Losing your loved one is devastating. Beyond the emotional toll, the financial uncertainty that follows can feel overwhelming. The Department of Veterans Affairs provides Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) and other death benefits to help survivors regain stability, but accessing them without assistance can be difficult.
At Hill & Ponton, our mission is to guide surviving spouses and parents through the VA’s complex processes with empathy and legal precision. Our lawyers handle the paperwork, gather evidence, and fight for all the benefits you’re owed – so that you can focus on healing.
Get DIC Benefits
(and Everything Else You’re Entitled to)
DIC Benefits
Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) is a monthly, tax-free benefit paid by the VA to the surviving dependents of certain deceased veterans. It helps compensate families for the economic loss of a service member or veteran who died:
- While on active duty, active duty for training, or inactive duty training
- From a service-connected illness or injury
- While rated totally disabled from a service-connected condition for a specific period before death
Other Benefits
- Accrued benefits (unpaid compensation due to the veteran before their death)
- Substitution of claimants (continuing a deceased veteran’s pending claim or appeal)
- Funeral and burial reimbursement
- VA Survivors Pension (for low-income spouses or children)
- Educational assistance through the Chapter 35 DEA program
- Home loan eligibility for surviving spouses
I am so thankful to Hill and Ponton for helping me win my VA appeal for DIC. They were very prompt and professional and without them I know I would never been awarded a positive outcome. The VA had denied my case 3 times and was pressuring me to close my case when I contacted Hill & Ponton. They helped me win my appeal and handled everything in a courteous and professional way!
Maryellen Townsend
When Do You Qualify for DIC Benefits?
- You were legally married to the veteran;
- The marriage lasted at least one year, or you had a child together; and
- You lived with the veteran continuously until their death (separation must not be your fault)
You may also qualify if the veteran’s death was not directly linked to their service, but they were rated 100% disabled due to service-connected conditions:
- For at least 10 continuous years before death
- For at least 5 years from the date of discharge
- For at least 1 year prior to death if the veteran was a former Prisoner of War (POW
- You are the biological, adoptive, or foster parent of the veteran
- The veteran’s death was service-connected
- Your income and net worth fall below certain VA thresholds
- You file the correct application form (VA Form 21P-535)
Unmarried children under 18 (or up to 23 if in school) may also qualify under certain conditions.
Has Your DIC Claim Been Denied?
While the VA completed over 2.5 million compensation and pension claims in 2024, many DIC claims are still denied due to:
- Incomplete or incorrect forms
- Missing service or medical evidence
- Lack of a clear service connection
- Missed filing deadlines
DIC claims involving complicated service histories or secondary conditions are more likely to be denied, requiring appeals and the assistance of a lawyer.
How Our DIC Lawyers Can Assist You
Hill & Ponton lawyers have decades of experience helping veterans and their survivors obtain the full compensation they deserve. Here’s how we support you:
- Assess your eligibility under all applicable VA provisions
- Review marriage and service records to establish qualifications
- Collect and submit key evidence including DD-214s, medical opinions, and nexus letters
- Monitor claim progress and communicate with the VA on your behalf
- Appeal denied claims through the proper VA decision review lanes: Supplemental Claims, Higher-Level Reviews and BVA appeals
- Assist with substitution claims and accrued benefits when applicable
- Maximize your total compensation, including Aid & Attendance and housebound benefits.
Why Choose a Hill & Ponton Lawyer?
Our firm focuses solely on veterans’ disability benefits and has a proven track record of winning 96% of the cases we take. We understand the weight of your loss and the importance of timely, effective support. We approach every VA claim with the compassion, legal strategy, and persistence necessary to pursue full and fair benefits.
Whether you’re a surviving spouse, parent, or dependent child, Hill & Ponton lawyers are here to help you understand your rights and pursue the benefits your loved one earned. You don’t have to go through this alone.