Dependents and Survivors' Benefits Fact Sheets (PDF)

Dependency and Indemnity Compensation  

Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) is a tax free monetary benefit paid to eligible survivors of military Service members who died in the line of duty or eligible survivors of Veterans whose death resulted from a service-related injury.

Survivor Pension Benefits  

Survivors Pension, which was formerly referred to as Death Pension, is a tax-free benefit payable to a low-income, un-remarried surviving spouse or unmarried child(ren) of a deceased Veteran with wartime service.    

Survivors' & Dependents' Educational Assistance - Chapter 35 

The Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance Program, Chapter 35, provides education and training opportunities to dependents of veterans who are permanently and totally disabled with a VA rating of 100% due to a service-related condition.

Parents' Dependency and Indemnity Compensation  

Parents’ Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) is a need-based benefit paid to the parents of a military Servicemember or Veteran.

Accrued Benefits and Substitution 

Accrued benefits are benefits that are due, but not paid prior to a Veteran’s
death.