Survivor's Benefits

When a veteran dies with a claim still pending, the claim doesn’t automatically end. An eligible survivor can step in within one year, keep the veteran’s original effective date and add new evidence, which can mean years of back pay. This free plain-language guide explains how to continue a pending claim, how accrued benefits work and what DIC pays in 2026. That includes the 10-year rule that can pay a surviving spouse even when the death wasn’t service-connected, and how to prove a death was service-connected when the death certificate doesn’t say so. It also covers Survivors Pension, CHAMPVA, burial benefits, education and home loans, and what continues and what ends. It explains the remarriage rules that differ by program, including why remarrying at 55 or older keeps DIC, SBP and CHAMPVA. Enter the date of death in the free tool to see your exact deadlines, and download the free Survivor’s Benefits PDF for a printable checklist.