Can VA Benefits Be Passed On to My Spouse or Children?

Many veterans reach out to me to ask if their VA disability benefits can be passed on to their loved ones. The answer to that question is, of course, it depends. For many veterans, they unfortunately pass away because of service-connected conditions or perhaps because they were at 100% for at least 10 years. These two situations are common examples of how veterans can pass on a form of their disability benefits to their loved ones, specifically a spouse, perhaps minor children, or disabled children who were identified by the Social Security Administration to be disabled before the age of 18. In these situations, those loved ones will be eligible for DIC benefits, otherwise known as dependency and indemnity compensation. With DIC benefits, after your passing, your loved ones will have the ability to receive monthly monetary benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs. For many veterans, it’s not much in comparison to the support that was required to help them after their military service until their passing. Just like any other VA disability claim, DIC benefits can be hard to win. That’s why it’s important to have an accredited VA attorney or claims agent who can not only assist you with your VA disability benefits but also come up with a plan for your loved ones in case you unexpectedly pass.