VA Death Benefits for Children: DIC, Education, CHAMPVA, and Accrued Benefits

Monthly DIC for Dependent Children

When a service member dies in the line of duty, or a veteran dies from a service-connected cause, dependent children may qualify for Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) — either as an add-on to the surviving spouse's benefit or as a standalone payment.

If a surviving spouse exists: Each dependent child under 18 adds $421.00 per month to the spouse's DIC payment (2026 rate). Children aged 18–23 enrolled full-time in an approved educational program receive $356.66 per month as a separate payment. A child who became permanently incapable of self-support before age 18 receives $717.50 per month, regardless of age.

If no surviving spouse exists: DIC is paid directly to the children as a combined benefit: $717.50 for one child, $1,032.19 for two children, $1,346.92 for three, with $314.69 added for each additional child. The total is divided equally among the eligible children.

These payments are tax-free. A DIC child must be unmarried; otherwise, benefits generally continue until age 18, or age 23 if the child is attending school full-time. A child who became permanently incapable of self-support before age 18 may qualify regardless of age.

Education Benefits

Two separate programs serve children of deceased veterans, and understanding which one applies matters because they offer different benefit levels:

Chapter 35 — Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA): Available to children of veterans who died from a service-connected condition, were rated permanently and totally disabled at death, or service members who died in the line of duty. It provides up to 36 months if first used on or after August 1, 2018; children who first used DEA earlier may have up to 45 months. A child who became eligible, turned 18, or completed high school on or after August 1, 2023 has no time limit. For earlier cases, children who became eligible, turned 18, and completed high school before that date generally have 8 years to use benefits before turning 26, with exceptions.

Fry Scholarship (Chapter 33): Available to children of service members who died in the line of duty on or after September 11, 2001. The Fry Scholarship provides Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits — tuition and fees paid directly to the school, a monthly housing allowance based on the zip code of the school, and a books-and-supplies stipend of up to $1,000 per academic year.

A child cannot use both programs at the same time. A child whose parent died in the line of duty before August 1, 2011 may use both programs sequentially, up to a combined 81 months. If the death was on or after that date, the child may use both only if eligible for DEA based on a different event, up to a combined 48 months. The child must make an irrevocable choice unless the pre-August 2011 exception applies.

CHAMPVA Health Coverage

Children may qualify for CHAMPVA if the veteran died from a service-connected condition, was rated permanently and totally disabled at death, or the service member died in the line of duty not due to misconduct, and the child is not eligible for TRICARE. CHAMPVA covers doctor visits, hospital stays, prescriptions, mental health services, preventive care, and durable medical equipment.

An unmarried child may remain eligible for CHAMPVA until age 18, or age 23 if attending school full-time. A child who became permanently unable to support themself because of a disability before age 18 may remain covered after age 18, but eligibility ends if the child marries or becomes able to support themself.

Enrollment requires VA Form 10-10d and evidence of the Veteran's or service member's qualifying status.

Accrued Benefits

If the veteran had a pending VA claim at the time of death — a disability rating increase, a new condition claim, retroactive backpay — eligible survivors can claim those unpaid benefits through an accrued benefits application.

Accrued benefits are the specific amounts the VA owed the veteran based on evidence in the file at the time of death. They are paid as a one-time lump sum to eligible survivors in this priority order: surviving spouse first, then dependent children, then dependent parents.

Most accrued-benefit claims must be filed within one year of the beneficiary's death. A spouse or child uses VA Form 21P-534EZ; a parent uses VA Form 21P-535. A five-year deadline applies to lump-sum benefits withheld from a competent Veteran during hospital, institutional, or domiciliary care. A person seeking reimbursement for last-illness or burial expenses uses VA Form 21P-601 when no eligible relative has priority for the accrued benefits.

Accrued benefits can be substantial. If the veteran had been waiting for a retroactive disability rating increase covering two or three years of backpay, the accrued amount could reach tens of thousands of dollars.

Burial and Memorial Benefits

Dependent children of eligible veterans may qualify for burial at no cost in a VA national cemetery — the same benefit available to the veteran and surviving spouse. An unmarried child is eligible if under 21, or under 23 while pursuing full-time education; an unmarried adult child may qualify if permanently disabled and incapable of self-support before age 21, or before age 23 if pursuing full-time education. The veteran need not already be buried there.

Who Files on Behalf of Minor Children

When a surviving spouse files VA Form 21P-534EZ, dependent children can be listed so VA can consider child-related benefits. If there is no surviving spouse, an eligible child may claim benefits; a guardian or custodian may handle the application for a minor child.

If a child cannot manage benefit payments, VA may require a fiduciary or other authorized payee to receive and manage them. A guardian or custodian can ask VA what documentation is needed.

The Veteran's Death Benefits & Survivor Claims toolkit includes an Education Benefits Comparison Worksheet that maps each child's situation — age, enrollment status, the veteran's service dates and cause of death — to the right education program, so families do not leave the higher-value benefit unclaimed.