Military servicemembers qualify for a variety of benefits because of their service. Those benefits help support not only the servicemember but also their immediate family. The spouses and children of servicemembers receive benefits ranging from medical coverage to military housing benefits.
When a servicemember dies, their surviving spouse may be uncertain about what types of benefits they can continue to receive. What are the military benefits available to widows or surviving spouses after a servicemember dies?
Medical benefits
Typically, surviving family members can continue to receive TRICARE medical coverage. Spouses of retired and active-duty servicemembers can typically retain medical coverage until they remarry. The Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs (CHAMPVA) can provide limited healthcare coverage for surviving spouses of military veterans.
Survivor Benefit Plan payments
A Survivor Benefit Plan (SPC) is an optional benefit funded by the servicemember. It is a type of insurance that allows their surviving spouse to receive up to 55% of the deceased veteran’s retirement pay after their passing. Like pension benefits, SBP payments are subject to regular adjustments for cost-of-living increases.
Dependency and Indemnity Compensation
Surviving spouses are often eligible for Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC). In scenarios where a veteran dies during training, active duty or service-related medical conditions, surviving spouses can sometimes receive monthly payments. Factors including the disability rating and discharge dates of the veteran affect eligibility.
Death pension
The surviving spouse of a deceased veteran can qualify for monthly payments if they served during wartime and died due to factors unrelated to their service. Provided that the marriage lasted for at least a year before the veteran died, the surviving spouse may qualify for monthly benefits based on their income.
There are a handful of other benefits, including burial benefits for burials at national cemeteries, no-fee passports for those with loved ones interred abroad and even home loan guaranties for surviving spouses who have not remarried. There are also educational benefits for surviving spouses who want to re-enter the workforce.
Learning more about military veterans’ benefits can help those dealing with the grief of a spousal death protect themselves from financial devastation. Spouses who pursue the benefits they deserve can limit the financial fallout of losing their partners.