Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC)

What is DIC?

Dependency and Indemnity Compensation — usually called DIC — is a monthly, tax-free benefit paid by the Department of Veterans Affairs to eligible surviving family members of veterans who died from a service-connected condition, or who were permanently and totally disabled for a significant period before death.

Unlike some VA programs, DIC is not based on financial need. It does not matter what the surviving spouse earns or what other assets the family has. If the veteran's death or disability meets the eligibility criteria, the surviving spouse is entitled to the benefit regardless of income.

The basic monthly rate for a surviving spouse is $1,699.36 (effective December 1, 2025). VA adjusts it each December. Additional amounts are available for:

• Dependent children (a flat additional amount per child)
• Surviving spouses who are housebound due to disability
• Surviving spouses who need aid and attendance (regular help with daily tasks)
• Surviving spouses of veterans who were rated totally disabled for 8 or more years before death

DIC rates adjust each year with the federal cost-of-living adjustment (COLA), effective December 1.

Who qualifies?

Surviving spouses

A surviving spouse qualifies for DIC if any of the following apply to the veteran:

• The veteran died from a service-connected condition — an illness or injury directly caused or worsened by military service.
• The veteran was rated 100% permanently and totally disabled for at least 10 continuous years before death (even if the cause of death was unrelated to that disability).
• The veteran was rated 100% disabled for at least 5 continuous years from the date of discharge from active duty.
• The veteran was a former prisoner of war who was rated 100% disabled for at least 1 year before death.

The surviving spouse must have been married to the veteran at the time of death. Remarrying at 55 or older (on or after January 5, 2021) does not end DIC. Remarrying younger ends DIC, but it can be restored if that marriage ends.

Surviving children

Unmarried children of the veteran may qualify for DIC in their own right if the veteran's death meets the service-connected criteria above. Eligible children are:

• Under age 18
• Age 18–23 and enrolled full-time in an approved school or training program
• Permanently incapable of self-support due to a disability that existed before age 18

Surviving parents

One or both parents of the veteran may qualify for DIC if they were substantially financially dependent on the veteran. Unlike the other DIC programs, parent DIC is income-based — the benefit amount phases out as the parent's annual income increases. Contact the VA or a VSO to determine the current income thresholds.

How to file

The form: VA Form 21P-534EZ

DIC is applied for using VA Form 21P-534EZ (Application for DIC, Death Pension, and/or Accrued Benefits). This single form covers DIC, Death Pension, and Accrued Benefits — you do not need separate forms for each.

What you'll need to gather

• DD-214 — the veteran's Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty. This is the foundational document for every VA benefit. If the original is lost, request a replacement through the National Archives (see our DD-214 guide).
• Death certificate — certified copy of the veteran's death certificate.
• Marriage certificate — for surviving spouses, proof of the marriage.
• Birth certificates — for surviving children listed on the claim.
• Prior VA rating decisions — if the veteran was already rated disabled, these documents help establish the service connection.
• Medical records — if the death occurred from a condition not previously rated, medical records linking the condition to service will be needed.

Ways to file

• Online at VA.gov — the fastest option if you have all documents ready to upload.
• With a Veterans Service Organization (VSO) — VSO claims agents are accredited, free, and experienced. They can often accelerate processing and help if documentation is incomplete. Organizations include the American Legion, DAV, VFW, and many others.
• By mail — mail the completed form and documents to your regional VA Pension Management Center. Processing by mail is often slower.
• In person at a VA regional office — walk-in help is available at most VA regional offices.

Processing timeline

The VA's average processing time for DIC claims is 3 to 6 months from the date the VA receives a complete claim. Processing times vary significantly:

• Claims for veterans who were already rated service-connected often process faster, since the service connection is already established.
• Claims that require establishing a new service connection after death — meaning the family must prove the cause of death was related to service — typically take longer and may require additional medical evidence.
• Parent DIC claims (income-based) have a separate process and can take additional months.

The rating decision

When the VA processes the claim, they issue a written Rating Decision letter explaining whether the claim was approved or denied, the reasons for the decision, and the monthly payment amount if approved.

If the claim is denied, the family has the right to contest the decision. Options include requesting a Higher-Level Review (a senior VA reviewer re-examines the claim), filing a Supplemental Claim (with new evidence), or appealing to the Board of Veterans' Appeals. A VSO or accredited claims agent can guide this process at no cost.

After approval

Payments

DIC payments are made monthly via direct deposit. If you file within one year, DIC is paid from the first day of the month the veteran died. The first payment after approval will often include a lump sum for any months owed retroactively.

DIC and the Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP)

Many surviving families receive — or are entitled to receive — both DIC and the Survivor Benefit Plan annuity. For many years, a rule known as the "Widow's Tax" reduced SBP payments dollar-for-dollar when DIC was also received, effectively eliminating the SBP benefit for thousands of military widows.

That offset was eliminated on January 1, 2023. Surviving spouses who qualify for both DIC and SBP now receive the full amount of both benefits simultaneously. If you were previously receiving a reduced SBP benefit because of the offset, contact DFAS to ensure your payments were adjusted. See our SBP annuity guide for more.

DIC and TRICARE

Receiving DIC does not affect TRICARE health coverage eligibility. Surviving spouses and dependents who were covered under TRICARE before the veteran's death can often continue coverage — but enrollment windows apply. Contact TRICARE separately to understand your coverage options and deadlines.

Remarriage rules

A surviving spouse who remarries at age 55 or older (on or after January 5, 2021) keeps DIC. Earlier remarriages used age 57. Remarrying younger ends DIC, but it can be restored if that marriage ends.

Common mistakes

• Assuming the veteran's rating disqualifies the family. DIC does not require the veteran to have been rated 100% disabled at the time of death. If the cause of death was a condition related to military service — even a condition that was never formally rated — a service connection may still be established after the fact. Many initial denials are based on incomplete evidence rather than true ineligibility.
• Waiting to file. File within one year of the death to receive DIC back to the month of death. After one year, benefits start only from the date VA receives the claim.
• Not appealing a denial. Roughly 1 in 3 initial DIC claims receive an unfavorable initial decision and are then approved on appeal or review. A VSO can review the denial letter and advise on the strongest path forward.
• Not knowing about the 2023 SBP-DIC offset elimination. Families who previously chose not to apply for DIC because they feared losing SBP payments should reconsider — both benefits are now fully available simultaneously.
• Forgetting parent DIC. Parents who were financially dependent on the veteran may qualify for income-based DIC. This is often overlooked because most guidance focuses only on surviving spouse and children claims.

Frequently asked questions