Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC)
Tax-free monthly support for surviving spouses, children, and parents — how to apply and what to expect.
Dependency and Indemnity Compensation is a tax-free monthly benefit the VA pays to eligible survivors of service members and veterans. Below are the official places to start your application, followed by a plain-language guide to eligibility, the paperwork, and what happens after you file.
Start here — official VA links
Who qualifies
- Surviving spouse of a service member who died in the line of duty, or of a veteran whose death resulted from a service-connected injury or illness.
- Surviving spouse of a veteran who was rated totally disabled (including individual unemployability) for at least 10 years before death; or for at least 5 years from discharge; or for at least 1 year before death if the veteran was a former POW.
- Surviving child who is unmarried and under 18, under 23 while attending a VA-approved school, or who became permanently incapable of self-support before age 18.
- Surviving parent whose income falls below the VA limit (Parents' DIC, filed on VA Form 21P-535).
The steps to apply
1. Confirm which benefit fits your situation
DIC is paid when the death is connected to military service or the veteran held a long-standing total disability rating. If the death was not service-connected and income is limited, Survivors Pension may apply instead. You can file for both — the VA will pay the greater benefit.
2. Gather your documents
You will need the veteran's DD-214, the death certificate (ideally one showing cause of death), your marriage certificate, birth certificates for any dependent children, and Social Security numbers for everyone on the claim. Medical records that tie the cause of death to a service-connected condition are the heart of the claim.
3. File VA Form 21P-534EZ
Surviving spouses and children file the 21P-534EZ (Application for DIC, Survivors Pension, and/or Accrued Benefits). Parents file the 21P-535. You can submit online at VA.gov, by mail, or through an accredited representative. The form covers multiple survivor benefits at once, so filing it protects you across programs.
4. Work with a free accredited representative
A County Veterans Service Officer or accredited VSO will file this for free and knows how to frame a cause-of-death nexus. Never pay a percentage of survivor benefits to anyone — accredited help costs nothing.
5. Respond to VA development letters immediately
The VA will request records, ask for a medical opinion, or verify dependency. Unanswered letters are the leading cause of avoidable delays and denials. Keep dated copies of everything you send.
6. Review the decision — and appeal if needed
If DIC is denied, you generally have one year to file a Supplemental Claim with new evidence, request a Higher-Level Review, or appeal to the Board. A nexus letter from a physician linking the cause of death to a service-connected condition often turns a denial around.
What to gather
- Veteran's DD-214 (Member 4 copy)
- Certified death certificate showing cause of death
- Marriage certificate and, if applicable, divorce decrees
- Birth certificates for dependent children
- Social Security numbers for the survivor and all dependents
- The veteran's VA rating decision letters
- Medical records connecting the cause of death to service
- Direct deposit banking information
What to expect
- DIC is a flat, tax-free monthly payment — it is not based on a percentage rating.
- Additional monthly amounts are added for each dependent child, for housebound or aid-and-attendance needs, and an 8-year provision if the veteran was rated totally disabled for the 8 years before death.
- Filing within one year of the veteran's death can make benefits retroactive to the first day of the month of death.
- Remarriage after age 55 does not end a surviving spouse's DIC.
- DIC eligibility can also open the door to CHAMPVA health coverage, the Fry Scholarship or DEA education benefits, home loan eligibility, and burial benefits.
- Most claims take several months; you can track status on VA.gov.
Free help filing, and your state's survivor benefits
A County Veterans Service Officer will complete this claim with you at no cost. Many states also offer survivor benefits — property tax relief, tuition waivers for dependents, and license fee exemptions — on top of federal DIC.
VA survivor benefits line: 1-800-827-1000