Each year on April 5, Gold Star Spouses Day, our nation honors the sacrifice, strength and resilience of the surviving spouses of fallen military service members. At VA, that recognition also means making sure surviving spouses know about the many benefits available to help them rebuild their lives.
Surviving spouses may be eligible for a variety of VA benefits based on their late spouse’s service.
VA Home Loan Guaranty benefits
Home loans for surviving spouses: Many surviving spouses can use a VA-guaranteed loan to achieve home ownership and financial stability. Surviving spouses may be able to obtain a Certificate of Eligibility (COE) for the home loan benefit if at least one of the following applies to them:
- Un-remarried surviving spouses of Veterans who died in service (active, Reserve, or National Guard), or from service-connected cause(s) or,
- Surviving spouses who remarry after age 57 (on or after Dec. 16, 2003), or
- Certain surviving spouses of Veterans who were totally disabled at the time of death, even if their disability was not the cause of death (in certain situations), or
- Certain surviving spouses are eligible for or receive certain Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC).
Pension and Fiduciary benefits
Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC): A tax-free monthly monetary benefit for eligible surviving spouses of service members who died in the line of duty and the survivors of Veterans who died of a service-related injury or illness.
Survivors Pension: A tax-free monetary benefit payment for low-income, unremarried surviving spouses and/or eligible unmarried child(ren) of a deceased wartime Veteran whose death is not service-related.
Accrued Benefits: A one-time payment of benefits (such as VA compensation or pension) due to the Veteran before their passing.
Month of Death (MOD): A one-time payment that is paid when a Veteran who is receiving VA compensation or pension benefits passes away. This payment allows VA to pay the Veteran’s last month of benefits to their surviving spouse.
Monetary Burial Allowances: Potential eligibility for burial benefits that may include allowances for a plot, transportation and burial based on the deceased Veteran’s service-connected disability status.
Insurance benefits
Beneficiaries under the Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance (SGLI), Veterans Group Life Insurance (VGLI), Family Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance (FSGLI), or Traumatic Injury Protection (TSGLI) programs have access to free assistance to obtain independent financial advice on using insurance proceeds through the VA Beneficiary Financial Counseling Services. These beneficiaries are also eligible for Online Will Preparation Services to help them prepare a will without having to hire an attorney.
Education benefits
Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance (DEA): This program offers education and training opportunities to eligible dependents (spouses and children) of Veterans who are permanently and totally disabled due to a service-related condition or who died while on active duty or as a result of a service-related condition.
Beneficiaries can visit the Chapter 35 rates for survivors and dependents page to find current rates and learn how rates are calculated.
Transferred Post-9/11 G.I. Bill Benefits: Benefits may include tuition and fee payments, a monthly housing allowance, and a stipend for books and supplies. Surviving spouses may be eligible for a maximum of 36 months of benefits. The time limit for these benefits depends on when the service member died or separated from service.
Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry Scholarship (Fry Scholarship): This program provides education benefits to the children and spouses of service members who died in the line of duty after Sept. 10, 2001. It covers the cost of tuition and fees, a monthly housing allowance and a stipend for books and supplies.
Additional educational and career support:
- Yellow Ribbon Program.
- Edith Nourse Rogers STEM Scholarship.
- Educational and career counseling for family members.
During this difficult time, we know that surviving spouses may have questions about survivor benefits and how to obtain them. Visit va.gov for more information.
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My husband of 49 years died eight years go with prostate cancer. He was 100% disabled for many years before his death. I am receiving widows benefits now, but a friend told me if my husband was an Agent Orange survivor, and he was acknowledged by the VA but told he was already receiving his maximum benefit so would not get a raise on check. I hope I’m not too confusing… the friend said that even though my husband couldn’t receive the agent Orange benefits , that I could because of my reduced widows benefit. Is there any truth to that, and is there anything else I am eligible for. My husband died from a service connected disability as prostate cancer has been added to the list of Agent Orange disabilities . I’m 74 years old.
My husband was a great Marine! He got Brain Cancer from Camp Lejeune!
He never received any benefits! Nor I for Spousal Support! My lifelong project is to provide flowers for all veterans in three colabariums. I placed flowers on his grave and no one had a flag or flowers! I formally worked as a volunteer at CLAIRMENT VA hospital in Atlanta on 8th floor terminal patients. I placed 26 pots of flowers at VA NATIONAL CEMETERY IN CANTON, GA. I was put on tv. U-tube “Widow at National Cemetery Memorial Day” I received 30,000 likes ON UTUBE and 20,000 likes on Google!
I was told that my husband never existed. He died many years after his 20 years of service, from combination, PTSD and diabetes. But because he never existed, and served in areas that the government doesn’t acknowledge, I’m not entitled to any benefits. Talk about confusing and debilitating! He died by his own hand because he would not acknowledge that he needed help. And the Navy refused to acknowledge his very existence.
Hi my Husband is U,S Army but he passed 7 months ago i do recieved DIC already. My Question is am still have to Recieve more Benefits?
Been looking for help to see what I’m in titled to as a surviving spouse.
On the home loan how much is it and how much do I have to pay back
Thank you for compiling this essential info, especially on Gold Star Spouses Day, a great resource for seeing all potential benefits in one place. The most difficult part for many surviving spouses is navigating the actual process. It can be incredibly overwhelming.
It would be a huge help to also include a link to a step-by-step guide or a dedicated contact person who can help a spouse figure out eligibility and the application process for these different benefits. Knowing what’s available is the first step, but knowing how to access it is the biggest hurdle.
VA has being doing this for a while, so it’s not a new initiative, but it’s newer for those surviving spouses who lost their Veterans since this video was posted 11 years ago.
https://youtu.be/fXdvXiSoFr0