Veteran education · Family & survivors
Family & survivor benefits: check each program
One benefit decision does not automatically establish eligibility for every family program.
Reviewed October 17, 2026 · Serving veterans nationwide
Distinguish compensation from pension
Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) and Survivors Pension are different benefits. DIC may apply to qualifying survivors based on service-related death or other qualifying circumstances. Survivors Pension has separate service, relationship, income, and net-worth requirements.
Look beyond monthly compensation
Health coverage, education assistance, caregiver support, and other programs have their own eligibility rules. A veteran’s rating can matter, but the family relationship, disability status, service history, or circumstances of death may also matter.
Build a program-specific checklist
Identify the program, the relationship you are applying under, and the documents its instructions request. Ask the responsible VA program about your situation. Keep copies of decisions and review instructions for each benefit.
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Check the current requirements
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