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Survivors' Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC)
To be eligible for this benefit, the claimant(s) must be the eligible surviving spouse or dependent child of a military Servicemember or Veteran who meets one of the following:
- Died while serving on active duty, active duty for training, or inactive duty training.
- Died as a result of a service-connected injury or disease.
- Died as a result of a non-service connected injury or disease, and who was totally disabled from his/her service-connected disabilities for any of the following:
- At least 10 years immediately preceding death.
- Since the Veteran's release from active duty and for at least five years immediately preceding death.
- At least one year immediately preceding death if the Veteran was a former prisoner of war.
For more specific information, refer to the DIC factsheet.
To complete an application you may visit va.gov DIC for spouses, dependents, and parents and apply online. You may also use VA Form 21P-534EZ, "Application for Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC), Death Pension, and/or Accrued Benefits", and mail or fax it to the VA Pension Management Center (PMC) that serves your state. Check the PMC Locator to find the PMC having jurisdiction over the claim.
If you have questions:
- Visit the Ask VA (AVA) website to ask a question electronically
- Call 800-827-1000
- Call 711, if you use a Telecommunications Device for the Deaf (TDD)
To apply for VA benefits and services, view your benefit status, and many more services go to www.va.gov and either logon with your eBenefits sign on or use www.Logon.gov to enroll. VA.gov is a one-stop source for information on Department of Defense and Department of Veterans Affairs benefits and services. Veterans, service members and their family members can conduct self-service transactions such as checking compensation and pension claim status information, enrolling in GI Bill, and obtaining copies of civil service preference letters, military records (DD214), and other personal information. For further information visit the VA.gov website.
