When a veteran rated 100% permanent and total dies, the surviving spouse should look into several distinct VA benefits, because eligibility and application forms differ for each.
Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) is usually the most important. Under 38 U.S.C. 1318, if the veteran was rated 100% permanently and totally disabled for at least 10 continuous years before death, for at least 5 years from the date of discharge, or for at least 1 year before death if the veteran was a former prisoner of war, the surviving spouse can qualify for DIC even if the cause of death was unrelated to service. DIC is also available if the death was actually caused by a service-connected condition. The application is VA Form 21-534EZ, and it should be filed as soon as possible after death, since DIC can be backdated depending on filing date. A certified death certificate and marriage certificate will be needed.
Official 2026 VA monthly compensation, including the 2.8% COLA increase.
Dependent add-ons start at a 30% rating. Child-only and dependent-parent rates: see the full 2026 pay chart.
| Rating | Monthly (2026, incl. 2.8% COLA) |
|---|---|
| 10% | $180.42 |
| 20% | $356.66 |
| 30% | $552.47 |
| 40% | $795.84 |
| 50% | $1,132.90 |
| 60% | $1,435.02 |
| 70% | $1,808.45 |
| 80% | $2,102.15 |
| 90% | $2,362.30 |
| 100% | $3,938.58 |
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Analyze my claim free →CHAMPVA (Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs) provides health coverage for the surviving spouse and dependent children in most cases where DIC is granted. The application is VA Form 10-10d, and eligibility is typically tied to the DIC award, so it often makes sense to file the DIC claim first or concurrently. If the spouse is Medicare-eligible, Medicare Part A and B enrollment is generally required to keep CHAMPVA coverage.
Burial and funeral benefits may include a VA burial allowance, a plot or interment allowance, a government headstone or marker, and burial in a national cemetery, depending on how the veteran died and whether death occurred in a VA facility. VA Form 21P-530a is used for burial benefits.
If there are minor or dependent children still in school, Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance (Chapter 35) may also be available.
Because several of these benefits interact and use different forms, the most efficient first step is to contact a Veterans Service Officer (through a VSO like the DAV, VFW, or American Legion) or the VA regional office, who can help file DIC, CHAMPVA, and burial claims together and confirm which documents are needed, rather than trying to navigate each application separately while grieving.
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