Survivor Benefits Guide

DIC is a tax-free monthly benefit paid to eligible survivors of service members or veterans whose death was service-connected, or veterans who were receiving (or were entitled to receive) VA compensation for a service-connected disability rated totally disabling for a specified period before death.

Who Qualifies

• Surviving spouse: Must have been married to the veteran for at least 1 year, or had a child with the veteran, and not remarried (exceptions apply for remarriage after age 57).
• Surviving children: Unmarried children under 18 (or under 23 if attending a VA-approved school). Helpless children of any age if the disability began before age 18.
• Surviving parents: Parents who are dependent on the veteran for financial support may qualify for a separate Parents' DIC benefit based on income.

Monthly Rates (2026)

Rates are adjusted annually based on the Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA). Check VA.gov for the most current rates.

How to File

File VA Form 21-534EZ (Application for DIC, Death Pension, and/or Accrued Benefits) online at VA.gov, by mail, or in person at your regional VA office. You will need the veteran's DD-214, death certificate, marriage certificate (for spouse claims), and evidence linking the death to military service.

Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance (SGLI)

SGLI provides up to $500,000 in life insurance coverage for active-duty service members, Ready Reserve members, and members of the National Guard. Coverage is automatic and continues for 120 days after separation at no cost. Beneficiaries are designated by the service member and payments are made in a lump sum or in 36 monthly installments. SGLI claims are typically processed within 5 to 10 business days of receiving all required documentation.

Veterans' Group Life Insurance (VGLI)

VGLI allows veterans to convert their SGLI coverage to a renewable term life insurance policy after separation. You must apply within 1 year and 120 days of separation (within the first 240 days, no evidence of insurability is required; after that, a health questionnaire is needed). VGLI coverage can be up to $500,000, and premiums increase every 5 years based on age. Death benefits are paid to the designated beneficiary.

Traumatic Injury Protection (TSGLI)

TSGLI provides a one-time payment of up to $100,000 to service members who suffer certain traumatic injuries (loss of limb, paralysis, severe burns, traumatic brain injury, etc.) regardless of whether the injury occurred in combat. While not a death benefit, it is an important rider to understand as part of the SGLI program.

SBP is a DoD program (not a VA benefit) that provides a monthly annuity to eligible survivors of military retirees. Unlike life insurance, SBP pays for the lifetime of the surviving spouse and includes annual COLA adjustments. The maximum SBP annuity is 55% of the retiree's selected base amount (up to full retired pay).

• Enrollment: Service members are automatically enrolled in SBP at retirement (spouse coverage at maximum level) unless they elect out with spousal concurrence.
• Premiums: 6.5% of the selected base amount, deducted from retired pay before taxes.
• Paid-up status: After 360 months of premium payments and reaching age 70, premiums stop but coverage continues.
• SBP-DIC offset: The National Defense Authorization Act for FY2020 eliminated the SBP-DIC offset. Previously, DIC payments reduced the SBP annuity dollar for dollar. As of January 1, 2023, surviving spouses receive the full SBP annuity plus full DIC with no offset.

SBP elections are irrevocable after a certain period following retirement. Service members approaching retirement should carefully consider SBP coverage levels and compare the cost to private life insurance options. For most military families, SBP is an excellent value because it provides inflation-adjusted lifetime income that cannot be outlived.

DEA Chapter 35 (Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance)

DEA provides up to 45 months of education benefits to eligible dependents of veterans who are permanently and totally disabled due to a service-connected condition, or who died while on active duty or as a result of a service-connected condition. Benefits include a monthly stipend (approximately $1,348 per month for full-time study) that can be used for degree programs, certificate programs, apprenticeships, and on-the-job training. Eligible dependents include the veteran's spouse (generally must use within 10 years of eligibility determination) and children (generally between ages 18 and 26, with some extensions available).

Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry Scholarship

The Fry Scholarship provides Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits (including full tuition and fees at public schools, a monthly housing allowance, and a book stipend) to children and surviving spouses of service members who died in the line of duty after September 10, 2001. The Fry Scholarship is generally more generous than DEA Chapter 35 and provides up to 36 months of benefits. Children may use the benefit until age 33. Surviving spouses lose eligibility upon remarriage, though recent legislation has made exceptions. Note: you cannot receive both DEA and Fry simultaneously, but you may be eligible for both and should choose the one that provides the greatest benefit for your situation.

The Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs (CHAMPVA) provides healthcare coverage for eligible dependents and survivors of veterans. You may qualify for CHAMPVA if you are the spouse or child of a veteran who has been rated permanently and totally disabled due to a service-connected disability, or the surviving spouse or child of a veteran who died from a service-connected disability or who was rated permanently and totally disabled at the time of death.

• CHAMPVA covers most medically necessary services including inpatient and outpatient care, mental health, prescriptions, durable medical equipment, and preventive care.
• There is an annual deductible ($50 per individual or $100 per family) and a cost share of 25% for most outpatient services.
• The annual catastrophic cap limits out-of-pocket costs to $3,000 per calendar year.
• CHAMPVA beneficiaries who are eligible for Medicare must enroll in Medicare Parts A and B. CHAMPVA then acts as a secondary payer.
• Apply using VA Form 10-10d along with supporting documentation (DD-214, marriage certificate, death certificate, VA rating decision).

The VA provides several burial-related benefits to honor veterans and reduce the financial burden on their families:

• Burial allowance: The VA may pay a burial allowance for service-connected deaths (up to $2,000) or non-service-connected deaths for veterans receiving VA benefits (up to $948 for burial and up to $948 for a plot).
• National cemetery burial: Eligible veterans and their spouses can be buried in any VA national cemetery at no cost. This includes the gravesite, opening and closing of the grave, a government headstone or marker, and perpetual care.
• Headstones and markers: The VA provides headstones, markers, and medallions at no cost for eligible veterans buried in national, state, or private cemeteries.
• Presidential Memorial Certificate: A certificate signed by the current President, issued to honor the memory of honorably discharged deceased veterans.
• Burial flag: A United States flag is provided to drape the casket or accompany the urn of a deceased veteran. After the burial, the flag is presented to the next of kin or close friend.
• Military funeral honors: All eligible veterans receive at minimum a two-person detail to fold and present the flag and play Taps. Full military honors may be available depending on rank and availability.

Gold Star families — the immediate family members of service members who died during active duty, during inactive duty training, or from a service-connected condition — receive additional benefits and recognition:

• Gold Star Lapel Button: Authorized for eligible family members (spouse, parents, children, siblings) and issued by the service member's branch of service.
• Commissary and exchange access: Gold Star spouses, children (under 23 or disabled), and parents retain access to military commissaries, exchanges, and MWR facilities.
• Space-Available travel: Gold Star family members may travel on military aircraft on a space-available basis.
• Continued TRICARE coverage: Surviving spouses and children may retain TRICARE coverage for up to 3 years after the service member's death. After TRICARE eligibility ends, CHAMPVA is typically available.
• Casualty Assistance Officer: Each Gold Star family is assigned a Casualty Assistance Officer to help navigate benefits, paperwork, and support services.
• Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS): A nonprofit that provides peer-based emotional support, grief counseling, and assistance navigating benefits for families of fallen service members.

Filing survivor benefit claims can feel overwhelming during an already difficult time. Here is a simplified overview of the process:

1. Gather essential documents: You will need the veteran's DD-214, death certificate, marriage certificate (for spouse claims), birth certificates for children, and the veteran's VA claim file number if they had one.
2. File for DIC: Use VA Form 21-534EZ online at VA.gov, by mail, or at your regional VA office. This is usually the first benefit to file for.
3. Contact DFAS for SBP: If the veteran was a military retiree enrolled in SBP, contact DFAS at 1-800-321-1080 to initiate the SBP annuity. DFAS will need the death certificate and your claim form.
4. File SGLI/VGLI claim: Contact the Office of Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance (OSGLI) at 1-800-419-1473. The beneficiary designation on file determines who receives the payment.
5. Apply for CHAMPVA: File VA Form 10-10d with the VA Health Administration Center in Denver, Colorado.
6. Apply for education benefits: File VA Form 22-5490 (Application for Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance) for DEA Chapter 35 or VA Form 22-1990 for the Fry Scholarship.
7. Request burial benefits: File VA Form 21P-530EZ for burial allowance. National cemetery arrangements are made through the National Cemetery Scheduling Office at 1-800-535-1117.