VA survivor benefits include cash compensation, healthcare, education, and home loan benefits for the families of deceased veterans. This 2026 hub explains every program available to surviving spouses, children, and parents.
Cash benefits for survivors
- DIC (Dependency and Indemnity Compensation) — $1,699.36/month base rate in 2026 for service-connected deaths.
- Survivors Pension — income-based monthly benefit for low-income surviving spouses and children of wartime veterans.
- Accrued benefits — unpaid VA benefits the veteran was entitled to before death.
- Burial allowance — up to $2,000 for service- connected death, $796 for non-service-connected.
Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP)
SBP is a military retirement annuity option, not a VA benefit. Retirees pay into SBP from their retirement pay so that 55% continues to a surviving spouse. Since 2023, SBP and DIC can both be paid in full — the “widow's tax” offset is gone.
Healthcare for survivors
- CHAMPVA — covers spouses and children of veterans who died from a service-connected condition, or were rated permanently 100% before death. Free healthcare for eligible survivors.
- Tricare Survivor — available to spouses and children of service members who died on active duty.
Education benefits for survivors
- Chapter 35 / DEA — up to 36 months of education benefits for spouses and children of permanently disabled or deceased veterans. Pays about $1,574/month full-time in 2026.
- Fry Scholarship — Post-9/11 GI Bill-style benefits for survivors of service members who died in the line of duty after 9/11/2001. Pays tuition plus MHA.
Home loan benefits
Surviving spouses of veterans who died from a service-connected condition may qualify for the VA home loan guaranty — same terms as the veteran would receive.
Burial and memorial benefits
- Free burial in a VA national cemetery.
- Headstone or marker.
- Burial flag.
- Presidential Memorial Certificate.
- Up to $948 in plot/interment allowance.
How to apply for VA survivor benefits
- Notify the VA of the veteran's death.
- File VA Form 21P-534EZ for DIC, Pension, or accrued benefits.
- Apply for CHAMPVA via VA Form 10-10d.
- Apply for Chapter 35 education benefits via VA Form 22-5490.
- Apply for VA home loan COE via VA Form 26-1817.
Compare survivor benefits
Start at the VA survivor benefits hub.
VA Survivor Benefits and Remarriage: Key Rules
VA survivor benefits interact with remarriage differently depending on the specific program, and understanding each program's rules can prevent an inadvertent loss of substantial monthly income.
DIC (Dependency and Indemnity Compensation)
DIC is lost upon remarriage before age 57. Remarriage at age 57 or older has no effect on DIC eligibility and payments continue uninterrupted. If a DIC-disqualifying remarriage ends — either through divorce or the death of the new spouse — DIC eligibility is restored upon application to the VA. Congress has periodically proposed lowering the remarriage age threshold below 57, but as of 2026 the threshold remains at 57.
Survivors Pension
Survivors Pension is lost upon remarriage at any age — there is no age exception. Unlike DIC, the age of the surviving spouse at the time of remarriage is irrelevant. However, if the new marriage ends through divorce or death, Survivors Pension eligibility is restored upon a new application.
SBP (Survivor Benefit Plan)
SBP payments are lost if the surviving spouse remarries before age 55. Remarriage at 55 or older does not interrupt SBP. If a disqualifying remarriage ends, SBP is restored upon application — but restoration requires payment of all missed premiums or annuity amounts during the period of disqualification.
Divorce and Former Spouse Considerations
- A veteran's divorce does not automatically remove a former spouse from VA survivor benefit designations. The veteran must actively update beneficiary elections.
- DIC is paid to the legal surviving spouse at the time of the veteran's death — former divorced spouses do not qualify unless specific court orders and SBP elections are in place.
- CHAMPVA 20/20/20 Rule: a divorced former spouse may qualify for CHAMPVA if the marriage lasted 20 or more years, the veteran served 20 or more years, and there is a 20-year overlap between the marriage and military service.
For application procedures, see How to Apply for Survivor Benefits, DIC Benefits, and Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP).