What is Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) and who qualifies?

Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) is a tax-free monthly benefit paid to eligible survivors of military Servicemembers who died in the line of duty or eligible survivors of Veterans whose death resulted from a service-related injury or disease. The widow must be married to the veteran at the time of death.

To qualify for this benefit, the claimant(s) must be the eligible surviving spouse or dependent child of a military Servicemember or Veteran who:

• died while serving on active duty, active duty for training, or inactive duty training, OR

• died as a result of a service-connected injury or disease, OR

• died as a result of a non-service-connected injury or disease, and who was totally disabled from his/her service-connected disabilities for

  • at least 10 years immediately preceding death, OR

  • since the Veteran's release from active duty and for at least five years immediately preceding death, OR

  • at least one year immediately preceding death if the Veteran was a former prisoner of war.

To complete an application, use VA Form 21P-534EZ, "Application for Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC), Death Pension, and/or Accrued Benefits", and mail or fax it to the VA Pension Management Center (PMC) that serves your state. Check the PMC Locator website (link below) to find the PMC having jurisdiction over the claim.

Find your VA Pension Management Center | Veterans Affairs

Some general info on the 2021 pay rates for DIC are listed below as a reference.  We recommend you contact a Veteran Service Officer (VSO) for specifics on these payments.  You can locate the VSO nearest you using the following link:  Veteran Service Officers - List of Where to Find (nvf.org)

• $1,357 Basic monthly rate (38 U.S.C. 1311(a)(1))

• $288  Add this amount if at the time of the veteran’s death, the veteran was in receipt of or entitled to receive compensation for a service-connected disability rated totally disabling (including a rating based on Individual Unemployability) for a continuous period of at least 8 years immediately preceding death AND the surviving spouse was married to the veteran for those same 8 years.

• $289/$336 Per month is added for each dependent child under age 18.

• $336 Is also added to the monthly check if the surviving spouse is entitled to Aid and Attendance benefits.

• $157 Is the additional compensation if the surviving spouse is housebound

If you have questions:

• Call 877-294-6380 or 800-827-1000

• Call 711, if you use a Telecommunications Device for the Deaf (TDD), or

• Visit the Inquiry Routing & Information System (IRIS) website to search Frequently Asked Questions or ask a question on-line

                IRIS Home Page (va.gov)