More than 6 million Americans receive earned benefits for military service—including disability compensation, education benefits, caregiver assistance, burial benefits and more. It is critical for spouses and caregivers to know how veterans’ benefits are accessed and what could happen if or when a veteran dies.
Consider this scenario. A veteran has not told his spouse much about his benefits. The veteran dies suddenly. His spouse grieves and plans a funeral, which she pays for out-of-pocket. The $2,500 tax-free payment from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for her husband’s disability compensation has stopped being deposited into their bank account, which had been managed by her spouse. Now as she struggles to meet her expenses, she is afraid she will have to sell their home.
Ultimately, she realizes she must connect with the VA to try to access his survivor benefits. As she works her way through the bureaucracy, she struggles to understand what she may be eligible for and knows little about what her husband had been receiving. This can be overwhelming during the best of times, but during this period of loss, it adds more stress.
Disability compensation payments stop after a veteran dies, but survivor and burial benefits may be available.
Surviving spouses facing this situation are often approached by agents who offer to help them with VA benefits in return for payment. Faced with what feels like an insurmountable situation, some agree, even though paying for help is not necessary as many free resources are available. Here are some tips to help veterans prevent this type of scenario from befalling loved ones.
Veterans should organize benefits paperwork and information in a binder, and/or in a special digital folder that is shared with family members. All the documentation related to military service, application for benefits, and decision letters describing service connection need to be organized. Paper copies should be stored in a fireproof cabinet or safe. Ideally one would scan or photograph paper documentation and store it digitally on a computer or thumb drive.
Veterans should explain current benefits to family. It’s important to schedule a day and time to talk one-on-one with family about benefits. During this meeting the binder and digital files are explained and how the information is organized can be demonstrated to help them understand the situation as it is today.
Veterans should discuss what happens to these benefits after death and what additional benefits the family may receive. Disability compensation payments stop after a veteran dies. Additional survivor and burial benefits may be available after a veteran’s passing. Learn more by checking online at VA.gov or with a veterans service officer (VSO).
Veterans should plan ahead for possible financial shortfalls. Even if the VA awards a survivor benefit to a widow or widower, the payment for this benefit will typically be lower than the disability compensation the veteran received while alive. One way to address this income shortfall before the veteran dies is to purchase life insurance that will provide additional income for the spouse.
Veterans should give family members the contact information for the VSO. Ideally, spouses should be introduced to the VSO, so they know who can assist with applying for survivor and burial benefits after the veteran dies.
While these conversations can be tough for many, they can better inform and relieve stress for families in the future. Veterans want the people they love to be taken care of after they are gone—so do not delay these conversations.
Paul R. Lawrence, PhD, served as Under Secretary for Benefits at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs from May 2018 to January 2021. He is the author of “Veterans Benefits for You: Get What You Deserve” (Humanix Books, 2023).
