Surviving Spouse + Dependent Benefit
Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC)
Tax-free monthly benefit for surviving spouses, children, and parents of service-connected-deceased veterans.
Eligibility
- Surviving spouse: must have been married to the veteran 1+ years OR have a child with them OR married before veteran's discharge if certain conditions met
- Surviving children: under 18, OR 18-23 in school, OR any age if disabled before 18
- Surviving parents: low-income parents may qualify under separate criteria
- Veteran's death must be related to a service-connected condition (presumed if veteran was P&T at time of death for 10+ years)
- Monthly amount
- $1,699.36 base for surviving spouse
- Additional
- Plus dependent allowances ($421 for each child) + housebound/aid-and-attendance increases
- Form
- VA Form 21P-534EZ
Next step
CVSO can file at no cost — find_cvso (MCP) or /api/resources/search?type=cvso
In crisis? Call 988 and press 1 for the Veterans Crisis Line — 24/7 confidential. Family members can also reach the line; bereaved family members of fallen service members are specifically supported.
Other survivor + dependent benefits
About this guide
Survivor + dependent benefits are administered by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Always verify current eligibility + amounts at va.gov/family-and-caregiver-benefits before filing. CVSOs (County Veterans Service Officers) and VSOs (American Legion, VFW, DAV) file these claims for surviving spouses at no cost.