit into 12 monthly installments. So you would receive $252 each month in Dependency and Indemnity Compensation.

JoeMath

    $3,024  (amount recieved annually) 
÷    12                                                                   
    $252 (amount you will recieve monthly)                

Example 2: Parent Living With a Spouse

For this example, assume your annual income is $12,276. You would receive $3,900 each year, the difference between $12,276 and the VA annual income limit of $16,176.

JoeMath

   

    $16,176  (annual income limit) 
-  $12,276   (your annual income)                  

    $3,900    (amount you recieve each year)

The VA breaks up your benefit into 12 monthly installments. So you would receive $325 each month in Dependency and Indemnity Compensation.

JoeMath

    $3,900  (amount recieved annually) 
÷    12                                                                   
    $325 (amount you will recieve monthly)                

Limits

There are limits to how much Parents’ Dependency and Indemnity Compensation you can receive each year.

  • Sole surviving parent and not living with a spouse—$5,568
  • One of two parents and are not living with a spouse—$4,008
  • One of two parents and are living with a spouse—$3,768


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

Benefits Calculator

What Benefits Do You Qualify For?

Joe's Notes


JoeNote

A spouse’s income must be including when calculating your income to see if you are under the VA annual income limit.

JoeNote

Medical bills that you paid can be deducted from your annual income, and the VA will use this adjusted annual income when considering your eligibility.

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