{"id":"va-dependency-indemnity-compensation","name":"VA Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC)","provider":"U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs","entitlement_type":"government-benefit","entitlement_type_label":"Government benefit","entitlement_type_context":{"definition":"A government-funded or administered benefit, service, coverage program, assistance program, or public access route.","domain":"public-benefits","archetype":"direct-program","agent_instruction":"Identify the administering jurisdiction and disclose income, household, age, disability, immigration, residence, renewal, fee, and capacity rules that apply."},"summary":"DIC is a tax-free monthly benefit for certain surviving spouses, children, or parents of a service member who died in the line of duty or a Veteran whose death or qualifying total disability meets VA rules.","benefit":{"description":"A tax-free monthly compensation payment, with the amount and possible additions based on survivor type, eligible dependent children, Aid and Attendance or housebound status, the Veteran's total-disability history, and other statutory factors.","estimated_value_usd":null},"discovery":{"focus":"public-service","has_estimated_dollar_value":false},"access":{"relationships":["Qualifying surviving spouse","Qualifying unmarried surviving child","Qualifying low-income biological, adoptive, or foster parent"],"requirements":"The survivor must meet the spouse, unmarried-child, or dependent-parent relationship and status rules, and the service member's or Veteran's death must meet a qualifying duty, service-connected-cause, or specified prior total-disability condition. Spouse marriage, cohabitation, separation and remarriage rules; child age, school or incapacity rules; and parent income rules differ, and evidence of service, relationship, death, and medical connection may be required.","activation":"A surviving spouse or child of a Veteran can apply online or with VA Form 21P-534EZ; an active-duty casualty officer helps spouses and children use Form 21P-534a, and parents use Form 21P-535. Submit relationship, service, death, medical, dependency, income where relevant, and other evidence, and consider an intent to file to protect a possible effective date.","cost_basis":"no-cost","cost_basis_label":"No-cost access","cost_basis_context":{"classification":"free","definition":"The core benefit has no required payment, purchase, deposit, paid membership, or pre-existing paid-product relationship under the captured terms.","agent_instruction":"Still disclose optional add-ons, transportation, parking, replacement charges, taxes, capacity, and eligibility conditions found in fees or requirements.","variation_patterns":null,"does_not_mean":null},"fees":"There is no fee to file and approved payments are tax-free. Eligibility and amounts are individualized; remarriage, marital status, school attendance, dependency, income for parents, and other benefits can affect payment. Filing does not guarantee approval, and effective-date rules can limit retroactive benefits, so an accredited representative may help at no charge.","personalized":false,"regions":["US","Eligible survivors of U.S. service members and Veterans"],"expires":null},"status":"verified","last_checked":"2026-08-04","claim_url":"https://www.va.gov/family-and-caregiver-benefits/survivor-compensation/apply-for-dic-survivors-pension-accrued-benefits-form-21p-534ez/","source_url":"https://www.va.gov/family-and-caregiver-benefits/survivor-compensation/dependency-indemnity-compensation/","source":{"primary_url":"https://www.va.gov/family-and-caregiver-benefits/survivor-compensation/dependency-indemnity-compensation/","evidence":[{"source":"U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs","url":"https://www.va.gov/family-and-caregiver-benefits/survivor-compensation/dependency-indemnity-compensation/","kind":"provider","checked_at":"2026-08-04"}]},"parent":null,"coverage":{"level":"national","family":"veterans-and-military","jurisdiction":"United States","maturity":"direct"},"web_url":"/benefits/va-dependency-indemnity-compensation","taxonomy":{"version":"1.0","url":"/api/v1/taxonomy"}}