Survivor benefits for military families

When a service member or veteran dies, several benefits exist to support the family — but survivors often don't know what they're entitled to or how to claim it. Here are the main ones.

Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC)

DIC is a tax-free monthly payment to eligible survivors of a service member who died in the line of duty, or of a veteran who died from a service-connected condition. The 2026 rates (effective December 1, 2025) are:

• $1,699.36/month base rate for a surviving spouse.
• +$360.85/month if the veteran had a totally disabling rating (including TDIU) for at least the 8 full years before death and you were married that whole time.
• +$421.00/month for each child under 18.
• Additional amounts are available if the surviving spouse needs Aid & Attendance or is housebound.

Who qualifies as a surviving spouse

Generally, you must have been married to the veteran for at least one year, or have had a child together, and have lived with the veteran continuously until their death (if you were separated, it can't have been your fault).

The Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) — and no more offset

SBP is the annuity a retiree can elect to leave part of their pension to a survivor (see the pension estimator to model the cost and payout). Important: the old "widow's tax" (the SBP–DIC offset) has been fully eliminated — eligible survivors can now receive their full SBP annuity and full DIC at the same time.

Other survivor benefits

• Health care (CHAMPVA) for eligible survivors not covered by TRICARE.
• Education — the Fry Scholarship (Post-9/11 benefits) or DEA/Chapter 35; see the education benefits guide.
• VA Survivors Pension for low-income surviving spouses/children of wartime veterans.
• Burial & memorial benefits, and in some cases a home-loan guaranty.

How to apply

File VA Form 21P-534EZ for DIC and survivors pension at VA.gov, or get free help from an accredited Veterans Service Officer (VSO). If you're in crisis, the Veterans Crisis Line supports survivors too — dial 988 then press 1.

Rates verified against VA.gov (effective December 1, 2025). General information, not a determination of eligibility — confirm with the VA or a VSO. Source: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.