Surviving family members are entitled to VA death



benefits

that can help ease financial difficulties.

If you are dealing with the recent death of a family member

actively serving in the military please accept our deepest and

sincere condolences. You will want to seek assistance from your

local veterans benefits administration office or county VA

commission office for two principal VA benefits: Dependency and

Indemnity Compensation (DIC) and Dependents Education Assistance

(DEA).

The VA death benefits discussed in this article is for a death

pension benefit available to the veteran's widow who is over the

age of 65, where the death of the veteran is non-service

connected.

Death Benefits for Widow and Dependents

What is the pension form of the VA death pension

benefits?

It is a benefit paid to un-remarried widow or unmarried children of

a deceased war time veteran who meet certain VA disability

ratings.

Who is eligible?

1. You may be eligible if the deceased veteran was discharged
   
   under other than dishonorable conditions.



2. The veteran served for at least 90 days and you
   
   must have
   
   had at-least one day in war time.
   
   



3. You were living or still married to the veteran at the time
   
   of
   
   his/her death.
   
   



4. You are un-remarried or an unmarried child of the
   
   veteran



5. Your countable income is below the rate set by congress.

What is the benefit payment?

The VA will pay you the difference between

your countable

family income and the yearly income limit which matches your

personal situation.  This difference is typically paid to you

in 12 equal monthly payments.

What are the different situations?

In addition to income, your benefit payment may vary due to:

• The existence of dependents



• Whether you are rated as housebound



• The need for health or personal care assistance



• Ability to live alone or unsupervised

Aid and Attendance or Housebound

An un-remarried widow of a war-time veteran who the

VA

determines needs the regular assistance of another person; is

housebound; or lives in an assisted living facility may be entitled

to additional VA death benefits based on a higher countable

income allowance.

The Application Process

The VA is inconsistent in helping the widows

of elderly

veterans understand the availability of this wonderful VA death

benefits. Many are told there is no benefit available, or that they

do not qualify. There is help, however. Veterans Care

Advisors has a

handbook

full of

helpful tips, examples, and best practices that have helped

hundreds of veterans and their widows successfully get the benefits

they deserved.

You can start the claim application process by filling out VA

Form 21-534, Application for Dependency and Indemnity Compensation

Or Death Pension by Surviving Spouse or Child.

You will want to make sure you attach copies of dependency records

(marriage and birth certificates of dependent children) plus the

veterans death certificate.