A benefit that is often not widely discussed or known as traditional Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) disability benefits for veterans and you, the dependents, is Dependency and Indemnity Compensation, otherwise known as DIC benefits.
These benefits offer important financial support to survivors of deceased veterans, those who lost their lives because of their service.
But who exactly qualifies for this benefit?
Survivors eligible for DIC benefits include spouses, an eligible child and parents who were financially dependent on the veteran.
Each of you face unique challenges in the wake of your loved one’s passing, and the VA created DIC benefits to help mitigate some of these and ensure the sacrifice of your veteran is never forgotten and you receive the support you deserve.
Eligibility Criteria: Is Your Veteran Qualified?
Trying to navigate criteria for eligible survivors for DIC benefits can seem a little daunting, but having a grasp of the basics is the first step!
Here’s a brief breakdown of your VETERANS qualifications:
- Service Connection: Your deceased veteran must be directly linked to or complicated by a service-connected disability or disease.
- Active Duty: If your veteran died while on active duty military service, active duty for training, or inactive duty training, the surviving dependent is usually granted DIC. They were not discharged for willful misconduct.
- Disability Rating: Veterans who passed away from non-service-related injury must have had a VA disability rating of 100% (totally disabled) for any of the following:
- At least 10 years immediately preceding death.
- Since the Veteran’s release from active duty and for at least 5 years immediately preceding death.
- At least one year immediately preceding death if the veteran was a former prisoner of war (POW).
Am I Eligible for DIC Benefits?
Eligibility for DIC benefits also varies depending upon your relationship with your veteran and if they had a service-connected disability.
Below, we’ve highlighted the basics.
For more information, check out our dependent-specific guides.
Spouses of Veterans
- You must have been married to the veteran before their discharge
- Or, at least one year prior to their time of death
- Remarriage can affect eligibility, depending on your age and the date
For more information, click below to visit our Widows DIC Guide
Dependent Children of Veterans
- Must be under 18, or under 23 if attending a VA-approved school, and unmarried
- Certain conditions also apply to those permanently incapable of self-support due to a disability before the age of 18
For more information, click below to visit our Children DIC Guide
Parents of Veterans
- Must be financially dependent on the veteran
- Income limits apply and benefits are adjusted based on financial situation
For more information, click below to visit our Parents DIC Guide
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) about DIC
Understanding the Basics
DIC is a monthly benefit, and a tax-free monetary benefit, from the VA that provides monthly financial support to eligible survivors of service members who died in the line of duty or from service-related injuries or diseases.
Unlike other VA benefits that are focused on the service member, DIC is designed specifically for survivors, in an attempt to help with the loss. It falls under death benefits.
Eligibility and Application Process
Yes, this happens primarily if the recipient’s eligibility changes, like they get remarried in the period of time before 55, or if a child beneficiary no longer meets age or educational criteria.
Key documents will be dependent on the beneficiary, but include the veteran’s death certificate, marriage certificate (for spouses), birth certificates (for children), and proof of the veteran’s service and disability rating.
The process time can vary greatly, anywhere from a couple of months to over a year. You can help expedite the process by making sure your application is complete and accurate and you have all the documents required.
Rates and Adjustments
If the veteran was rated as “totally disabled” for 8 continuous years immediately before their death, and the spouse was married to the veteran for those same 8 years, the spouse may be eligible for additional DIC benefits.
DIC rates are set by Congress and usually change yearly, based on cost-of-living (COLA) adjustments. For current DIC rates, visit the VA’s official DIC rates page.
Maintaining Your Benefits
You can contact the VA through their official website or by calling 1-800-827-1000.
Yes, if you are a parent you may need to verify income, and if you’re a spouse or a child and have had a significant life change, you’ll need to verify.
Any changes in marital status, income or school attendance for children should be reported to avoid overpayments or eligibility issues.
Additional Questions
Consider filing an appeal and using the assistance of a VA-accredited representative or attorney. Hill & Ponton has helped many veterans get the benefits they deserve. Contact us for more information.
Yes, in many cases, but it’s circumstance dependent and based on what type of benefit and its eligibility criteria.
As mentioned above, the service member’s cause of death and their disability rating at the time of death are VERY important in determining DIC eligibility.
Some states offer additional benefits to DIC recipients, such as property tax exemptions. Check with your state’s veterans affairs department for more information.
Content Review
Cassandra Crosby, an Accredited Agent and claims advocate for Matthew Hill & Shelly Mark’s teams, reviewed the information provided in this post.