When DIC may be payable
- The service member died in the line of duty, or
- The veteran died from a service-connected condition, including one that's now presumptive under the PACT Act, or
- The veteran wasn't service-connected for the cause of death but was rated totally disabled (100% or TDIU) for at least 10 years before death, for at least 5 years after discharge, or for at least 1 year as a former POW (38 U.S.C. § 1318)
Who qualifies as a surviving spouse
Requirements include the length or circumstances of the marriage and continuous cohabitation. Remarriage generally ends eligibility, but a surviving spouse who remarries at age 55 or older can keep DIC.
How to apply
Surviving spouses and children generally use VA Form 21P-534EZ, which also covers accrued benefits and survivors pension. Parents use VA Form 21P-535. The death certificate and the veteran's medical records are central evidence.
Accrued benefitsIf the veteran had a claim pending when he or she died, a survivor may be able to continue it as a "substitute claimant." There are deadlines, so contact us promptly.
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Official sources
This page is general information, not legal advice, and VA rules change. Last reviewed October 2026.