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.