Survivor Claims Watch: DIC and Survivors Pension, tracked.
The benefits that go to surviving spouses, children, and parents get less attention than any other part of the claims system. This page watches them specifically: monthly outcomes from VA's own claim-level records, the comment windows open right now, the paperwork renewals coming, and the research.
Grant rates, month by month
Data refreshed: September 13, 2026Survivors Pension and DIC against the pipeline overall, from the claim-level extract VA released under FOIA request 26-25140-F. The full analysis is published as Two in Three.
- DIC
- Pipeline overall
- Survivors Pension
DIC grants and denials, four fiscal years
VA publishes annual counts of new DIC recipients, but far less about the claims behind them. These figures were released in full under FOIA request 26-23676-F and cover every DIC claim, not just the automated pipeline above. Denials more than doubled between FY 2023 and FY 2025 while granted claims also rose sharply, and receipts barely moved. The request and the released workbook are in the FOIA log.
| Fiscal year | Received | Grants* | Denials | Denial share** | 1318 share of grants** |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2023 | 75,137 | 45,070 | 10,633 | 23.1% | 26.2% |
| FY 2024 | 73,099 | 46,153 | 12,952 | 25% | 27.9% |
| FY 2025 | 77,318 | 55,700 | 23,212 | 32.4% | 26.4% |
| FY 2026 (partial) | 63,544 | 42,485 | 16,299 | 30.7% | 25.8% |
*Grants use VA's "new recipients and award grants" measure, a beneficiary count VA also publishes in its Annual Benefits Report; it is labeled through June 30, 2026, while receipts and denials are labeled through July 11, 2026, and the 1310/1318 worksheet states no FY 2026 cutoff. **Denial share and the 1318 share are computed on the comparable claims basis: denied claims against granted claims categorized under 38 U.S.C. 1310 plus 1318, so numerator and denominator share a counting unit. The recipient measure and the granted claims measure use different units and do not reconcile; the definitions are the subject of a pending clarification with VA.
- Denials
- Granted claims (1310 + 1318)
- Received
Open comment windows on survivor benefits
VA dockets currently open for public comment that touch DIC, Survivors Pension, or accrued benefits, with live participation counts. The full federal picture is on the Policy Monitor.
- The Desk commentedAgency Information Collection Activity: Income and Asset Statement in Support of Claim for Pension or Parents' Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (D.I.C.)Closes September 29, 2026 · 0 public comments so farComment on the official docket17days left
- Agency Information Collection Activity Under OMB Review: Application for D.I.C., Survivors Pension, and/or Accrued BenefitsCloses October 9, 2026 · 0 public comments so farComment on the official docket27days left
Survivor paperwork on the renewal clock
Survivor-related VA information collections from OMB's public inventory, largest first. Each expiration forces a renewal, and each renewal opens a public comment window. Full inventory on the Burden Ledger.
| Collection | Burden hours | Expires |
|---|---|---|
| Intent to File a Claim for Compensation and/or Pension, or Survivors Pension and/or DIC (VA Form 21-0966)OMB 2900-0826 | 58,439 | May 31, 2029 |
| Application for Dependency and Indemnity Compensation, Survivors Pension and Accrued Benefits by a Surviving Spouse or Child (Including Death Compensation if Available); Application for Dependency andOMB 2900-0004 | 51,800 | August 31, 2028 |
| Income and Asset Statement in Support of Claim for Pension or Parents' DIC (VA Form 21P-0969)OMB 2900-0829 | 27,500 | November 30, 2026 |
| Request for Determination of Loan Guaranty Eligibility - Unmarried Surviving Spouses (VA Form 26-1817)OMB 2900-0055 | 3,125 | December 31, 2028 |
| Application for Dependency and Indemnity Compensation by Parent(s) (Including Accrued Benefits and Death Compensation when Applicable) (VA Form 21P-535)OMB 2900-0005 | 1,200 | June 30, 2027 |
| Student Beneficiary Report - Restored Entitlement Program for Survivors (REPS) (VA Form 21P-8938-1)OMB 2900-0399 | 300 | August 31, 2027 |
The research and guides
DIC grants and denials by fiscal year from the FOIA release, with the full dataset free to download.
The Desk's FOIA data study of the automated pipeline, with the full dataset free to download.
Live monthly outcomes for all four benefit categories in the automated pipeline.
Plain-language guides to DIC, Survivors Pension, accrued benefits, and burial benefits.
Where this data comes from
Balance on the record. The same records behind our critical findings also document what VA is doing well. We publish those numbers with equal rigor in What the Data Shows VA Got Right.