Notifying the VA when someone dies
Family member is responsible for notifying the VA — 30 to 90 days for most benefit claims
OverviewWhen someone dies
VA Benefits Hotline
Phone1-800-827-1000
TTY711
WebsiteVisit website→
HoursMonday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. ET
Office of Survivors Assistance
Phone1-800-827-1000
TTY711
WebsiteLearn about benefits→
HoursMonday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. ET
Death Reporting / National Cemetery Scheduling Office
Phone1-800-827-1000 (select option 5 to report a death); 1-800-535-1117 (national cemetery scheduling)
TTY711
Timeline
30 to 90 days for most benefit claims
WebsiteLearn more →
HoursMonday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. ET (benefits hotline); Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. ET and Saturday 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. ET (cemetery scheduling)
Verified Jul 2026
When someone dies, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) must be notified. The family member is responsible for notifying the VA.
Notification deadline: As soon as possible; burial benefit claims within 2 years of burial.
Steps to take
Steps for notifying the VA and applying for survivor benefits:
1
Notify the VA of the veteran's death (https://www.va.gov/resources/how-to-report-the-death-of-a-veteran-to-va/):
- •Call 1-800-827-1000 and select option 5 (fastest method)
- •If the veteran was receiving VA benefits, request that payments be stopped to avoid overpayment debt
- •Alternatively, report in person at a VA regional office or by mail to: Claims Intake Center, PO Box 4444, Janesville, WI 53547-4444
- •Provide the veteran's full name, Social Security number or VA claim number, date of birth, date of death, and branch of service
2
Gather required documents:
- •Certified copy of the death certificate
- •DD Form 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty). Request from National Archives at archives.gov/veterans if not available.
- •Marriage certificate (for surviving spouse claims)
- •Birth certificates of dependent children
- •Veteran's Social Security number and VA file number (if known)
3
Request burial in a national cemetery if desired by contacting the National Cemetery Scheduling Office at 1-800-535-1117 (Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. ET; Saturday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. ET).
4
Apply for survivor benefits (https://www.va.gov/family-and-caregiver-benefits/survivor-compensation/):
- •DIC for surviving spouse/children: File VA Form 21P-534EZ at va.gov
- •DIC for surviving parents: File VA Form 21P-535 at va.gov
- •Survivors Pension: File VA Form 21P-534EZ at va.gov
- •Burial allowance: File VA Form 21P-530EZ at va.gov (2-year filing deadline for non-service-connected deaths)
- •Headstone or marker: Submit VA Form 40-1330 via AccessVA QuickSubmit or by mail
- •Presidential Memorial Certificate: Submit VA Form 40-0247 (automatic at national cemetery burial)
5
Return any VA benefit payments received after the date of death. Contact the VA Debt Management Center at 1-800-827-0648 for overpayment questions.
Required Documents
- Certified copy of the death certificate
- DD Form 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty)
- Marriage certificate (for surviving spouse claims)
- Birth certificates (for dependent children)
- Veteran's Social Security number
- VA file number or claim number (if known)
- Burial expense receipts (for burial allowance claims)
- Medical evidence of service-connected cause of death (for DIC claims)
- Income and net worth information (for Survivors Pension claims)
Timeline
30 to 90 days for most benefit claims
Survivor benefits
Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC)
Monthly tax-free benefit paid to eligible survivors of military service members who died in the line of duty or veterans whose death resulted from a service-related injury or disease. Also available when the veteran had a service-connected disability rated totally disabling for at least 10 years before death, since release from active duty and for at least 5 years before death, or for at least 1 year before death if the veteran was a former prisoner of war.
Eligibility: Surviving spouse, dependent children, or dependent parents of a veteran who died from a service-connected cause or who had a totally disabling rating for the required duration
Amount: $1,699.36/month base rate for surviving spouse (effective Dec 1, 2025; adjusted annually for COLA). Additional $421.00/month per dependent child under 18. Additional $360.85/month if veteran was totally disabled 8+ years before death and spouse was married during those 8 years.
How to apply: Surviving spouse/children: file VA Form 21P-534EZ online at va.gov, by mail, or at a local VA office. Surviving parents: file VA Form 21P-535. Active-duty deaths: file VA Form 21P-534a.
Learn more →Survivors Pension
Monthly benefit for eligible surviving spouses and dependent children of wartime veterans whose death was not service-connected. Income and net worth limits apply.
Eligibility: Low-income surviving spouse or child of a wartime veteran
Amount: Varies based on income; maximum annual pension rate $11,699 for surviving spouse without dependents, $15,311 with 1 dependent child (effective Dec 1, 2025). Net worth limit $163,699 (Dec 1, 2025 through Nov 30, 2026).
How to apply: File VA Form 21P-534EZ online at va.gov, by mail, or at a local VA office
Learn more →Burial Allowance
VA provides a burial allowance to help cover burial, funeral, and transportation costs. Veterans may also be eligible for burial in a national cemetery at no cost. The VA may also reimburse transportation costs for moving remains to a national cemetery.
Eligibility: Person who paid burial expenses for a veteran discharged under conditions other than dishonorable
Amount: Non-service-connected death: $1,002 burial allowance + $1,002 plot/interment allowance (rates for deaths on or after Oct 1, 2025). Service-connected death: $2,000 burial allowance (deaths on or after Sept 11, 2001; $1,500 for earlier deaths). No filing deadline for service-connected deaths; 2-year filing deadline from burial date for non-service-connected deaths.
How to apply: File VA Form 21P-530EZ online at va.gov or by mail to Department of Veterans Affairs, Pension Intake Center, PO Box 5365, Janesville, WI 53547-5365
Learn more →Government Headstone or Marker
VA provides a headstone, marker, or medallion at no cost to mark the grave of an eligible veteran in any cemetery. Includes inscription of name, branch of service, year of birth, and year of death.
Eligibility: Any veteran discharged under conditions other than dishonorable
Amount: Provided at no cost
How to apply: Submit VA Form 40-1330 online via AccessVA QuickSubmit, by mail to NCA FP Evidence Intake Center, PO Box 5237, Janesville, WI 53547, or by fax. Use VA Form 40-1330M for medallions. Use VA Form 40-1330UP for commemorative plaques or urns. Call 800-697-6947 for assistance (Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. ET).
Learn more →Presidential Memorial Certificate
An engraved certificate signed by the current President, expressing the nation's recognition of the veteran's service. Available to eligible veterans' families at no cost.
Eligibility: Next of kin or loved one of an honorably discharged veteran
Amount: No cost
How to apply: Submit VA Form 40-0247 online at va.gov, by mail to NCA FP Evidence Intake Center, PO Box 5237, Janesville, WI 53547, by fax to 1-800-455-7143, via AccessVA QuickSubmit, or in person at a VA regional office. Automatically presented to next of kin at burial in a national cemetery. Include copies of death certificate and DD214. Call 800-697-6947 for status inquiries after 4 months.
Learn more →Frequently asked questions
Call the VA Benefits Hotline at 1-800-827-1000 and select option 5. This is the fastest way to report the death and stop benefit payments. You can also report in person at a VA regional office or by mail to: Department of Veterans Affairs, Claims Intake Center, PO Box 4444, Janesville, WI 53547-4444. Provide the veteran's full name, Social Security number or VA claim number, date of birth, date of death, and branch of service. The VA does not automatically receive death reports from Social Security or other agencies.
DIC is a monthly tax-free benefit paid to eligible survivors of veterans who died from a service-connected cause, or who had a totally disabling rating for at least 10 years before death (or since release from active duty and for at least 5 years before death, or 1 year for former POWs). The base rate for a surviving spouse is $1,699.36 per month (effective Dec 1, 2025), plus $421.00 per dependent child under 18. An additional $360.85/month applies if the veteran was totally disabled for at least 8 years before death and the spouse was married during those 8 years.
Yes. Veterans discharged under conditions other than dishonorable are eligible for burial in a national cemetery at no cost. This includes the gravesite, grave liner, opening/closing of the grave, a headstone or marker, and perpetual care. Contact the National Cemetery Scheduling Office at 1-800-535-1117.
Yes. Any VA benefit payments received after the date of death must be returned. If payments were made by direct deposit, contact the bank to return the funds. For questions about overpayments, call the VA Debt Management Center at 1-800-827-0648.
Yes. DIC from the VA and Social Security survivor benefits are separate programs. A surviving spouse can receive both benefits. DIC is tax-free and is not reduced by Social Security payments.
Most VA survivor benefit claims are processed within 30 to 90 days. Complex claims or claims requiring additional documentation may take longer. You can check claim status at va.gov or by calling 1-800-827-1000.
The VA Survivors Pension is available to low-income surviving spouses and dependent children of wartime veterans. The veteran must have served during a wartime period and been discharged under conditions other than dishonorable. Your net worth must be below $163,699 (effective Dec 1, 2025 through Nov 30, 2026). The maximum annual pension rate is $11,699 for a surviving spouse without dependents, or $15,311 with one dependent child (effective Dec 1, 2025).
The PACT Act expanded eligibility for DIC and other survivor benefits. Survivors of veterans who died from conditions caused or worsened by toxic exposures during military service, including burn pits and Agent Orange, may now qualify for DIC. If you were previously denied, you can file a supplemental claim based on the PACT Act expansion.
After completing the notification process, eligible survivors can apply for 5 benefits through the VA. Each benefit has its own eligibility requirements and application process.
Keep copies of all documents submitted to the VA. Original documents submitted for verification are typically returned after processing.
VA Benefits Hotline
Phone1-800-827-1000
TTY711
WebsiteVisit website→
HoursMonday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. ET
Office of Survivors Assistance
Phone1-800-827-1000
TTY711
WebsiteLearn about benefits→
HoursMonday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. ET
Death Reporting / National Cemetery Scheduling Office
Phone1-800-827-1000 (select option 5 to report a death); 1-800-535-1117 (national cemetery scheduling)
TTY711
Timeline
30 to 90 days for most benefit claims
WebsiteLearn more →
HoursMonday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. ET (benefits hotline); Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. ET and Saturday 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. ET (cemetery scheduling)
Verified Jul 2026