What to Know: Benefits for Families of Late Veterans

Benefits for Families of Late Veterans

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) offers a number of benefits and services to help families of deceased veterans. These benefits may include financial assistance, healthcare, education, and burial services.

Financial Assistance

* Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC): DIC is a monthly benefit paid to eligible surviving spouses, dependent children, and parents of veterans who died in service or from a service-connected disability.

* Survivors' Pension: Survivors' Pension is a monthly benefit paid to eligible surviving spouses of veterans who died of non-service-connected causes if the spouse is age 57 or older, disabled, or caring for a child under age 18.

* Children's Benefits: Children of deceased veterans may be eligible for a variety of benefits, including educational assistance, healthcare coverage, and burial services.

Healthcare

* VA Health Care: Eligible surviving spouses, children, and parents of deceased veterans may be eligible for VA health care. VA health care includes medical care, prescription drugs, mental health care, and dental care.

* Civilian Health Insurance: VA may provide a Civilian Health Insurance (CHI) plan to the surviving spouse or dependent children of a veteran who died while on active duty or from a service-connected disability.

Education

* Educational Assistance: Children of deceased veterans may be eligible for educational assistance, including grants, loans, and work-study programs.

* Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA): DEA is a VA education benefit that provides a monthly stipend to eligible children, spouses, and parents of veterans who died in service or from a service-connected disability.

Burial Services

* Burial Benefits: VA provides a number of burial benefits for deceased veterans, including a headstone or marker, a burial plot, and a flag for the grave.

* Funeral and Burial Expenses: VA may also provide a contribution toward funeral and burial expenses for deceased veterans.

Additional Benefits

* Death Gratuity: VA pays a death gratuity of $1,000 to the surviving spouse of a veteran who died in service or from a service-connected disability.

* Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance (SGLI): Veterans who have SGLI coverage may leave a portion of their death benefit to their surviving family members.

* Veterans' Reemployment Rights: Eligible surviving spouses, children, and parents of veterans may be eligible for reemployment rights if the veteran was discharged or died while on active duty.

To Apply for VA Benefits

Veterans and their families can apply for VA benefits by visiting the VA website or by calling the VA's toll-free number at 1-800-827-1000.