VA survivor benefits after a veteran dies (2026)

After a veteran dies, a surviving spouse may be able to claim several VA survivor benefits, including burial and plot allowances, Dependency and Indemnity Compensation, accrued benefits, and VA life insurance. The DD-214 is often the key record that proves military service, so finding it early can prevent delays.

This guide is informational, not legal advice. VA rules can depend on service history, disability ratings, cause of death, marriage history, and who paid final expenses. If you are newly widowed, start with the paperwork, then work through each possible claim one at a time.

Start with the DD-214 and a short document file

The DD-214, also called the Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, is the main proof of service for many VA claims. Without it, the VA or a funeral home may not be able to confirm eligibility for burial benefits, a flag, a headstone, or certain survivor payments.

Try to gather:

• The veteran's DD-214 or other separation papers
• Certified death certificates
• Your marriage certificate
• Any divorce decrees from prior marriages, if requested
• The veteran's Social Security number and VA file number, if known
• Funeral, burial, cremation, cemetery, and transportation receipts
• The veteran's VA disability rating letters, if available
• Bank information for direct deposit
• Any VA insurance policy numbers or letters

If you cannot find the DD-214, you can request military service records through the National Archives, a county Veterans Service Office, or an accredited veterans service organization. Funeral homes that often serve veterans may also know the local process for urgent requests.

This record file can also help with the wider estate settlement. A surviving spouse often has to claim benefits, close accounts, pay final bills, and transfer assets in the same few months.

VA burial allowance and plot allowance

The VA burial allowance is a payment that may reimburse some funeral or burial costs after a veteran dies. It is usually paid to the person who paid the expenses, often the surviving spouse, another family member, or in some cases the funeral home.

There are two broad categories:

• Service-connected burial allowance, when the veteran died from a service-connected condition
• Non-service-connected burial allowance, when the veteran met VA eligibility rules but the death was not tied to a service-connected condition

The VA may also pay a plot or interment allowance in some cases. This can help with the cost of a cemetery plot, interment, or similar expense when the veteran is not buried in a national cemetery. Transportation costs may be covered in limited cases, such as when the veteran died in a VA facility or under VA-paid care.

To apply, families usually use VA Form 21P-530EZ, Application for Burial Benefits. You may need to attach receipts showing who paid, proof of death, the DD-214, and cemetery or funeral paperwork.

Time limits matter. Claims for some non-service-connected burial and plot benefits generally must be filed within two years after burial or cremation. Service-connected burial claims may have different timing rules. Because deadlines can change or depend on the facts, confirm the current rule with the VA, a county veterans office, or an accredited representative.

DIC benefits for a surviving spouse

Dependency and Indemnity Compensation, often called DIC, is a monthly tax-free payment for certain survivors. DIC benefits surviving spouse claims usually turn on the veteran's cause of death, VA disability history, and the marriage rules that apply to the couple.

A surviving spouse may qualify if one of these applies:

• The veteran died from a service-connected injury or disease
• The veteran's service-connected condition contributed to the death
• The veteran was rated totally disabled by the VA for a required period before death, even if the death was not caused by that disability

The marriage rules can be detailed. In many cases, the VA looks at whether you were married for at least one year, had a child with the veteran, or married within a required period after service. Remarriage can affect eligibility, though there are exceptions based on age and other rules.

To apply for DIC, surviving spouse pension, or accrued benefits, many families use VA Form 21P-534EZ. If you are unsure whether the death was service-connected, do not assume the answer is no. The death certificate may list one cause, while VA records may show that a service-connected condition was a contributing factor. An accredited veterans service officer can help review the rating history and medical records.

DIC is different from Social Security survivor benefits, military retirement survivor benefits, and life insurance. You may need to apply for each one separately.

Accrued benefits claim: unpaid VA benefits owed before death

Accrued benefits are VA benefits that were due to the veteran before death but had not yet been paid. This can happen if the veteran had a pending disability claim, a pending appeal, or a benefit check that should have been issued before death.

A surviving spouse is often first in line to claim accrued benefits. If there is no eligible spouse, the VA may look to children, dependent parents, or a person who paid the veteran's last sickness or burial costs, depending on the benefit and facts.

The deadline is one of the most common traps: an accrued-benefits claim generally must be filed within one year of the veteran's death. If the veteran had a pending VA claim, ask about substitution as well. Substitution allows an eligible survivor to step into the pending claim and continue it. The rules are technical, so this is a good place to ask a VA-accredited representative for help.

Accrued benefits are separate from the estate's bank accounts and personal property. Still, they can affect the practical work of settling bills and tracking money. If you are also acting as executor or administrator, keep copies of every VA payment notice and deposit for your estate accounting records. Sunset's guide to estate accounting explains why tracking each dollar matters for heirs and the court.

VA life insurance is a separate claim

VA life insurance is not the same as DIC or burial benefits. It is paid under an insurance policy, usually to the named beneficiary. If you are the beneficiary, the money may pass to you outside probate, but the insurer still has to process a claim.

Common policy types may include Veterans' Group Life Insurance, Service-Disabled Veterans Life Insurance, Veterans Affairs Life Insurance, National Service Life Insurance, or older government life policies. Active-duty and recent service members may also have Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance. For a deeper look at SGLI and federal life insurance claims, see Sunset's guide to FEGLI and SGLI claims.

To claim VA life insurance, look for:

• A policy number or premium notice
• Bank statements showing premium payments
• VA insurance letters
• The named beneficiary designation
• The death certificate and your identification

Life insurance can be paid by check, direct deposit, or a retained-asset account. If an insurer offers a retained-asset account, read how it works before leaving money there for long. Sunset explains the basics in this guide to retained-asset accounts.

If the policy named the estate as beneficiary, the funds may need to be handled through probate. If the named beneficiary died first or the form is missing, the insurer will apply its own rules and may ask for probate papers.

A practical order for a surviving spouse

You do not have to solve every VA question in the first week. A simple order can reduce missed deadlines:

1. Order death certificates and find the DD-214.
2. Ask the funeral home about burial flag, military honors, headstone, and cemetery forms.
3. Save every funeral, cemetery, cremation, and transportation receipt.
4. Contact a county Veterans Service Office or VA-accredited representative about DIC, burial allowance, and accrued benefits.
5. File burial benefits and DIC forms with copies of the required proof.
6. Check for VA life insurance, SGLI, VGLI, private life insurance, and employer coverage.
7. Track all deposits and payments in a separate record for the estate.

If the veteran also had civilian employer coverage, this Sunset article on employer-provided life insurance after death can help you separate group life insurance from VA and military benefits.

How VA claims fit with probate and the estate

Some VA survivor benefits are paid directly to the surviving spouse or another eligible claimant. Others may depend on who paid expenses, who is named as beneficiary, or whether an estate representative has been appointed.

Probate may still be needed for bank accounts, vehicles, real estate, or personal property that did not pass by beneficiary designation or joint ownership. Court rules are state and county based, so the paperwork can vary even when the VA forms are the same nationwide.

Sunset helps families start with assets and liabilities first. That means finding accounts, identifying debts, and seeing what actually needs to be transferred before spending time or money on court filings. Sunset searches 2,300+ financial institutions to find accounts and assets, generates state- and county-specific probate packets, and refers families to a local probate attorney when counsel is needed. Sunset's family product is funded through our bank partnership, so the estate does not pay Sunset and all assets go to the beneficiaries and heirs. Families can use an FDIC-insured estate account for estate funds.

FAQ

Who qualifies for VA survivor benefits after a veteran dies?

A surviving spouse, dependent child, dependent parent, or person who paid final expenses may qualify for different VA benefits. DIC, burial allowance, accrued benefits, and insurance each have their own rules. The DD-214, death certificate, marriage proof, and receipts usually help decide which claims apply.

How do I get a DD-214 for a deceased veteran?

You can request service records from the National Archives or ask a county Veterans Service Office for help. If the burial is soon, tell the office that the request is time sensitive. Some funeral homes can also point you to local contacts who handle veteran burial paperwork.

Can a surviving spouse get DIC and Social Security survivor benefits?

In many cases, yes. DIC and Social Security survivor benefits are different programs with separate applications. One does not replace the other, though other military or federal benefits can have offset rules. Ask each agency what it needs and whether any payment affects another benefit.

Are VA life insurance proceeds part of probate?

Usually, VA life insurance pays the named beneficiary directly and does not go through probate. If the estate is the beneficiary, the named beneficiary has died, or there is no valid beneficiary on file, probate paperwork may be needed before funds are released.

How long does a VA survivor benefits claim take?

Timing depends on the benefit, the evidence, and whether the VA needs more records. Burial claims may be faster than DIC claims that require medical or service review. Submitting the DD-214, death certificate, marriage proof, and complete receipts can help avoid extra requests.

Sunset can help with the estate work around the VA claims

VA survivor benefits are only one part of life after a veteran's death. You may also be finding accounts, closing or transferring assets, dealing with debts, and deciding whether probate is needed.

Sunset has helped 15,000+ families settle estates. We can help you find assets, prepare probate packets for your state and county, open an FDIC-insured estate account, and get connected with a local probate attorney when legal counsel is needed. Sunset is free for families, so you can focus on the next required step without guessing what comes after it.