Veterans Benefits After Death: A Complete Guide for Survivors
If your loved one served in the United States military, their family may be entitled to a wide range of benefits, from burial assistance to monthly compensation, health insurance, education assistance, and home loans. This guide covers every major benefit available.
VA Contact Information
VA Benefits Hotline: 1-800-827-1000 (Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. ET)
National Cemetery Scheduling Office: 1-800-535-1117
VA Website: va.gov
Apply Online: va.gov/survivors
VA Burial Benefits
The VA provides several types of burial assistance for eligible veterans. The specific benefits depend on whether the death was related to military service.
Service-Connected Death
If the veteran died from a service-connected disability or while receiving VA care.
Non-Service-Connected Death
If the veteran was receiving VA pension or disability compensation at time of death.
Additional Burial Benefits
Headstone or Marker
The VA provides a government-furnished headstone or marker for any eligible veteran, even if buried in a private cemetery. If you purchase a private headstone, you may receive an allowance of up to $441.
Burial Flag
A United States flag is provided at no cost to drape the casket or accompany the urn. After the service, the flag is presented to the next of kin. Apply at any VA regional office or most U.S. Post Offices using VA Form 27-2008.
Presidential Memorial Certificate
An engraved certificate signed by the current President, honoring the veteran's service. Available at no cost. Multiple copies can be requested for family members. Apply at va.gov/burials-memorials/memorial-items/presidential-memorial-certificates.
National Cemetery Benefits
The VA operates 155 national cemeteries across the United States. Burial in a national cemetery is available to eligible veterans, their spouses, and dependent children at no cost. Benefits include:
- Gravesite: No charge for the gravesite in a national or state veterans cemetery.
- Headstone or marker: Government-furnished and inscribed at no cost.
- Opening and closing of the grave: No charge.
- Perpetual care: The gravesite is maintained indefinitely by the VA at no cost to the family.
- Military funeral honors: At minimum, a two-person detail for flag folding and presentation, with Taps played.
To schedule a burial, contact the National Cemetery Scheduling Office at 1-800-535-1117. You will need the veteran's DD Form 214 (discharge papers) and a certified death certificate.
Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC)
DIC is a tax-free monthly benefit paid to eligible survivors of veterans. It is one of the most significant financial benefits available to surviving family members.
Eligibility
DIC is available when the veteran:
- Died from a service-connected injury or disease
- Died while on active duty, active duty for training, or inactive duty training
- Was rated totally disabled (100%) for at least 10 continuous years before death
- Was rated totally disabled for at least 5 years from the date of discharge
- Was a former prisoner of war who died after September 30, 1999
Monthly Payment Amounts (2025 Rates)
Rates are adjusted annually for cost of living. An additional "kicker" of approximately $332 per month may apply if the veteran was totally disabled for 8+ years and the couple was married for those 8+ years.
How to apply: Submit VA Form 21-534EZ (Application for DIC, Death Pension, and Accrued Benefits) online at va.gov, by mail to your regional VA office, or in person at a VA regional office. Include the veteran's DD Form 214 and a certified death certificate.
VA Survivors Pension
The Survivors Pension is an income-based benefit for low-income surviving spouses and unmarried dependent children of deceased wartime veterans. Unlike DIC, the death does not need to be service-connected.
Eligibility Requirements
- The veteran served during a wartime period (WWII, Korea, Vietnam, Gulf War, etc.)
- The veteran was discharged under conditions other than dishonorable
- The survivor's countable income is below the annual pension rate set by Congress
- The survivor's net worth is below the threshold ($155,356 in 2025)
Maximum Annual Pension Rates (2025)
CHAMPVA Health Insurance for Survivors
CHAMPVA (Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs) provides health insurance to surviving spouses and dependents who are not eligible for TRICARE.
Eligibility
You may be eligible for CHAMPVA if you are the spouse or child of a veteran who:
- Died from a service-connected disability
- Was permanently and totally disabled from a service-connected condition at the time of death
- Died on active duty (and the dependents are not eligible for TRICARE)
What CHAMPVA Covers
- Doctor visits and hospital care
- Prescription medications (through Meds by Mail or retail pharmacies)
- Mental health services
- Durable medical equipment
- Preventive care
CHAMPVA has an annual deductible of $50 per individual ($100 per family) and pays 75% of allowed charges. The annual out-of-pocket cap is $3,000 per family.
How to apply: Submit VA Form 10-10d along with a copy of the veteran's DD Form 214, the veteran's death certificate, and your marriage certificate (for spouses) or birth certificate (for children). Mail to: VHA Office of Community Care, CHAMPVA, PO Box 469028, Denver, CO 80246-9028.
Education Benefits for Survivors
Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA / Chapter 35)
- Up to 45 months of education benefits
- Monthly stipend for full-time study (approximately $1,348/month in 2025)
- Available for degree programs, certificate programs, apprenticeships, and on-the-job training
- Spouses generally have 10 years from the date the VA determines eligibility
Apply using VA Form 22-5490.
Fry Scholarship (Chapter 33)
- Full Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits (tuition, fees, housing allowance, book stipend)
- Available to children and surviving spouses of service members who died in the line of duty after September 10, 2001
- Up to 36 months of benefits
- Spouses have 15 years from the date of death; children have no time limit
Apply using VA Form 22-1990.
Important: You can use DEA (Chapter 35) or the Fry Scholarship (Chapter 33), but not both. Compare the benefits carefully. The Fry Scholarship generally provides higher payments, including a housing allowance equal to the basic allowance for housing (BAH) for an E-5 with dependents.
VA Home Loan Benefits for Surviving Spouses
Eligible surviving spouses can use the VA home loan program, which offers significant advantages over conventional mortgages:
- No down payment required on loans up to the conforming loan limit ($766,550 in most areas for 2025)
- No private mortgage insurance (PMI)
- Competitive interest rates typically lower than conventional loans
- No VA funding fee for surviving spouses (this fee is normally 1.25% to 3.3% of the loan amount)
- Limits on closing costs that the buyer can be charged
Eligible surviving spouses include:
- Unremarried spouse of a veteran who died from a service-connected disability
- Spouse of a service member missing in action or a prisoner of war for at least 90 days
- Surviving spouse who remarried after age 57 and on or after December 16, 2003
How to apply: Request a Certificate of Eligibility (COE) through your lender, online at va.gov, or by submitting VA Form 26-1880 by mail.
How to Apply for VA Survivor Benefits
VA Form 21-534EZ
DIC, Death Pension, and Accrued Benefits
Online at va.gov, by mail, or in person
VA Form 40-1330
Headstone or Marker
By mail or fax to the Memorial Products Service
VA Form 27-2008
Burial Flag
In person at a VA regional office or U.S. Post Office
VA Form 10-10d
CHAMPVA Health Insurance
By mail to VHA Office of Community Care, Denver, CO
VA Form 22-5490
DEA Education Benefits (Chapter 35)
Online at va.gov or by mail
VA Form 22-1990
Fry Scholarship (Chapter 33)
Online at va.gov or by mail
VA Form 26-1880
Home Loan Certificate of Eligibility
Online at va.gov, through a lender, or by mail
Tip: A Veterans Service Organization (VSO) such as the American Legion, VFW, or Disabled American Veterans can help you file claims at no cost. They have trained representatives who know the system and can significantly improve your chances of approval. Find a VSO near you at va.gov/vso.
Frequently Asked Questions
What VA burial benefits are available?
The VA provides burial allowances of up to $2,000 for service-connected deaths, or up to $1,002 for burial and $1,002 for a plot for non-service-connected deaths. Additional benefits include a free headstone or marker (or $441 allowance for a privately purchased marker), a burial flag, and a Presidential Memorial Certificate. Veterans buried in a national cemetery receive a free gravesite, headstone, opening and closing of the grave, and perpetual care.
What is VA Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC)?
DIC is a monthly benefit paid to eligible survivors of veterans who died from a service-connected cause or who were rated totally disabled for at least 10 years before death. The 2025 base rate for a surviving spouse is approximately $1,650 per month, with additional amounts for dependent children, Aid and Attendance needs, and housebound status.
Can a surviving spouse get VA health insurance?
Surviving spouses and dependents of veterans who died from a service-connected disability, or who were permanently and totally disabled at death, may be eligible for CHAMPVA (Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs). CHAMPVA covers most healthcare services and prescriptions, with the beneficiary paying a small cost share. Survivors eligible for TRICARE are not eligible for CHAMPVA.
Are surviving spouses eligible for VA education benefits?
Yes. The Dependents Educational Assistance program (DEA, Chapter 35) provides up to 45 months of education benefits for eligible dependents and survivors. The Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry Scholarship provides Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits to children and surviving spouses of service members who died in the line of duty after September 10, 2001.
Can a surviving spouse use VA home loan benefits?
Surviving spouses of veterans who died from service-connected causes, or who were missing in action or prisoners of war for at least 90 days, may be eligible for a VA home loan with no down payment and no private mortgage insurance. The surviving spouse must not have remarried. Some remarried surviving spouses who remarried after age 57 may also be eligible.