Notify Veterans Affairs of Death: VA Benefits for Surviving Spouses and Families

How to Report a Veteran's Death to the VA

Call the VA's main number at 1-800-827-1000, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. ET. You can also visit your nearest VA Regional Office in person.

Have these ready:

• The veteran's full name and Social Security number
• VA file or claim number (if known — check old VA correspondence)
• Date and place of death
• Date and place of birth
• Military service dates and branch
• A copy of the DD-214 (discharge papers)

If you can't find the DD-214, the VA can help locate it. Check the veteran's important papers first — safe deposit box, filing cabinet, or the folder they kept military documents in.

Burial Benefits: What the VA Covers

The VA provides burial benefits to eligible veterans regardless of whether the death was service-connected. The amounts and specifics depend on the circumstances:

Service-connected death: The VA pays up to $2,000 toward burial and funeral expenses. If the veteran is buried in a VA national cemetery, some costs may be fully covered.

Non-service-connected death: For a veteran who died on or after October 1, 2025, the VA pays up to $1,002 for burial and up to $1,002 for a plot allowance, if eligible. Rates depend on the date of death.

VA national cemetery burial: Free burial, grave liner, headstone or marker, Presidential Memorial Certificate, and a burial flag. The surviving spouse and dependents may also be eligible for burial in the same cemetery at no cost.

To claim burial benefits, file VA Form 21P-530EZ (Application for Burial Benefits). You can apply online at VA.gov or submit the form by mail.

Survivor Benefits: DIC and Survivor Pension

Two main benefit programs exist for surviving spouses and dependents:

Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) — A monthly tax-free payment for eligible survivors. It may be available if the veteran died from a service-connected condition or, regardless of cause of death, had a total service-connected disability rating for the required period: generally 10 years before death, 5 years from discharge, or 1 year for a former prisoner of war. For veterans who died on or after January 1, 1993, the base rate for a surviving spouse is $1,699.36 per month (effective December 1, 2025), with additional amounts for dependent children and if the spouse is housebound or requires aid and attendance.

Survivors Pension — For surviving spouses and children of wartime veterans whose death was not service-connected. This is a needs-based benefit, meaning it depends on countable income and net worth. The maximum annual rate for a surviving spouse with no dependents who does not qualify for housebound or aid and attendance benefits is $11,699 (effective December 1, 2025), with higher rates for dependents or if those benefits are needed.

You can apply for both through VA Form 21P-534EZ (Application for DIC, Survivors Pension, and/or Accrued Benefits). The VA can help you determine which program applies to your situation.

A surviving parent applies for DIC using VA Form 21P-535.

CHAMPVA Health Coverage

If the veteran was rated permanently and totally disabled from a service-connected condition at death, or died from a service-connected disability, the surviving spouse and dependent children may qualify for CHAMPVA — the Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs — if they are not eligible for TRICARE. This covers many medical expenses, including doctor visits, hospital stays, prescriptions, and mental health services.

Apply online or through VA Form 10-10d. VA may grant retroactive eligibility; the effective date shown on the CHAMPVA ID card determines which past services are covered. If VA grants retroactive eligibility, file claims for covered services within 180 days after the initial ID card is issued.

Don't Forget the Other Notifications

The VA notification is critical, but it's one of many. Social Security has its own survivor benefits, and you'll need to file separately for those. The IRS needs to know about the estate. Credit bureaus need a deceased alert. The DMV, post office, banks, and insurance companies each have their own processes.

The Government Notifications Master Checklist puts the VA notification in sequence with every other agency — with the right forms, phone numbers, and deadlines — so nothing gets missed while you're navigating the claims process.