Many veterans and their families depend on VA disability compensation as part of their household income. When a veteran dies, surviving spouses often want to know whether VA disability transfers to a spouse after death and what financial support may still be available.
Let’s appeal your VA decision today
While monthly VA disability compensation payments do not continue, surviving spouses may qualify for other benefits. Below, we explain what those benefits are and how they differ from VA disability compensation.
Key Takeaways
- If a veteran dies while a VA disability claim or appeal is still pending, a surviving spouse may be able to receive back pay the veteran was owed but never received.
- DIC is monthly compensation for surviving spouses of vets who died on active duty, active duty for training, or inactive-duty training, died from a service-connected condition, or were eligible to receive VA compensation for a service-connected disability rated as totally disabling for a qualifying amount of time.
- Surviving spouses may qualify for several other benefits including the Survivor Benefits Plan (SBP), a burial allowance, education benefits, and more.
In this article about if VA disability transfers to your spouse after death:
What is VA disability?
VA disability is a tax-free monthly compensation benefit the Department of Veterans Affairs pays to veterans for service-connected disabilities.
The amount a veteran receives depends on the severity of their service-connected condition and whether they are married or have children or other dependents. Some veterans receive a few hundred dollars per month, while others receive more than $3,938.58.
Because these payments often become an important part of a family’s income, many spouses wonder what happens to VA disability after their veteran dies.
Does VA disability transfer to a spouse after death?
VA disability payments do not simply transfer to a spouse after a veteran’s death.
While a veteran’s monthly VA disability compensation does not continue being paid to a surviving spouse, the good news is there are several other federal benefits available for surviving spouses of veterans.
Depending on the circumstances, a spouse may qualify for Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC), a survivors’ pension, and accrued benefits, among other programs. We explain these benefits in more detail below.
Accrued benefits for surviving spouses
If a veteran dies while a VA disability claim or appeal is still pending, a surviving spouse may be able to receive retroactive benefits, or back pay, the veteran was owed but never received. This is known as accrued benefits.
An eligible surviving spouse may request to take the veteran’s place in the claim if more development or evidence is still needed. This is known as substitution.
Substitution claims must be submitted to the VA within one year of the death of the veteran.
Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) for surviving spouses
One of the most important benefits available to surviving spouses is Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC).
DIC is a tax-free monthly compensation benefit that may be available to qualifying surviving spouses of veterans who either:
- Died on active duty, active duty for training, or inactive-duty training
- Died from a service-connected health condition
- Were eligible to receive VA compensation for a service-connected disability rated as totally disabling for a qualifying amount of time
DIC benefits begin at $1,699.36 per month, though the amount may increase based on factors such as whether you have dependent children.
You can learn more about payments and eligibility in our blog post on DIC benefits.
Excellent, friendly and professional. Got me 100% P&T. Very grateful for how they have helped my family and I.
B.M., an Army veteran in Kentucky
From a Google review for Woods & Woods
Other VA benefits for surviving spouses
In addition to DIC and accrued benefits, surviving spouses may qualify for several other benefits through the VA and Department of Defense. These include:
Survivor Benefits Plan (SBP). Many service members receiving retired military pay opt into a type of life insurance called a Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) to ensure their families continue receiving income after their death.
Burial allowance. The VA may cover some of the expenses of your veteran’s funeral, burial, and grave marker, as well as costs associated with moving their body.
Life insurance. Life insurance benefits are available through the Family Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance (FSGLI), Veterans Life Insurance (VALife), and Veterans’ Group (VGLI) for eligible veterans or service members. These may pay out to a spouse if the spouse is the designated beneficiary.
Counseling benefits. Additional support is available through bereavement counseling programs to help spouses with the challenges of losing their loved one.
Education benefits. Surviving spouses may be eligible for financial support for education or job training through the Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance (DEA) program.
Housing benefits. Some surviving spouses may also qualify for housing-related benefits, including VA-backed home loans and foreclosure prevention.
How Woods & Woods can help
In summary, while your spouse will not continue receiving your monthly VA disability checks, if something happens to you, your spouse may still be able to receive financial support. Woods & Woods can help your spouse complete a claim to ultimately be awarded any accrued back pay the VA owes you.
They may also be eligible for a wide range of additional benefits including DIC payments, burial allowances, life insurance, and more to help them through an emotionally and financially tough time.
Don’t fight the VA alone
Frequently asked questions
Your wife will not continue to receive your monthly VA disability compensation, but she may be eligible for other forms of financial support through the VA or the DOD. These benefits include DIC payments, accrued benefits, life insurance payouts, and other survivor programs.
In some cases, yes, a spouse may be able to continue your VA disability claim after you die. If a veteran dies while a VA claim or appeal is pending, an eligible surviving spouse may start the substitution process within a year of their veteran’s death. This allows the spouse to continue pursuing the claim on the veteran’s behalf and potentially receive any retroactive benefits awarded.
Neil Woods
Neil Woods is a VA disability attorney and the owner and president of Woods & Woods. He received his law degree from Western Michigan University.
