Veterans Dependency and Indemnity Compensation for Service-Connected Death

To compensate surviving spouses, children and parents for the death of any Service member who died while on active duty, active duty for training, or inactive duty training, OR any Veteran who: died from an injury or disease deemed to be related to military service, OR died from a non-service related injury or disease, but was receiving, or was entitled to receive, VA Compensation for a service-connected disability or disabilities that was rated as totally disabling: for at least 10 years immediately preceding death, OR since the Veteran's release from active duty and for at least five years immediately preceding death, OR for at least one year before death if the Veteran was a former prisoner of war who died after September 30, 1999.

Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) is payable to an unremarried surviving spouse, unmarried children and dependent parent or parents of the deceased Veteran who died before January 1, 1957, because of a service-connected disability. For deaths on or after January 1, 1957, DIC is payable to an unremarried surviving spouse, unmarried children, and dependent parent or parents of the deceased Veteran. DIC is a tax-free monetary benefit paid to eligible survivors of a military servicemember who died in the line of duty or eligible survivors of a Veteran who:
• died from an injury or disease deemed to be related to military service, OR
• died from a non-service-related injury or disease, but was receiving, or was entitled to receive, VA Compensation for a service-connected disability or disabilities that was rated as totally disabling:
o for at least 10 years immediately preceding death, OR
o since the Veteran's release from active duty and for at least five years immediately preceding death, OR
o for at least one year before death if the Veteran was a former prisoner of war who died after September 30, 1999.

The surviving parent(s) must have an income below a limit established by law, 38 U.S. Code § 5312. Effective December 2025, surviving spouses who receive DIC and have one or more children under age 18 will receive an additional $421.00 each month for eligible child for the first two years following the Veteran’s death, as well as another additional $359 per month as a transitional benefit for the first two years after the Veteran’s death. Only one monthly child supplement payment is made, regardless of the number of minor children on the surviving spouse’s award. This increased rate applies only to months "occurring" during the two-year period beginning on the date entitlement to DIC began. It ceases on the first month beginning after the expiration of the two-year period or the month in which all of the surviving spouse's children have attained the age of 18, or are removed from the award, whichever is earlier. A surviving spouse who remarries after age 57 retains eligibility for DIC.

Surviving spouses, children and parents of deceased Veterans.

Awards are authorized at the regional office.

In FY 2025, DIC claims had an average days to complete (ADC) of 129.14 days. FY 2025 saw approximately 56.5% DIC claims completed in 125 days or less.