Among the benefits available to veterans and their families is the potential for death benefits for a surviving spouse. Spouses of deceased military veterans must meet certain criteria in order to be eligible. Spouses married before 1957 are eligible. Spouses married after 1957 might meet eligibility requirements if they had a child with the veteran, were married for at least one year or if the veteran died during active duty.
Dependency and Indemnity Compensation
According to information from the VA, the base pay for a surviving spouse is approximately $1,154. If the spouse has dependent children then the rate increases. There's also an additional $286 transitional benefit if there are children under 18 living in the household. The VA website provides rate tables outlining specific rate increase requirements. This is available for spouses of veterans who died on active duty as a result of a service-related injury or illness or who were receiving VA compensation for a totally disabling service-connected disability.
Death Pension
A surviving spouse who has not remarried may be eligible for death pension benefits. There are income limits to the death pension, and according to the VA website, spouses must have a countable income that is lower than the yearly limit set by Congress for death pension benefits. The amount paid by the death pension is the difference between countable income and the pay rate set by Congress. The payments are sent in 12 equal payments and rounded down to the nearest dollar.
Aid and Attendance
Those in need of additional assistance may apply for Aid and Attendance. This is paid in addition to pension benefits for spouses who need extra care. This may include spouses who need extra care to complete activities of daily living, are bedridden due to disability, in the care of a nursing home due to mental or physical incapacitation or who are blind. Spouses who are housebound due to disability may also be eligible to receive additional paid benefit.
Home Loan Guaranty
For the spouses of veterans who died on active duty or due to a disability in connection with their military service, VA home loan guaranty benefits may be supplied. Spouses must not be remarried in order to receive this benefit. Those who obtained a home loan with a veteran prior to his death may apply to receive a guaranteed interest rate reduction refinance loan. The cause of death is not a factor.
CHAMPVA
Spouses can apply for medical benefits with the Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs (CHAMPVA). Through this program, the VA shares the cost of treatment and supplies for eligible dependents. According to the CHAMPVA Health Administration Center, the surviving spouse of a veteran who was rated as permanently and totally disabled due to a service-related disability may be eligible for CHAMPVA medical benefits. The spouse of a veteran who died in the line of duty may also be eligible. Spouses cannot be eligible for TRICARE, which offers medical benefits to activity duty military members and their families. TRICARE was formerly known as CHAMPUS, or the Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Uniformed Services. Further information on TRICARE health benefits can be found at tricare.mil.
Additional Benefits
Other benefits for surviving spouses of veterans may include bereavement counseling, educational or vocational assistance, financial counseling and burial and memorial benefits. Beneficiaries should also contact the Department of Veterans Affairs in order to claim life insurance payments. Information on contacting a Regional VA Office is available at www.vba.va.gov/VBA along with instructions on how to apply for benefits.
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