Survivor & Dependent
Survivor and Dependent Benefits: An Introduction
Programs like Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) and the Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance program exist to support military families. Here's a plain-language starting point.
Overview
Survivor and dependent benefits exist to support the spouses, children, and sometimes parents of veterans who died in service or from service-connected conditions, as well as dependents of certain permanently and totally disabled veterans. Programs in this space include Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) and education benefits for survivors and dependents, among others. Eligibility rules are specific and can be emotionally difficult to navigate during an already hard time, which is exactly why this resource keeps things general and points readers toward direct VA resources and accredited Veterans Service Officers rather than attempting to summarize eligibility itself. If you or someone you know may qualify, VA.gov and an accredited VSO are the right starting points.
Getting Started
- 1Contact an accredited Veterans Service Officer (VSO) for personalized guidance — many services are free.
- 2Gather relevant service and death records, if applicable.
- 3Review DIC and survivor education benefit pages at VA.gov.
- 4Ask about state-level survivor benefits in addition to federal programs.