Can a Widow of a Retired Veteran Receive Death Benefits?

Dependency and Indemnity Compensation

• The Dependency and Indemnity Compensation benefit, or DIC benefit, awards death benefits to surviving spouses of veterans who suffered a disabling condition as a result of serving in the military. Eligible retirees must have lived with a disabling condition for a minimum of 5 years before death or for a minimum of 1 year in cases where a veteran served as a prisoner of war, according to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Widows receive a basic monthly benefit amount of $1,154, though actual amounts can vary depending on family circumstances. DIC benefits allow for an additional $286 a month as a transitional benefit when children under the age of 18 reside with the surviving spouse.
  
  

Retiree Burial Benefits

• Generally, burial benefits only exist for non-retired military personnel and not for retired veterans due to their "retired" status. However, retired veterans can still qualify for burial benefits through having served under another status. According to Military.com, a veteran's resource site, widows of veterans who worked as civilians for the Department of the Army may qualify for assistance for the preparation and transport of the remains in cases where a retired veteran dies overseas. For the widow to collect death benefits for mortuary expenses, retired veterans must have served a minimum of 30 days active duty that results in an inpatient hospitalization. Veterans must hold a "retired" status at time of death while still hospitalized under inpatient care.
  
  

Survivor Benefit Plan

• The VA offers retired veterans the option of purchasing a Survivor Benefit Plan as a way to replace their retirement income in the event of their death. Created in 1972, the Survivor Benefit Plan functions much like an annuity product that pays cash distributions on a monthly or quarterly basis. These distributions provide financial compensation for widows who lose access to their spouse’s retirement income because of his death. The distribution amounts equal 55 percent of what a retired veteran would receive if classified as 100 percent disabled, according to the Veterans Benefits GI Bill resource site. Widows remain eligible for the benefit amount provided they don’t remarry before the age of 55. Widows who do remarry before the age of 55 can have the benefit option reinstated once the new marriage ends, whether through divorce or death.
  
  

Forgotten Widows Program

• The Forgotten Widows program provides death benefits for widows of veterans who died before the start of the Survivor Benefit Plan program. This program specifically addresses the benefit gap that affects the widows of veterans who received retirement before 1972, according to the Veterans Benefits GI Bill resource site. In effect, these widows had no benefit options available in cases where a veteran died before 1972. In order to provide a source of financial assistance for this group of widows, the federal government created the Forgotten Widows program through the passing of the Defense Authorization Act of 1997. The program pays a death benefit amount of $165 a month specifically for this group of widows. The spouses of eligible windows must be veterans who served active duty on a full-time basis or as a member of the reserve forces.