Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
Burial benefits, DIC, and survivor pensions for veterans' families
The Department of Veterans Affairs provides survivor benefits, burial assistance, and death notification services for veterans and their families. When a veteran dies, the VA offers burial benefits, dependency and indemnity compensation (DIC), and survivor pension programs for eligible family members.
Notifying the VA when someone dies
A family member reports the death. VA's page on what to do after a death →
Executors and next of kin
- •Have the veteran's full name, Social Security or VA claim number, dates of birth and death, and branch of service.
- •Report in person at a VA regional office, or by mail to the Claims Intake Center, PO Box 4444, Janesville, WI 53547-4444, which is slower.
- •Send a certified copy of the letters testamentary or letters of administration, with the court's seal.
Families arranging the burial
- •Non-service-connected death: file within 2 years after the burial
- •Service-connected death, death under VA care, or a plot or transportation claim: no time limit
- •Surviving spouse listed on the veteran's profile: no form needed for the set plot, interment or transportation amount
- •Headstone or marker: VA Form 40-1330, or 40-1330M for a medallion on a private headstone
- •Presidential Memorial Certificate: VA Form 40-0247
- •Burial flag: VA Form 27-2008, taken to a funeral director, VA regional office or post office
Surviving spouses, children and parents
- •Missing DD214: request it through the National Archives at archives.gov/veterans
- •Surviving spouse: marriage certificate; children: birth certificates
- •DIC: medical evidence of a service-connected cause of death
- •Survivors Pension: income and net worth information
- •Surviving spouse or child: VA Form 21P-534EZ, which also claims accrued benefits
- •Death in service: VA Form 21P-534a, with the casualty assistance officer's help
- •Surviving parent: VA Form 21P-535; parents' DIC is income-limited
Required Documents
- Death certificate: A certified copy, including the cause of death.
- DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty: It supports nearly every VA survivor and burial claim. A missing copy can be requested from the National Personnel Records Center.
- Marriage certificate: for surviving spouse claims
- Birth certificates: for dependent children
- The veteran's Social Security number
- VA file number or claim number: if known
- Itemized receipts for burial and transportation expenses: for burial allowance claims
- Medical evidence of a service-connected cause of death: for DIC claims
- Income and net worth information: for Survivors Pension claims
- Letters testamentary or letters of administration: for accrued-benefits claims where the estate has an appointed representative. A certified copy bearing the appointing court's signature and seal.
Timeline
VA reported an average of 68.4 days to complete disability-related claims in August 2026 and republishes the average monthly. Complex claims or claims needing additional evidence take longer.
Deadlines6
- DIC or death pension application, for an award effective from the month of death
within 1 year of the date of death; Payments start from the filing date instead of the first day of the month of death.1
- Claim for accrued benefits
within 1 year of the beneficiary's death2, 3
- Claim for lump-sum accrued benefits withheld from a competent veteran during hospital, institutional or home care
within 5 years of the beneficiary's death2
- Request to be substituted into the veteran's pending claim or appeal
within 1 year of the date of death4
- Burial allowance claim for a death that was not service connected
within 2 years of the veteran's burial5
- Burial allowance claim where VA upgraded the discharge from dishonorable after death
within 2 years of the upgrade5
What VA pays or provides to survivors13
- Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC)
Monthly survivor benefit or annuity
A monthly tax-exempt payment to a surviving spouse, or to an unmarried child under 18 or under 23 and attending school, of a service member who died on active duty, active duty for training or inactive-duty training, or of a veteran who died from a service-connected illness or injury.6, 7, 8
Who qualifies: A surviving spouse lived with the veteran without a break until death or was not at fault for a separation, and married within 15 years of the qualifying discharge, was married at least 1 year, or had a child with the veteran.
Amount: $1,699.36 monthly for a surviving spouse and $421.00 for each eligible child under 18, effective December 1, 2025. Higher base rates by pay grade apply where the veteran died before January 1, 1993.
How to apply: VA Form 21P-534EZ online at va.gov, through AccessVA QuickSubmit or by mail to the Pension Intake Center. For a service member who died in service, VA Form 21P-534a, with the military casualty assistance officer's help. Form VA Form 21P-534EZ.
- DIC when the death was not service connected
Monthly survivor benefit or annuity
DIC is also paid when the veteran did not die of a service-connected cause but was eligible for compensation for a service-connected disability rated totally disabling for at least 10 years before death, or since release from active duty and for at least 5 years immediately before death.6
Who qualifies: The surviving spouse, child or parent, as for DIC. A former prisoner of war who died after September 30, 1999 needs the totally disabling rating for at least 1 year before death.
How to apply: VA Form 21P-534EZ for a surviving spouse or child, or VA Form 21P-535 for a surviving parent. Form VA Form 21P-534EZ.
- DIC added amounts
Monthly survivor benefit or annuity
Monthly amounts added to a surviving spouse's DIC: the 8-year provision, where the veteran was rated totally disabling for the 8 full years before death and the spouse was married to them those same 8 years; Aid and Attendance; the Housebound allowance; and a 2-year transitional benefit with a child under 18.7
Amount: $360.85 for the 8-year provision, $421.00 for Aid and Attendance, $197.22 for the Housebound allowance and $359.00 for the transitional benefit, effective December 1, 2025
- DIC for surviving parents
Monthly survivor benefit or annuity
Dependency and Indemnity Compensation paid to a surviving parent of a service member or veteran whose death qualifies for DIC. Parents' DIC is income-limited.6
Who qualifies: A surviving parent whose income is below a set amount
How to apply: VA Form 21P-535. Form VA Form 21P-535.
- Survivors Pension
Monthly survivor benefit or annuity
Monthly payments to a surviving spouse or unmarried child of a wartime veteran whose death was not service connected. The veteran was not dishonorably discharged and served 90 days (entry by September 7, 1980) or 24 months or the full called period, with 1 day in a covered wartime period.9, 10
Who qualifies: A surviving spouse not remarried since the death, or an unmarried child under 18, under 23 in a VA-approved school, or disabled before 18. Income and net worth limits set by Congress apply; the net worth limit is $163,699 through November 30, 2026.
Amount: The Maximum Annual Pension Rate less countable income, effective December 1, 2025: $11,699 with no dependents, $15,311 with 1 dependent child, plus $2,984 per additional child
How to apply: VA Form 21P-534EZ online at va.gov, through AccessVA QuickSubmit or by mail to the Pension Intake Center. VA reviews asset transfers made in the 3 years before the claim. Form VA Form 21P-534EZ.
- Survivors Pension with Housebound or Aid and Attendance
Monthly survivor benefit or annuity
Survivors Pension is figured against a higher Maximum Annual Pension Rate with Housebound or Aid and Attendance.10
Amount: $14,298 with Housebound or $18,697 with Aid and Attendance and no dependents; $17,902 or $22,304 with 1 dependent child; effective December 1, 2025
How to apply: Form VA Form 21P-534EZ.
- Accrued Benefits
Amounts due the person at death
A one-time payment of benefits VA owed the beneficiary at the time of death but had not paid, made in the line of succession set by law.2
Who qualifies: In full to the surviving spouse; if none, in equal shares to dependent children; if none, in equal shares to financially dependent parents. With none of them, a person who paid the last illness and burial expenses can be reimbursed.
Amount: The unpaid amount VA owed the beneficiary at death
How to apply: Surviving spouse or child: VA Form 21P-534EZ. Surviving parent: VA Form 21P-535. Reimbursement of expenses: VA Form 21P-601, online or by mail. Apply within 1 year of the beneficiary's death. Form VA Form 21P-534EZ.
- Burial Allowance
Burial, funeral and memorial benefits
Payments toward burial and funeral costs and the plot or interment, and reimbursement for transporting the remains to the final resting place. Every legal burial type is covered, including cremation, burial at sea and donation of remains to a medical school.5, 11
Who qualifies: Not dishonorably discharged, and the death was service connected, occurred under VA care or VA-paid travel for care, or came with a pending claim the veteran would have been entitled on; or the veteran was receiving or eligible for compensation or pension.
Amount: Service-connected death: $2,000 (death on or after September 11, 2001) or $1,500. Death not service connected, on or after October 1, 2025: $1,002 burial allowance plus $1,002 for a plot.
How to apply: VA Form 21P-530EZ online at va.gov or by mail to the Pension Intake Center. No time limit for a service-connected death, a death under VA or VA-contracted care, or a plot, interment or transportation claim; otherwise within 2 years after burial. Form VA Form 21P-530EZ.
- Burial in a VA National Cemetery
Burial, funeral and memorial benefits
Burial in a VA national cemetery with available space at no cost to the family: the gravesite, opening and closing of the grave, perpetual care, a government headstone, marker or medallion, a Presidential Memorial Certificate and a burial flag. Cremated remains receive the same honors as casketed remains.12
Who qualifies: Veterans and service members discharged under conditions other than dishonorable, and eligible spouses and dependent children, who may be buried with the veteran with perpetual care and an inscription on the veteran's headstone
Amount: No cost to the family
How to apply: The family or funeral director calls the National Cemetery Scheduling Office, with the DD214 or other discharge documents ready. Gravesites cannot be reserved in advance; discharge documents are usually not needed where an eligible person is already interred.
- Government Headstone or Marker
Burial, funeral and memorial benefits
A headstone, grave marker, wall marker or medallion furnished at no cost for a veteran not dishonorably discharged or a service member who died on active duty, where the grave is unmarked, or the veteran died on or after November 1, 1990 and the grave has a privately purchased headstone.13, 5
Who qualifies: Enlisted service after September 7, 1980 or officer service after October 16, 1981 needs 24 months of continuous active duty or death on active duty. Spouses and dependent children buried in a national, state, tribal, military post or base cemetery qualify.
Amount: Provided at no cost. Allowance toward a privately purchased headstone or marker for deaths on or after October 1, 2025: $441.
How to apply: VA Form 40-1330 through AccessVA QuickSubmit, or by mail or fax to the NCA FP Evidence Intake Center, with a copy of the DD214. VA Form 40-1330M requests a medallion for a private headstone, and 40-1330UP an urn or plaque for cremains not interred. Form VA Form 40-1330.
- Memorial Headstone or Marker
Burial, funeral and memorial benefits
A memorial headstone or marker is available where remains were not recovered or identified, were buried at sea, were donated to science, or were cremated and scattered.13
Amount: Provided at no cost
How to apply: Form VA Form 40-1330.
- Presidential Memorial Certificate
Burial, funeral and memorial benefits
An engraved paper certificate signed by the current president honoring the military service of a veteran or reservist. VA accepts multiple requests for a certificate.14
Who qualifies: The next of kin, a family member or a close friend of a veteran or reservist eligible for burial in a VA national cemetery, or an authorized service representative acting for them
Amount: No cost
How to apply: Presented automatically to the next of kin at a national cemetery burial. For a private cemetery, apply online or send VA Form 40-0247 by mail, fax, AccessVA QuickSubmit or in person at a VA regional office, with copies of the death certificate and DD214. Form VA Form 40-0247.
- Burial Flag
Burial, funeral and memorial benefits
A United States flag to drape the casket or accompany the urn, honoring the service of a veteran or reservist who served in wartime, died on active duty after May 27, 1941, or served after January 31, 1955.15
Who qualifies: The next of kin or a close friend. Also covered: peacetime service ending before June 27, 1950 after an enlistment or for a service-connected disability, and in certain cases Selected Reserve or Philippine forces service with death on or after April 25, 1951.
Amount: No cost
How to apply: Fill out VA Form 27-2008 and bring it to a funeral director, a VA regional office or a United States post office (call ahead to confirm the post office stocks burial flags). A flag is provided automatically with burial in a VA national cemetery. Form VA Form 27-2008.
What happens to each matter2
- Benefit payments
Reporting the death promptly stops the benefit payments the veteran was receiving, which is how survivors avoid debt from benefit overpayments.16
- Pending claim or application
A living person who would be eligible for the veteran's accrued benefits can ask to be substituted as the claimant and carry a pending claim or appeal to completion, with new evidence allowed. The request is filed within one year of the death.4, 2
Substitution can be waived instead, and VA then decides the claim on the evidence it already has. The request uses VA Form 21P-534EZ for a surviving spouse or child, 21P-535 for a surviving parent, or 21P-601 for reimbursement of last illness and burial expenses.2
What VA's rules say8
- Who reports the death
There is no fixed deadline, but the survivor or the veteran's legal representative reports the death to VA as soon as possible. Calling is fastest; a death can also be reported in person at a VA regional office or by mail, which may take longer to stop payments.16
- Proof of death accepted
A report made in person or by mail includes copies of the death certificate or other public record of death and a discharge document such as the DD214.16
- Payments received after the death
A payee's VA award is discontinued the last day of the month before death, so any payment covering the month of death or later is an overpayment that must be returned. If payments arrived by direct deposit, contact the bank to return the funds.17
- Remarriage
Remarriage does not bar DIC if it occurred on or after December 16, 2003 at age 57 or older, or on or after January 5, 2021 at age 55 or older. Survivors Pension goes to a surviving spouse who has not remarried after the veteran's death.6, 9
- Offsets between benefits
DIC for a surviving spouse or child is not income-based: VA pays it at the published rate regardless of other income. Social Security survivor benefits are a separate program run by a separate agency, so a surviving spouse can receive both.6
- Who may act for the estate or the survivor
The burial allowance is claimed by the person who paid the burial and funeral costs and will not be reimbursed by another organization: a surviving spouse or legal-union partner, child, parent, executor or administrator of the estate, family member, friend, or funeral home or cemetery representative.5
- Coverage limits
The burial allowance is not payable if the individual died on active duty, while serving as a member of Congress, or while serving a federal prison sentence.5
Spouses and dependent children buried in a private cemetery are not eligible for a government headstone or marker, but may get an inscription on the veteran's headstone.13
- Processing and payment
Filing a DIC or Survivors Pension claim, or an intent to file, within a year of the death protects the earliest start date. An intent to file gives time to gather evidence without losing the earlier effective date.6
A surviving spouse listed on the veteran's profile does not need to file for the burial allowance: VA automatically pays the set plot, interment or transportation amount when it receives notice of the death.5
If more than 4 months pass without receiving a Presidential Memorial Certificate, call VA's memorial items line rather than sending a second application.14
The PACT Act expanded VA benefits for veterans exposed to burn pits, Agent Orange and other toxic substances, and for their survivors, who may qualify for DIC, accrued benefits, Survivors Pension, burial and memorial benefits, education and training, and CHAMPVA health care.18
A survivor who may be eligible for DIC under the PACT Act can submit a new application. Where VA denied a claim in the past and now thinks the survivor may be eligible, it tries to make contact, but the survivor need not wait before reapplying.18
Forms VA issues10
- VA Form 21P-534EZ: Application for DIC, Survivors Pension, and/or Accrued Benefits
A surviving spouse or dependent child files this to apply for Dependency and Indemnity Compensation, Survivors Pension, and/or accrued benefits after a veteran dies.6, 9
Completed by the surviving spouse or dependent child. Completed online.
- VA Form 21P-534a: Application for Dependency and Indemnity Compensation by a Surviving Spouse or Child—In-Service Death Only
A surviving spouse or child files this, with the military casualty assistance officer's help, when the service member died while on active duty.6
Completed by the surviving spouse or child.
- VA Form 21P-535: Application for Dependency and Indemnity Compensation by Parent(s) (Including Accrued Benefits and Death Compensation When Applicable)
A surviving parent files this to apply for Dependency and Indemnity Compensation after the death of their veteran child.6
Completed by the surviving parent.
- VA Form 21P-601: Application for Accrued Amounts Due a Deceased Beneficiary
The person or estate that paid the beneficiary's last illness and burial expenses files this to claim reimbursement from accrued benefits, within 1 year of the beneficiary's death.2
Completed by the person or estate that paid the expenses. Completed online.
- VA Form 21P-530EZ: Application for Burial Benefits (Under 38 U.S.C. Chapter 23)
The person who paid burial expenses files this to claim the VA burial allowance, plot or interment allowance, and transportation reimbursement. Non-service-connected claims are due within 2 years of burial.5, 11
Completed by the person who paid the burial expenses. Completed online.
- VA Form 40-1330: Claim for Standard Government Headstone or Marker
Family or a personal representative files this to request a government headstone, grave marker, or wall marker at no cost for an eligible deceased veteran.13
Completed by family or a personal representative.
- VA Form 40-1330M: Claim for Government Medallion for Placement in a Private Cemetery
Family files this to request a government medallion for an existing privately purchased headstone or marker in a private cemetery.13
Completed by family.
- VA Form 40-1330UP: Claim for Commemorative Urn or Plaque for Veterans' Cremains Not Interred
Family files this to request a commemorative urn or plaque when an eligible veteran's cremated remains are not interred.13
Completed by family.
- VA Form 40-0247: Presidential Memorial Certificate Request Form
Next of kin, a family member, or a close friend files this to request a Presidential Memorial Certificate honoring the deceased veteran's service.14
Completed by next of kin, a family member or a close friend.
- VA Form 27-2008: Application for United States Flag for Burial Purposes
Next of kin or a close friend takes this to a funeral director, VA regional office, or post office to obtain a United States burial flag.15
Completed by next of kin or a close friend.
Other agencies and offices involved6
- VA Pension Intake Center
Mailed DIC, Survivors Pension and burial allowance applications6, 9, 5
Mailing address: Department of Veterans Affairs, Pension Intake Center, PO Box 5365, Janesville, WI 53547-5365
- NCA FP Evidence Intake Center
Mailed and faxed headstone, marker and Presidential Memorial Certificate requests13, 14
Fax: 1-800-455-7143
Mailing address: NCA FP Evidence Intake Center, PO Box 5237, Janesville, WI 53547
- VA memorial items line
Help with headstone and marker requests, and a Presidential Memorial Certificate not received after 4 months13, 14
- VA Debt Management Center
Questions about overpayments and returning VA payments after a death16
Phone: 1-800-827-0648
Hours: Monday-Friday 7:30 AM-7:00 PM ET
- National Personnel Records Center
Copies of a missing DD Form 214, on Standard Form 180 or through the National Archives at archives.gov/veterans16
- Social Security Administration
Social Security survivor benefits, a separate program a surviving spouse can receive along with DIC6
Programs for survivors1
- Military casualty assistance officer
The military casualty assistance officer helps the surviving spouse or child of a service member who died on active duty file VA Form 21P-534a for DIC.6
Who qualifies: The surviving spouse or child of a service member who died in service
Sources18
- 1.38 U.S.C. 5110
- 2.Accrued benefits
- 3.38 U.S.C. 5121
- 4.38 U.S.C. 5121A
- 5.Veterans burial allowance
- 6.VA Dependency and Indemnity Compensation
- 7.Dependency and Indemnity Compensation rates for spouses and dependents, effective December 1, 2025
- 8.38 U.S.C. Chapter 13
- 9.VA Survivors Pension
- 10.Survivors Pension rates, effective December 1, 2025
- 11.38 U.S.C. Chapter 23
- 12.Schedule a burial in a VA national cemetery
- 13.Headstones, markers and medallions
- 14.Presidential Memorial Certificates
- 15.Burial flags
- 16.How to report the death of a Veteran to VA
- 17.38 CFR 3.500
- 18.The PACT Act and your VA benefits
Sources
Data sourced from Department of Veterans Affairs primary sources (16 pages reviewed). How we research.
VA death reporting
Death Reporting
Phone
National cemetery scheduling
Fax for discharge documents
TTY
Hours
Mailing address
Website
Forms for Planning and Settling an Estate
Free state-specific forms for planning an estate or settling one: a will, living trust, powers of attorney, TOD deed, and every probate form an executor files.
Tools for Planning and Settling an Estate
Free calculators and checklists for planning or settling an estate, by state: will and trust costs, probate, executor and trustee pay, and inheritance taxes.