DIC — DIC
A tax-free monthly benefit paid by the VA to eligible surviving spouses, dependent children.
Official source: va.gov
DIC stands for Dependency and Indemnity Compensation. It's a special payment from the VA that helps families of service members who died from a service-related cause, or veterans who died from service-related causes, or who were totally disabled for a long time before they passed away.
This money is for surviving spouses and dependent children. It's paid every month and you don't pay taxes on it. For example, effective December 1, 2025, a surviving spouse base rate is $1,699.36 each month. The cool thing about DIC is that it's not based on how much money you earn or how much you need. It's paid no matter what your financial situation is.
There's one important rule: if a surviving spouse gets married again, they usually stop getting DIC payments. There are a few rare exceptions to this, but mostly, remarriage means the payments stop. It's good to remember that DIC is different from VA Survivors Pension, which *does* look at how much money you have when deciding if you can get payments.
In real life
- A surviving spouse may receive DIC if their husband or wife died during military service.
- Someone can get DIC if their parent passed away due to an injury or illness from their time in the military.
- A dependent child might be eligible for DIC payments after a parent dies from a service-related condition.
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Frequently asked questions about DIC
What is DIC (DIC)?+
A tax-free monthly benefit paid by the VA to eligible surviving spouses, dependent children, and parents of service members who died on active duty or veterans who died from a service-connected condition. The 2026 base monthly DIC rate for a surviving spouse is $1,699.36 (effective December 1, 2025).
Who qualifies for DIC?+
Surviving spouses, dependent children, and in some cases dependent parents of veterans or workers who paid into Social Security.
How do I apply for DIC?+
Apply online at ssa.gov, by phone at 1-800-772-1213, or in person at your local Social Security office. There's no cost to apply.
Where can I get help?+
Survivors of veterans should start with the Survivor Benefits Checklist. For Social Security survivor benefits, contact your local SSA office; there's no cost to apply.
Source: va.gov