Six Categories of Survivor’s Benefits: Dependency Indemnity Compensation

Survivor’s benefits are awarded to the survivors of deceased veterans based on the veteran’s service and/or service-connected disabilities. Eligible survivors include a surviving spouse; dependent children under the age of 18; children who are over 18 but permanently incapable of self-support; dependent parents, based on income; and persons who paid the veteran’s funeral expenses. 

There are six categories of survivor’s benefits; the third is Dependency Indemnity Compensation (DIC) under 38 C.F.R. §3.5. This is a tax-free monetary benefit paid to eligible survivors of service members who either (1) died in the line of duty or (2) died due to a service-connected disease or injury.

DIC can be awarded in cases of: 

• Active-duty death;

• Service-connected death;

• Presumptive condition cause of death;

• Contributory cause of death;

• U.S.C §1318 (permanent and total service-connected disability at death); and 

• U.S.C §1151 (if death is caused by VA treatment).

A claim for DIC can be filed at any time after the veteran’s death. For surviving dependents who file for DIC within one year of the veteran’s death, the effective date will be the day after the veteran’s death. If filed more than a year after the veteran’s death, the effective date is the day the claim is received by the Veterans Administration (VA).

Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA) recommends that survivors submit an Intent to File form within a year of the veteran’s passing to give them up to a year to submit a completed application.

Contact a VVA Veteran Service Officer to assist with your claim in states that have a benefits program here, or search for a VSO from another organization through the VA’s website in states where VVA does not. Enter your ZIP code or city and state, and you’ll see which VSOs serve your area.

Watch this space for more information on survivor’s benefits in the weeks to come!