Veterans Benefits for surviving family members may be available. There are several veterans benefits payable to a deceased veteran's surviving spouse. One benefit is also available for the surviving, low-income parents of certain veterans. These survivors benefits include:
- Death pension. A veteran's spouse who has a very low income may qualify for a pension, as long as she didn't remarry. The veteran must have had 90 days or more of active military service, at least one day of which -- combat or not -- was during a period of war. The pension can be up to $625 per month, depending on financial need. The amount can go higher for a surviving spouse who is housebound or who needs regular in-home assistance.
- Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC). A DIC pension of at least $1,091 a month, and more than twice that much for some, is available for the surviving spouse of certain veterans. DIC benefits are also available to the surviving parents of these veterans if the parents have a very low income.
- For a survivor to qualify for DIC payments, the deceased veteran must have met one of the following requirements:
- Died while on active duty
- Died from an injury or disease incurred while on active duty or on inactive duty training, or
- Had a 100 percent-rated service-connected disability for ten years prior to death, or for five years from date of discharge to death
Thank you.
My husband is a 100 percent disabled veteran I have lost my job and I am wondering if there is help out there so we can live month to month I am helping him because he loses his memory leaves the stove on just little things he need to be watched is ther a benefit out ther for this kind of help
vet i was in the army national guard in alabama and oklahoma from 1986 to 1994 i never saw any war time or anything like that but i did go to equador to help after a earthquake and i served and helped during tornadoes here in oklahoma im now disabled and draw ss my wife works but the company she works for is laying off my power has been off for two months and i dont know what to do i need help
Hello thomas.r62, Thank you very much for your question. If you'd like, you can post your question in our Ask & Answer section, here: ( http://www.caring.com/ask ). Take care -- Emily | Community Manager
I am 100% total and permeant disabled gulf war vet. I live in a two story home and need a one level ranch do to my disabilities. I have bad credit because I worked one day and literally I was not able to ever work again. Does the Va. buy homes and help fid homes suitable for my handicap?
I am a Viet Nam vet, and live on a pension of 985 dollars per month. The VA is nearly USELESS except for this.I need teeth pulled, and the bastards refuse to help me out. If I do ANY work, I am docked dollar for dollar. They pay just enough so I don`t qualify for food stamps or public assistance, and my bills are nearly equal to my income. It sucks to be a disabled vet. Screw the VA.
Thank you for the informative article about benefits for veterans. It was well presented and easy to understand. Many veterans qualify for and need benefits but do not know how to find the information or apply. We ask lots of our veterans and they give a lot. Many are injured, many die. As a country we should do all we can to help veterans obtain the benefits they deserve. When a veteran is wounded he/she lives with that disability for their entire life. We should remember that sacrifice and give veterans what we have promised.
Thanks for the info.....
My husband was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease at age 55. He served in the Navy during Vietnam. He was stationed in the Gulf of Tonkin. He has been denied VA benefits because he never "officially" touched land. Agent Orange was airborne! How can the VA deny his claim? With the wind stream, it is impossible that he was NOT exposed. Are there other Veterans diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease who served on the USS Gridley stationed at North SAR (Search and Rescue) off the coast of Hai Phong, Gulf of Tonkin? I am hoping to build an appeal. Thank you for any assistance. I noticed this statement on the VA website from a viewer: "The VA also has a list of ships that visited Viet Nam or were stationed at Yankee station and enjoyed the down wind spraying of the north. This information is still kept from the Citizens as privileged info. The vet service officers should make it public now." Any knowledge of this claim could be very helpful.
A V.A. Death Pension is a monthly payment made to very low-income surviving spouses (who have not remarried), or minor or permanently disabled children, of deceased veterans who served in time of war. Eligibility for a V.A. Death Pension depends on both the deceased veteran and the survivor meeting certain criteria. The deceased veteran must meet two conditions. The veteran must have been discharged from service under other than dishonorable conditions. The veteran must have served at least 90 days of active military service, at least one day of which was during an official period of war. If the veteran entered active duty after September 7, 1980, he or she must have served at least 24 months, or the full period for which called or ordered to active duty.
i would like to know my hubby had a stroke is there a way that we can get financial aid to fix the hse so that he can get around eassly
THANK YOU, VERY HELPFUL