Many spouses of veterans and service members are eligible for benefits through the VA, DOD, and other related programs. VA benefits for veteran spouses may include health care coverage, education and career assistance, caregiver support, life insurance, housing programs, and survivor compensation benefits. We explain these spouse benefits below and who qualifies for each.
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Key Takeaways
- Spouses of veterans may be eligible for many benefits through the VA, or, in some cases, the DOD.
- Benefits for veteran spouses include healthcare, death benefits, caregiver stipends and support, education benefits, and more.
- Each program or benefit has its own unique eligibility criteria and will typically need to be applied for separately.
In this article about VA benefits for spouses of veterans:
- VA benefits for spouses
- Medical benefits for veteran spouses
- Education and career benefits for spouses
- Caregiver support benefits
- Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) for surviving spouses
- Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) for surviving spouses
- VA Aid and Attendance for surviving spouses
- Life insurance and burial benefits for surviving spouses
- Apportionment for veteran ex-spouses
- Other VA benefits for spouses of veterans
- How marriage and divorce affect VA benefits for veterans
- Frequently asked questions
VA benefits for spouses
Spouses can be greatly impacted by their partners’ military experiences, especially when it leads to serious health consequences.
Many spouses take on caregiving responsibilities, help manage medical appointments, and provide day-to-day support at home. If a veteran passes away, their family may be left in a financially insecure position in addition to their grief.
To help families navigate these challenges and more, several VA benefits for spouses of veterans are available. We explain several of these benefits in greater detail below.
Medical benefits for veteran spouses
Many military families use TRICARE, the DOD healthcare program for service members, retirees, and their families. Spouses and dependents can sometimes access TRICARE, even after a service member retires from the military or dies. You can learn more about eligibility criteria on its official website.
Some spouses who do not qualify for TRICARE may be eligible for health coverage through the Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs (CHAMPVA). To qualify, your veteran must typically have permanent and total VA disability benefits, have died from a service-connected disease, or both.
Spouses enrolled in CHAMPVA may also be eligible to get discounted dental insurance through the VA Dental Insurance Program (VADIP).
Education and career benefits for spouses
Spouses may also qualify for government education and career benefits.
In some cases, a veteran may be able to get approval to transfer Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits to their spouse. They may also be eligible for the Yellow Ribbon Program to help pay schooling fees not already covered.
Spouses using transferred GI Bill benefits may also qualify to be reimbursed for licensing and certification fees, national tests, and educational and career coaching benefits.
Caregiver support benefits
Caring for a disabled spouse can take a physical, emotional, and financial toll. That’s why the VA offers several programs that can help both veterans who need assistance and spouses who may take on the role of caregiver.
Eligible caregivers may qualify for benefits through VA’s Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers. These benefits can include caregiver education, mental health resources, and respite care.
Caregivers may also find support through the Program of General Caregiver Support Services (PGCSS), which offers peer mentoring, referrals to additional services, and other helpful resources.
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B.W., a veteran’s widow in Missouri
From a Google review for Woods & Woods
Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) for surviving spouses
One of the most important benefits for surviving spouses is Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC).
DIC is a tax-free monthly benefit 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 payments begin at $1,699.36, but can increase for individuals with children or other special circumstances.
You can learn more about payments and who is eligible in our post on DIC benefits.
Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) for surviving spouses
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.
SBP is a program sponsored and subsidized by the Department of Defense (DOD). With an SBP, monthly payments are provided to the service members’ spouses or children after they die, and amount to up to 55% of the veteran’s military retirement payments, adjusted for inflation.
DIC and SBP payments can be paid out at the same time with no offset.
VA Aid and Attendance for surviving spouses
Some surviving spouses may qualify for Aid and Attendance benefits if they need help with daily activities such as bathing, dressing, or eating, or they are mostly bound to their beds due to an illness. Blind individuals may also be eligible. The benefit helps cover the extra costs of in-home or nursing home care.
Life insurance and burial benefits for surviving spouses
Life insurance benefits are available through the Family Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance (FSGLI), Veterans Life Insurance (VALife), and Veterans’ Group (VGLI) for veterans or service members. These may pay out to a spouse if they are the designated beneficiary.
Eligible spouses can also receive veterans death benefits for both the veteran and themselves. These benefits can cover part of the costs of the veteran’s burial, funeral, and marker or headstone, as well as costs associated with transporting their body.
Apportionment for veteran ex-spouses
In some situations, a veteran’s spouse may be able to request part of the veteran’s VA disability compensation through a process called apportionment.
The VA takes this action when a veteran receives VA disability benefits, but it’s clear they are not supporting their spouse or dependents as expected. Examples of this can include veterans who aren’t paying alimony or child support after a divorce.
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 spouses of veterans
Qualifying surviving spouses may be eligible for financial support for education or job training through the Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance (DEA) program, sometimes called Chapter 35 benefits. Spouses may also be eligible if their veteran is living but has a service-connected permanent and total (P&T) disability.
Some surviving spouses may also qualify for housing-related benefits, including VA-backed home loans and foreclosure prevention.
Additional support may be available through free financial counseling services and bereavement counseling programs to help families with the financial and emotional challenges that come with the loss of a spouse.
How marriage and divorce affect VA benefits for veterans
The VA recognizes spouses in opposite-sex, same-sex, and common-law marriages as “dependents.”
Veterans with a combined disability rating of 30% or higher can notify the VA of their marriage and add their spouse to their claim to receive additional monthly compensation for their spouse and other qualifying dependents.
Notifying the VA of your marriage also makes your spouse eligible for the benefits listed above, such as CHAMPVA and education assistance programs.
If a veteran gets divorced, remarries, or experiences another change in dependent status, they should update their information with the VA as soon as possible to avoid having to repay overpayments.
Divorced or remarried spouses frequently lose eligibility for any of a veteran’s VA or DOD benefits, with a few exceptions. It’s important to understand how these rules work if you want to maintain benefits.
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Frequently asked questions
In most cases, VA disability compensation payments stop when a veteran dies. A surviving spouse does not automatically continue receiving the veteran’s monthly disability compensation. However, some surviving spouses may qualify for other monetary benefits, such as DIC, SBP, or a life insurance payout.
Yes, some spouses of veterans may qualify for VA or DOD benefits. Depending on the circumstances, these benefits may include healthcare coverage, compensation programs, education benefits, life insurance, and other forms of assistance.
VA benefits for spouses include healthcare coverage, caregiver support services, education and career assistance, and certain survivor benefits like DIC, SBP, burial benefits, and life insurance. Each benefit has its own process and eligibility.
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.
