Va Benefit Surviving Spouse --- Application: Fill & Download for Free

Yes, there are veterans benefits under the Veterans Affairs (VA) that veterans spouses can have. Qualifying spouses, surviving spouses, & dependents of veterans or currently serving military members may be eligible for one or more important VA benefits. These benefit areas will have varying requirements, application time frames, and benefit duration. Some of the benefits for spouses, dependents, and survivors include:Health careEducation and training.Home loan programs or financial counseling.Life insurance options, claims, and beneficiary assistancePre-need eligibility determination for burial in a VA national cemeteryBurial benefits and memorial itemsSurvivors PensionTo get more information on spouse/dependents benefits check: www.va.gov/family-member-benefit

VA Benefits Available to Veterans with MesotheliomaVA benefits available to veterans with mesothelioma include Disability Compensation, Pension, and Aid & Attendance. Surviving spouses of veterans who have passed away because of mesothelioma may be eligible for Dependency & Indemnity Compensation (DIC), Survivor Pension, and Aid & Attendance.VA Disability CompensationDisability Compensation – abbreviated “compensation” by the VA – is a monthly monetary benefit paid to veterans with a service related disability. For mesothelioma to be considered service related, the veterans must convince the VA that he/she had more exposure in the military than in their civilian jobs.VA PensionPension is paid to wartime veterans with mesothelioma if their income does not exceed the income threshold. To be considered a wartime veteran, they must have served for at least 90 days on active duty with at least one of those days during a period of war. Because Pension is “means tested”, the amount a veteran receives once approved is variable depending on their income. If the veteran’s income is below the threshold, veterans are paid the difference between their income and the applicable threshold.Aid & Attendance (A&A)For veterans who are either housebound or require the assistance of another person to perform basic daily tasks such as bathing and dressing, additional pay can be added to the veteran’s Disability Compensation for mesothelioma.Dependency & Indemnity Compensation (DIC)DIC is a monthly monetary benefit paid to the surviving spouse of any veteran who died from a service-related disability. If the veteran was receiving disability compensation for mesothelioma before passing away, DIC is easy to get approved. But even if the veteran never filed a disability compensation claim, the spouse can still qualify for DIC, if he or she can provide sufficient information to convince the VA that their spouse’s mesothelioma – and thus death – was service-related.Survivor PensionLike veterans Pension, surviving spouses of wartime veterans can receive Pension, if their income is under the income threshold, which varies depending on whether the spouse is housebound or in need of Aid & Attendance.more information visit - mesothelioma

Yes, in the US military such a death on active duty, or inactive duty for training, and in the line of duty, would normally include immediate entitlement of various payments and benefits.SURVIVORS BENEFIT PLAN (SBP)Authorized dependents are normally eligible under the Survivors Benefit Plan (SBP), which would be at the default highest rate, that of 55% of the member’s basic pay monthly. SBP is taxable (sadly).[1]DEPENDENTS INDEMNITY COMPENSATION (DIC)The authorized dependents would also normally eligible be eligible for Dependents Indemnity Compensation (DIC), and once authorized DIC is paid at a flat rate of $1,357.56 monthly as of 2021. In certain circumstances, the DIC amount is increased. DIC is tax free.[2][3]Until 1 January 2021, these two benefits — SBP and DIC — could not overlap, by an unfortunate quirk of the law, so normally the survivor would accept all DIC, first (as it’s not taxable), and after their SBP was offset (or reduced), dollar for dollar, by the amount of DIC, any remaining SBP taxable amount would be added to the DIC amount up to the total SBP amount. This is officially called the “SBP/DIC Offset.” Unofficially, it is called the “Widow’s Tax.”[4]Special Survivor Indemnity Allowance (SSIA)Congress, in recent years, has provided a partial fix, the Special Survivor Indemnity Allowance (SSIA)[5] to the “Widow’s Tax” by providing for $327 in additional monthly SBP entitlements, on top of the DIC and remainder of the SBP entitlement after DIC was deducted. However, starting 1 January 2021, the Widow’s Tax will begin to be reduced by 1/3 each year, so that by 1 January 2023, the SBP special compensation (SSIA) will be gone, and the eligible beneficiaries will receive their full, stacked (or combined) SBP + DIC. SBP remains taxable, but without the Widow’s Tax, beneficiaries will in most cases see increased total monthly compensation.[6]DEATH GRATUITYAdditionally, a death on active duty or inactive duty for training, in the line of duty, warrants a one-time, tax-free payment of the Death Gratuity, which is currently $100,000.[7]CONTINUED HOUSING ALLOWANCESSurviving dependents of the deceased member who died in the line of duty are also entitled to either:[8]12 months of continued, tax-free Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH), orIf living in US Government housing, remaining in such housing for up to 12 months.Plus no-cost shipment of household goods by the end of that 12 months, if desired, to any of the following locations:The member's last permanent duty station.The member's home of record.The home of his or her dependent(s).The home of the next of kin, or to other persons legally entitled to receive custody of the member's household goods.Shipments can be arranged anywhere, if the surviving spouse is prepared to pay the difference in shipping costs between the maximum US Govt transportation allowances, and the actual cost to ship the household goods.[9]TRICARE MEDICAL COVERAGESurviving dependents are also eligible for 3 years of TRICARE medical coverage, at the active duty rate, meaning no premiums and the lowest co-payments and cost-shares. After 3 years, their TRICARE plan will switch to TRICARE Retired, which has small monthly premiums and somewhat larger co-payments and cost-shares.[10]Servicemembers Government Life Insurance (SGLI)Almost all servicemembers opt for the full $400,000 Servicemembers Government Life Insurance (SGLI). The named beneficiary(ies) on the SGLI policy will receive the tax-free SGLI insurance payment (always important to keep beneficiaries up to date to ensure it doesn’t go to an ex-girl or boyfriend, or a deceased person, etc., rather than a preferred beneficiary — like the spouse and children).[11] [12]OTHER COMMERCIAL LIFE INSURANCEMany servicemembers, especially with families, choose to carry commercially-issued life insurance, with the beneficiary(ies) of their choice, above and beyond their SGLI.MISCELLANEOUS SURVIVORS AND VETERANS BENEFITSThere are other survivor benefits for which survivors, including specific benefits for children, may be eligible, based upon application and specific program eligibility, including:[13]Casualty Assistance (Calls) Officer - personalized and direct assistance by a military member detailed to help the survivors through the immediate aftermath of the death of a servicemember,[14]Pay Arrears - final pay and allowances, including any travel or transportation entitlements (like per diem, travel mileage, etc.), due up to the date of death,[15]Potential eligibility for various Social Security Administration benefits —Social Security: Lump Sum Death Benefit - a one-time payment by the Social Security Administration of $255 to eligible survivors,[16]Social Security: Survivor Benefits - for eligible children up to age 16, or 18 if attending full time school, and for certain spouses age 60 and older, with variations in benefits under differing conditions,[17]Potential eligibility for certain VA benefits —Post-9/11 GI Bill Benefits - if the member had already transferred any portion of their benefit to family members, the family members may use those full months of pre-transferred benefits only, up to a limit of 36 months; this benefit can be combined with Chapter 35 DEA survivor education benefits up to a total of 48 months, in some cases,[18]Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry Scholarship - surviving spouses and children may be eligible for up to 81 months of benefits that are similar to the Post-9/11 GI Bill,[19]Dependents Education Assistance (DEA) - the surviving spouse and each child is eligible for up to 3 years of education assistance at rates similar to the Montgomery GI Bill, i.e., about 36 months of full-time study at $1,400+ per month, tax-free, plus eligibility for certain additional benefits like VA Work Study, etc.,[20]VA Home Mortgage Loan Guaranty - certain surviving spouses may use the VA home loan to purchase a home with no money down, or use an approved VA refinance loan to lower interest rates and/or draw out cash equity,[21] [22]Income Tax Decedent Forgiveness - entire tax years federal income tax liability, including back taxes due, may be forgiven if servicemember’s death occurs under certain military circumstances,[23]VA Parents Dependents Indemnity Compensation (P-DIC) - for surviving parents dependent upon the military member for support, P-DIC may pay between $5–$672/monthly, depending upon the parents’ other income, and certain potential deductions,[24]VA Pension - for survivors with exceptionally low income,[25]other benefits…Potential eligibility for State and local governmental benefits, as well as private organizations —Property tax relief,Income tax relief,Vehicle registration and ID/driver license fee waivers or reductions,Scholarships and financial assistance,“Veterans” discounts,State-managed home loan programs similar to the VA Home Loan Guaranty program, but with state prerequisites that may or may not be more advantageous to the surviving spouse,Eligibility for “State Veterans Home” for surviving spouse in some cases,more…every State works it differently…Footnotes[1] Survivor Benefit Plan FAQs[2] Here’s the VA's Dependency Indemnity Compensation Rates Increase for 2021[3] Welcome to Benefits.gov | Benefits.gov[4] 'Widow's Tax' axed | Military News | Military Families[5] Special Survivor Indemnity Allowance (SSIA)[6] Phased Elimination SBP-DIC Offset Begins January 2021 Survivor SBP Newsletter[7] Death Gratuity[8] Other SOS Benefits[9] https://www.lewis-mcchord.army.mil/jppso/_Forms/Excess%20Costs%20FAQ.pdf[10] Survivors | TRICARE[11] VA.gov | Veterans Affairs[12] Welcome to Benefits.gov | Benefits.gov[13] Welcome to Benefits.gov | Benefits.gov[14] Casualty Assistance Officer for Military Families | Military OneSource[15] Defense Finance and Accounting Service > RetiredMilitary > provide > aop[16] Other SOS Benefits[17] Other SOS Benefits[18] Transfer your Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits | Veterans Affairs[19] Fry Scholarships | Veterans Affairs[20] Welcome to Benefits.gov | Benefits.gov[21] Welcome to Benefits.gov | Benefits.gov[22] Welcome to Benefits.gov | Benefits.gov[23] Welcome to Benefits.gov | Benefits.gov[24] 2021 VA DIC rates for parents | Veterans Affairs[25] Welcome to Benefits.gov | Benefits.gov