Vets Corner: Family may be eligible for survivor benefits from Veterans' Administration

Tuesday, November 11, 2014 - 5:26am

When a veteran dies the surviving spouse, children and parents may be eligible for benefits from the Veterans Administration. Family members may be eligible for one or more benefits based upon the circumstances of the death of the veteran. The Veterans Administration may provide Dependents Indemnity Compensation, DIC as it is referred to.

This is a monetary benefit that is tax-free and is not income based for a spouse or children. It is also available for parents but is income based. Dependents Indemnity Compensation may be paid to the surviving spouse, children or parents of a service member who was killed on Active Duty, or for a veteran who died from a service-connected disability.

A Death Pension is available as an income supplement for a low-income surviving spouse and/or children of a veteran. The veteran must have served during a wartime period, and income and net worth must be within specified limits.

Burial benefits include at no charge, a headstone, a burial flag, as well as a Presidential letter of recognition of the veteran’s service. Burial Allowance monies are available to off-set the cost of the burial. Burial Allowance can be paid for a veteran who died from a service-connected disability or was in receipt of VA compensation at the time of death.

Finally under the Dependents Educational Assistance (DEA) Program, both the surviving spouse and children may be entitled to education and training opportunities. These benefits may be used for degree and certificate programs, apprenticeship, and on-the-job training. If you are a spouse, you may take a correspondence course. Remedial, deficiency, and refresher courses may be approved under certain circumstances. The veteran must have died or is permanently and totally disabled as the result of a service-connected disability.

The Kings County Veterans Service Office issues Veteran I.D. cards to honorably discharged veterans. Contact Joe Wright if you would like to receive periodic veteran’s information by email. There are many state and federal benefits and programs available to veterans and their dependents. To find out if you are eligible for any of these benefits, visit or call our office. We can and will assist you in completing all required application forms. You can get information on the Web from the Kings County Veterans Service Office webpage at www.countyofkings.com.
Joe Wright, retired Navy Master Chief Petty Officer, is the Veterans Service Officer for Kings County. Send your questions to the Veterans Service Office, 1400 W. Lacey Blvd, Hanford, CA 93230; call 852-2669; or e-mail joe.wright@co.kings.ca.us.