Veterans Death Pension
The Veterans Death pension is a benefit paid by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to eligible dependents (surviving spouse and/or child) of deceased wartime Veterans whose deaths were not related to military service....
What is Veterans Death Pension?
Survivors Pension is a tax-free benefit payable by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to a low-income, un-remarried surviving spouse and unmarried dependent child(ren) of a deceased wartime Veteran.
Program Requirements
To qualify for this benefit, the claimant must be the eligible surviving spouse or child(ren) of a deceased wartime Veteran. Children may be eligible if they are
- under the age of 18,
- between the ages of 18 and 23 and enrolled in a VA-approved educational/training institution, or
- permanently incapable of self-support prior to the age of 18.
Wartime Service Requirements:
| Mexican Border Period | World War I | World War II | Korea | Vietnam | Gulf War |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 05/09/1916 to 04/05/1917 Veterans who served in Mexico, on its borders, or adjacent waters | 04/06/1917 to 11/11/1918 If the veteran served with the United States military forces in Russia, the ending date is April 1, 1920 | 12/07/1941 to 12/31/1946 | 06/27/1950 to 01/31/1955 | 02/28/1961 to 05/07/1975 for Veterans who served in the Republic of Vietnam during that period; otherwise 08/05/1964 to 05/07/1975 | 08/02/1990 through a date to be prescribed by Presidential proclamation or law |
Income and net worth limits apply. Higher income limits may apply if the surviving spouse is severely disabled or has custody of the Veteran's dependent children. In addition, unreimbursed medical expenses paid by the survivor may help to reduce the survivor's countable income.
For more specific information, refer to the Survivors Pension factsheet.
Application Details
What is the application process for Veterans Death Pension?
To complete an application, use VA Form 21P-534EZ "Application for Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC), Death Pension, and/or Accrued Benefits", and mail or fax it to the VA Pension Management Center (PVMC) that serves your state. Check the PMC Locator to find the PMC having jurisdiction over your claim.