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Survivors Pay (DIC) Calculator

Estimate the monthly Dependency and Indemnity Compensation a surviving spouse, child, or parent may receive. Every line of the calculation cites the rule it relies on.

Read the survivor benefits explainer

Who is filing?

Dependent children under 18

Include children in qualifying school up to age 23 or permanently incapable of self-support before age 18.

Add-ons that apply to you

8-year provision appliesVeteran was rated totally disabled for at least 8 continuous years before death AND you were married to the veteran for those 8 years.I need Aid and AttendanceYou require help with daily activities (bathing, eating, dressing) or are confined to bed.I am HouseboundYou are substantially confined to your home due to permanent disability. Mutually exclusive with A&A.

Estimated monthly DIC

2026 rates · effective Dec 1, 2025

$1,699.36

per month

Surviving spouse base DIC (2026, effective Dec 1, 2025)

38 CFR 3.5(b) and 38 USC 1311(a)(1).

$1,699.36

Next steps

File VA Form 21P-534EZ (Application for DIC, Survivors Pension, and/or Accrued Benefits).
Gather the veteran's death certificate, your marriage certificate, the veteran's DD-214, and any medical records connecting cause of death to a service connected condition.
Submit through VA.gov or via a VA accredited representative.

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Send this estimate to my inbox so I can come back to it later or talk it over with an accredited representative.

Cite this page

Writing about VA benefits? You are welcome to reference this page. Copy the citation below and link back so your readers can verify the source.

VA Survivors DIC Calculator. The Veteran Benefit Desk. https://veteranbenefitdesk.com/calculators/survivors-dic

These estimates use 2026 VA DIC rates, effective December 1, 2025 (per VA.gov). Income-tested benefits (parents' DIC) and uncommon household compositions are not fully modeled; verify your specific situation with VA or an accredited representative.

Rates and rules verified against VA.gov DIC rates on August 2, 2026Report an error

Common questions

Questions survivors ask about DIC

What is DIC?

Dependency and Indemnity Compensation is a tax-free monthly payment to eligible survivors when a veteran dies from a service connected condition, or in certain cases when the veteran was totally disabled for a set period before death.

How much is DIC for a surviving spouse in 2026?

The base monthly DIC rate for a surviving spouse, effective December 1, 2025, is $1,699.36, with additional amounts for dependent children, aid and attendance, housebound status, and the 8-year provision.

What is the 8-year provision?

If the veteran was rated totally disabled, including TDIU, for at least the 8 years immediately before death, and the surviving spouse was married to them that entire time, VA adds a monthly amount on top of the base DIC rate.

Can surviving children or parents receive DIC?

Yes. When there is no surviving spouse, surviving children can receive DIC, and dependent parents may qualify for an income-based parents' DIC. The amounts and rules differ from the surviving-spouse rate.