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Financial Resources
- The US Veterans Administration’s GI Bill Recent Amendments
- The “Road Map for Success” for the US Veterans Administration GI Bill
- 3 Tips For Easing the Veterans Disability Benefits Application Process
- How the US Dept. of Veterans Affairs Helps Veterans Survivors Buy a Home
- Differences in Social Security Benefits for World War II Veterans
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Financial Resources
- How the US Veterans Administration GI Bill Help Veterans Return to College (Part B)
- How the US Veterans Administration GI Bill Helps Veterans Return to College (Part A)
- Claiming Disability Veteran Status for SSDI & SSI Benefits (Part B)
- Claiming Disability Veteran Status for SSDI & SSI Benefits (Part A)
- Understanding Veterans Survivor Benefits from the US Dept. of Veterans Affairs (Part B)
Understanding Veterans Survivor Benefits from the US Dept. of Veterans Affairs (Part A)
When you experience the loss of a loved one who has served in the military, it can be a small comfort to know that the US Dept. of Veterans Affairs provides several types of veteran survivor benefits. Knowing which Dept. of Veterans Affairs forms to fill out and how to apply is the first step in the process.
Available Veterans Survivor Benefits
The US Dept. of Veterans Affairs (VA) seeks to provide numerous benefits to surviving spouses and children of deceased veterans. While not all veterans survivor benefits apply to each family, it's a good idea to familiarize yourself with all the available options to see what you may qualify for.
- Burial expenses - a large range of burial benefits may be available, such as reimbursement for burial expenses, a plot allowance and no-cost burial in a National cemetery. Upon request, the VA may also provide a headstone or marker, flag, and a Presidential Memorial Certificate.
- Dependency and Indemnity Compensation - qualifying surviving spouses and dependent children may receive a monthly stipend called Dependency and Indemnity Compensation.
- Death Pension - when the veteran's death wasn't due to a service-connected disability, survivors may qualify for death pension benefits.
- Education - depending upon the servicemember's status at the time of death, spouses and children may be eligible for education and training benefits, as well as vocational and employment counseling.
- Health Care - for many families, the Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs may provide health care benefits.
These are only some of the benefits that you may qualify for if you're a survivor of someone who has served in our nation's armed forces. You'll need to know which Dept. of Veterans Affairs forms to fill out and how to apply; you can always call your nearest VA benefits office for specific information.
This can be an extremely difficult situation for you and you may feel like no one understands. By becoming an advocate, you may find it helpful through the coping process.
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