What Benefits Do Spouses of Deceased Veterans Get?

There is no single VA benefit that every surviving spouse receives. Surviving spouses, children, and parents may qualify for different VA or Defense Department programs, but eligibility is not automatic. Review the requirements for each program before relying on an example, and verify current rules with VA.gov or an accredited representative.^[1][2]

What health care benefits may be available?

CHAMPVA may be available to a surviving spouse or dependent child when the Veteran died from a service-connected disability, or was permanently and totally disabled from a service-connected disability at death. CHAMPVA is a cost-sharing program, and you can’t receive it if you’re eligible for or enrolled in TRICARE. If you’re eligible for Medicare, you generally need Parts A and B to get or keep CHAMPVA; a Medicare Advantage plan also meets that requirement.^[2]

TRICARE is a separate Defense Department program with its own eligibility rules for families of service members, including some surviving family members. TRICARE For Life is different again: eligible beneficiaries need Medicare Part A and Part B, while Part C and Part D aren’t required for TFL. Ask TRICARE whether your military status and survivor circumstances qualify.^[6][7]

DIC and other VA survivor payments

Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) is a tax-exempt monthly VA benefit for a qualifying surviving spouse, child, or parent. For a surviving spouse, VA requires specific facts about the Veteran’s death or qualifying total disability and about the marriage. For example, VA lists a one-year marriage route, marriage within 15 years of the relevant service period, or having a child with the Veteran; living-together and remarriage rules also apply.^[1]

A surviving spouse may also want to check Survivors Pension, which is a different VA program with wartime-service, income, and net-worth rules. VA says that if someone qualifies for both DIC and Survivors Pension, it pays whichever provides the greater benefit rather than both.^[3][4]

Burial and memorial allowances

A surviving spouse who paid burial or funeral costs may qualify for a VA burial allowance, but the Veteran’s discharge and death circumstances must meet VA’s requirements. Depending on the facts, benefits can include help with burial or funeral costs, plot or interment costs, and transportation of remains. The application timing and amount depend on whether the death was service connected and where the Veteran was buried.^[8]

Education and job-training benefits

The Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance program, also called DEA or Chapter 35, may help an eligible spouse or child pay for school, an apprenticeship, or job training. Eligibility can require a service-connected permanent-and-total disability, a service-connected death, or another qualifying service circumstance.^[5]

The maximum period is not the same for everyone. VA says education or training that started before August 1, 2018, may qualify for up to 45 months, while programs that started on or after that date may qualify for up to 36 months. A spouse’s remarriage and the date of the qualifying event can affect DEA eligibility and time limits.^[5]

Life insurance is policy-specific

SGLI and VGLI are life-insurance coverage programs, not automatic survivor payments. A survivor generally needs to determine whether the deceased service member or Veteran had a policy, who was named as beneficiary, and how to file a claim. FSGLI is separate coverage for an eligible spouse or dependent child of a service member covered by full-time SGLI; it does not establish a general benefit for every surviving spouse.^[9]

Home loans and adapted-housing grants

A surviving spouse may be eligible for a VA-backed home loan and would need a Certificate of Eligibility plus lender approval. VA conditions can include the Veteran’s qualifying death or disability, remarriage rules, credit, income, and other underwriting requirements. A COE is only one step in a private lender’s loan process.^[10]

Do not treat Specially Adapted Housing or Special Home Adaptation grants as general surviving-spouse benefits. VA describes these grants as assistance for eligible Veterans or service members with specified service-connected disabilities. A family member may own the home in some SHA situations, but the disability and claimant requirements still apply.^[11]

Can a surviving spouse receive Social Security and VA benefits?

Social Security survivor, retirement, SSDI, SSI, and VA survivor benefits are separate programs with different eligibility and filing rules. Do not assume that receiving one establishes eligibility for another or that every payment can be combined. Review the Social Security Administration’s survivor-benefit information and the applicable VA program for your exact circumstances.^[12][1]

Marriage and remarriage rules vary

Marriage and remarriage rules depend on the specific benefit. DIC lists several alternative eligibility routes and exceptions for some remarriages. DEA and CHAMPVA use different rules, including their own age and remarriage provisions. Check the current eligibility page for the program you are applying for before assuming a benefit begins or ends.^[1][5][2]

1. Gather the facts Keep the Veteran’s discharge records, death certificate, service-connected rating information, marriage records, and documents about dependents and income where relevant.
2. Match each program Compare the facts with VA DIC, Survivors Pension, CHAMPVA, burial, DEA, insurance, and housing requirements. The programs do not share one universal eligibility rule.
3. Apply through the right agency Use VA.gov for VA programs, SSA.gov for Social Security, and TRICARE for Defense Department health coverage. An accredited representative or VSO can help with a VA claim.

For Medicare questions that may arise alongside survivor coverage, you can read our Veterans Medicare FAQ or VA health care and Medicare guide. Veterans Advantage Financial® is an independent insurance agency, not part of or endorsed by VA, Medicare, Social Security, TRICARE, or another government agency. If you want to discuss Medicare options, you can book a call; there’s no cost to you for our help, and if you enroll, we’re paid by the insurance company.

This is general education, not personal advice, and it isn’t a recommendation of any specific plan. Veterans Advantage Financial® is a licensed insurance agency, not affiliated with or endorsed by Medicare, Social Security, VA, TRICARE or any government agency. Plan availability, costs and benefits vary by plan, county and year. Check your own situation with the agency or plan before making changes.

About the author

Christopher Duncan

Certified Medicare Insurance Planner™ · Retirement Income Certified Professional®

Christopher founded Veterans Advantage Financial® and has helped people with Medicare since 2006. He is a licensed insurance agent in all 50 states and DC (NPN 8613503). His dad, Wallace, is a Vietnam-era veteran.

More about Christopher →How he writes about Medicare →