Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC)

About This Program

Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) is a tax-free monthly benefit for eligible survivors of service members or veterans. It is payable to a surviving spouse, dependent children, and in some cases dependent parents when the veteran's death was caused by a service-connected disability, occurred in the line of active duty, or when the veteran had a 100% permanent and total disability rating for at least 10 years prior to death. The base monthly DIC rate for a surviving spouse in 2024 is $1,612. Additional amounts are available if the surviving spouse has dependent children, if the veteran had a 100% disability rating for at least 8 years prior to death, or if the surviving spouse requires aid and attendance. Dependent children under 18 (or under 23 if in school) each receive additional monthly payments. DIC has no income limit — it is not means-tested. The key requirement is that the veteran's death be connected to service. The burden of establishing service connection for death is similar to establishing service connection for disability claims: you need medical evidence linking the cause of death to the veteran's military service. Veterans Service Organizations (VSOs) provide free claims assistance for DIC applications. Surviving spouses who remarry before age 57 are not eligible for DIC (with some exceptions), but remarriage after age 57 does not affect eligibility. The one-year application deadline for DIC was eliminated — there is no time limit on when survivors can apply, though back pay is limited to one year prior to the date of application.

Eligibility Requirements

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