There are a number of benefits available to surviving spouses, children, and parents of deceased veterans.
Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC):
DIC is a monthly benefit payable to eligible survivors of;
The surviving spouse is eligible if they validly married the veteran before January 1, 1957, or was married to a service member who died on active duty, active duty for training, or inactive duty for training, or married to the veteran within 15 years of separation from the period of service in which the injury or disease that caused the veteran's death began, or was married to the veteran for a minimum of one year, or had a child with the veteran, AND cohabited with the veteran continuously until the veteran's death, and is not currently remarried (a surviving spouse who remarries on or after December 16, 2003, and attained the age of 57, is entitled to continue to receive DIC).
Surviving children may be eligible for DIC if they were not included on the surviving spouse's DIC, unmarried, and under the age of 18, or between 18 and 23 and attending school.
Currently (2021) the rate for DIC is $1,357.56 monthly for an eligible surviving spouse. The rate increases for every qualifying dependent child and if the spouse is housebound or in the need of aid and attendance. The VA also adds a transitional benefit of $301.00 to the monthly DIC if there are children under the age of 18, which is based on a family unit and not on individual children.
Note 1: The service-connected disability does not have to be granted before the veteran's passing. Service-connection can also be awarded after the veteran's death as well.
Note 2: A claim for DIC also acts as a claim for Substitution as well!.
If you believe you have all of the needed evidence up front to attach to the claim, then you should fill out the VAF 21P-534ez rather than the 21P-534.
Parents' Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC):
Parents' DIC is an income based monthly benefit for parents of a service member or veteran who died from a disease or injury incurred while on active duty, active duty for training, or an injury incurred in the line of duty, or certain diseases while on inactive duty training, or a service-connected disability.
Survivor's Pension:
The Survivor pension benefit is a needs based benefit payable to a surviving spouse of a deceased veteran who had wartime service. Basic eligibility criteria exists when;
To file for the survivor's pension, simply fill out either the above VAF 21-534 or 21-534ez and submit it to VA with all of your supporting documets.
Claim for substitution:
If the veteran had a claim or an appeal pending at the time of his or her passing, an eligible claimant (the surviving spouse of child) can 'substitute' themselves for the deceased veteran and continue the claim or appeal in their place. To do so the claimant must submit the VAF 21P-0847 claim within one year of the death of the veteran.
For additional information regarding accrued benefits and Substitution claims, see the below "fact sheet" from VA;
If you're a surviving spouse, child, or parent of a deceased service member or veteran, you may be eligible for some of these benefits. Either Contact me for more information or you can fillout the appropriate form above and submit it VA.