DIC for Surviving Spouses

Compensation for surviving spouses of service-connected Veterans.

Disability and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) is a tax-free VA monthly benefit paid to surviving spouses, children, or parents.  It helps provide financial stability to families who have lost a loved one who died in the line of duty or from a service-connected condition.

Other types of survivor benefits include pensions and Aid and Attendance, the VA’s long-term care benefit.

DIC Benefit Amounts

The 2025 DIC benefit amount for a surviving spouse is $1,653.07. Additional compensation may also be paid depending on the circumstances. 

Eligibility Requirements for DIC

Here are some of the requirements for this benefit.

• Surviving spouse – married to the veteran for at least 1 year (or with a child born during marriage; exceptions for specific wartime periods), not remarried before age 57.
• Surviving child – unmarried, under 18 (or under 23 if in school, or permanently disabled before 18).
• Surviving parent – eligibility based on income.

Filing a DIC Claim

Like most monetary benefits, filing a DIC claim can be a challenging process. Some of the factors involved include:

• Complex eligibility requirements.
• Misinformation regarding qualifications.
• Lack of detailed instructions on how to complete paperwork.
• Insufficient military, medical, and other evidence.
• Application errors and incomplete submissions.
• Insufficient evidence proving the Veteran’s death was service-related.

Application mistakes and failure to provide the necessary supporting documents and evidence can result in lengthy processing delays and even denials.

Get Expert Help with your DIC Claim

Our accredited VA representatives are highly skilled and experienced in DIC cases.

Call us today at (720) 773 – 8969 to find out what it takes to get a DIC claim approved.

Even if the Veteran didn’t have a service-connected condition or a 100% VA disability rating at the time of their passing, you may still qualify for benefits.