Survivor Benefits

Survivor Benefits

The Survivor Pension, also called the Death Pension, is available to eligible survivors and dependents of certain veterans who served during wartime. The amount of the Survivor Pension is income-based and is paid as a tax-free monthly benefit.

To be considered a qualifying veteran for Survivor Pension purposes, the deceased veteran must meet the following criteria:

Discharged under other than dishonorable conditions

If the veteran served before 9/7/1980, the period of service must have been at least 90 days of active duty, including at least one day of wartime service

If the veteran began active duty after 9/7/1980, he or she must have served at least 24 months or the full period of active duty, including one day of wartime service

Applicable periods of wartime service for receiving a Survivor Pension are:

  • Mexican Border Period (5/9/1916-4/5/1917)
  • World War I (4/6/1917 – 11/11/1918)
  • World War II (12/7/1941-12/31/1946)
  • Korean conflict (6/27/1950 – 1/31/1955)
  • Vietnam conflict – in-country (2/28/1961-5/7/1975)
  • Vietnam conflict – all other service (8/5/1964-5/7/1975)
  • Gulf War/Middle East conflicts (8/2/1990 – a future date to be determined by Congress or the President)

To be eligible for a Survivor Pension, a surviving spouse must be unmarried and becomes ineligible upon remarriage.

To be eligible for a Survivor Pension, a surviving child must meet either of the following criteria:

  • under the age of 18, or under the age of 23 if attending school
  • cannot live independently due to a disability that occurred before the age of 18

Several factors will increase the Survivor Pension amount, including:

  • Any unmarried dependent children under the age of 18, or under age 23 if attending school
  • If the surviving spouse is entitled to aid and attendance (A&A)
  • If the surviving spouse is entitled to housebound financial assistance

Benefits Rates and Applying for Survivor Pension Benefits

The benefits rates for a Survivor Pension are calculated based on:

  • Countable income (wages, interest, disability or retirement payments)
  • Net worth (cash, stocks, bonds, annuities, non-residential property)
  • Unreimbursed medical expenses (can be deducted from countable income)

For more information on calculating Survivor Pension income limitations, visit https://www.benefits.va.gov/pension/spousepencalc.asp.

For current Survivor Pension benefits rates, visit https://www.benefits.va.gov/pension/current_rates_survivor_pen.asp.

To apply for Survivor Pension benefits, complete VA Form 21-534EZ, “Application for DIC, Death Pension, and/or Accrued Benefits”, available at https://www.vba.va.gov/pubs/forms/VBA-21-534EZ-ARE.pdf.

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3 Comments
  • SAMUEL T. GRANT
    Posted at 20:10h, 15 November Reply

    HELLO I AM THE SON OF A WW2 VET THAT SERVED IN THE ARMY FROM 1943TO 1945. I NEVER NEW MY FATHER AN HE DID NOT FILE A VETERENS CLAIM. IM 45 YEARS OLD AN HAVE SUFFERED FROM EPILEPSY ALL MY LIFE. I LET MY DOCTER KNOW MY FATHER WAS IN WW2 AN FROM THAT I WAS TOLD HE MAY HAVE BEEN EXPOSED TO AGENT ORANGE. CAN SOMEONE HELP ME FIND ANSWER? I ALSO HAVE ALL INFORMATION INCLUDING COMBAT FLAG. PLEASE HELP!

  • Aaron A Davis
    Posted at 11:56h, 10 May Reply

    I am an only child and my dad was not married when he died there is no other benificiary brother or sister do i get dads death pention and accured benifits dad was a vietnam war vet who served 2 years honorably in the war? What do i do i have no money

  • MICHAEL HALE
    Posted at 13:52h, 04 February Reply

    Greetings. My father was in the air force but i don’t have his service dates and he’s deceased since 3/6/85. How would i find out or verify this? My mother is in her 80’s and could use the Survivor Pension funds.

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