VA Survivor Benefits in Montana: Federal Payments, State Property Tax Relief, and Veterans Cemeteries

Surviving spouses of veterans in Montana have access to a combination of federal VA benefits and Montana state programs that, taken together, can provide meaningful financial relief. The federal side covers monthly income, burial costs, and cemetery access. The state side — particularly Montana's Disabled Veterans property tax program — can eliminate or substantially reduce a widow's annual property tax bill based on income.

The difficulty is that these benefits come from different agencies, require separate applications, and have different eligibility rules. Missing one because you did not know it existed is common. Here is a clear breakdown of each.

Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) — Monthly Federal Payments

Dependency and Indemnity Compensation is a monthly federal benefit paid to the surviving spouse (and in some cases, dependents) of a veteran who died from a service-connected disability or who was rated totally disabled at the time of death.

The key eligibility test is the cause of death. If your spouse died directly from a service-connected condition — a disability the VA had already determined was caused or aggravated by military service — you are likely eligible for DIC. There are also pathways for veterans who had a 100% scheduler or Permanent and Total (P&T) disability rating for a specified number of years before death, even if the death itself was not service-connected.

DIC is not means-tested. Your income and assets do not affect eligibility or the payment amount. The base rate for a surviving spouse in 2026 is set by Congress and is adjusted annually for cost of living. Additional allowances may apply if you have dependent children or are yourself housebound or in need of aid and attendance.

Remarriage generally ends DIC eligibility, though there are exceptions for remarriages that occurred after age 57.

To apply, file VA Form 21P-534EZ (Application for DIC, Death Pension, and/or Accrued Benefits). You can submit this through a County Veterans Service Officer (CVSO), a Veterans Service Organization like the American Legion or VFW, or directly through the VA.

VA Burial Allowances and Government Headstones

The VA provides several burial-related benefits for eligible veterans, though the amounts vary depending on circumstances.

Service-connected death: If the veteran died from a service-connected disability, the VA pays a burial and funeral allowance, a plot or interment allowance, and a transportation allowance to bring the remains to a national or state veterans cemetery.

Non-service-connected death: For veterans who died from causes unrelated to their military service, burial allowances are generally lower and subject to additional eligibility conditions.

Government headstone or grave marker: At no cost to the family, the VA will provide a government headstone, grave marker, or medallion for any eligible veteran interred in a public or private cemetery. The marker is ordered through the National Cemetery Scheduling Office. Processing typically takes several weeks, so plan ahead if you intend to use the gravesite marker before a formal memorial service.

Presidential Memorial Certificate: A signed certificate expressing the nation's gratitude for a veteran's service, provided free of charge to the next of kin. This is a simple administrative request but one many families appreciate.

To initiate burial benefits, contact the VA regional office or file through a CVSO. You will need the veteran's discharge documents (DD-214), a death certificate, and potentially a marriage certificate to establish your status as surviving spouse.

Montana State Veterans Cemeteries (Fort Harrison, Miles City, Missoula)

Montana operates three state veterans cemeteries, administered by the Montana Department of Military Affairs:

• Fort Harrison Veterans Cemetery (Helena) — the primary cemetery, located on the Fort Harrison military installation
• Eastern Montana State Veterans Cemetery (Miles City)
• Western Montana State Veterans Cemetery (Missoula)

Eligible veterans include those who served on active duty and were discharged under other than dishonorable conditions. Reservists and National Guard members who met federal active duty service requirements may also qualify.

Spouses and dependent children of eligible veterans may be interred at state veterans cemeteries alongside the veteran. In some cases, a surviving spouse may be pre-approved for interment even before the veteran's death, which simplifies planning. Contact the Montana Department of Military Affairs for current eligibility rules and reservation procedures.

Interment at a state veterans cemetery includes the grave site, opening and closing, liner or vault, and perpetual care. There is no charge for eligible veterans. For spouses, modest fees may apply in some cases — confirm current rates directly with the cemetery.

Montana Disabled Veterans Property Tax Exemption for Surviving Spouses (the 2026 Income Brackets)

This is the Montana state benefit most likely to have a significant ongoing financial impact: the Disabled Veterans (MDV) Property Tax Assistance Program.

Unmarried surviving spouses of veterans who were rated 100% permanently and totally service-connected disabled at the time of death are eligible for a property tax reduction on their primary residence. Eligibility requires that the surviving spouse has not remarried.

The benefit is income-based, using the Federal Adjusted Gross Income (FAGI) of the surviving spouse's household:

For a surviving spouse with a modest income, a 100% property tax reduction eliminates the annual property tax bill entirely. On a home assessed at $300,000, that could represent thousands of dollars per year — every year.

Income thresholds are adjusted periodically. The figures above reflect the 2026 thresholds; verify current thresholds with the Montana Department of Revenue when applying.

To apply, file the MDV application with your county Department of Revenue office by April 15 of the tax year. You will need the veteran's DD-214, VA rating documentation showing the 100% P&T rating, the death certificate, and proof of your current income.

One important note: the MDV program requires that the veteran was rated 100% permanently and totally service-connected disabled — not simply rated 100% at some point, but rated P&T specifically. If you are unsure of the rating classification, contact the VA or your CVSO to confirm before applying.

How to Access Help Through County Veterans Service Officers

Montana's County Veterans Service Officers (CVSOs) are the most underused resource for surviving spouses. CVSOs are county employees — or in some rural counties, appointed volunteers — who are trained and accredited to assist veterans and their families with VA claims, benefits navigation, and appeals. Their services are free.

CVSOs can help you:

• File DIC claims and track their status
• Obtain copies of military discharge records (DD-214) if the originals are lost
• Apply for VA burial allowances and arrange headstone orders
• Navigate the MDV property tax application
• Connect you with Veterans Service Organizations for additional support

Most Montana counties have at least one CVSO. The Montana Department of Military Affairs maintains a current directory at montanadma.org. If your county does not have a CVSO, adjacent counties or regional VA offices can assist.

Veterans Service Organizations — the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), Disabled American Veterans (DAV), and others — also provide free accredited claims assistance and can represent you in VA proceedings.

If you are not sure where to start, calling your county CVSO is the right first step. They know Montana-specific procedures and can identify every benefit you may be entitled to in a single conversation.

Federal VA benefits interact with other Montana survivor benefits — Social Security, MPERA pensions, property transfers, and estate administration — in ways that require coordination. The Montana Survivor Benefits Navigator maps how these programs work together, with checklists and agency contacts specific to Montana.

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