VA Survivors Pension Calculator
Check whether you qualify for VA DIC or Survivors Pension and estimate your monthly benefit.
Survivors of veterans may qualify for one of two VA benefits. DIC pays a flat $1,699.36 a month or more, with no income test, and requires that the veteran's death was service-connected. Survivors Pension is needs-based and does not require a service-connected death. Answer one question below to see which applies to you.
The two programs work very differently. This tool first checks which one fits your situation and then runs the right calculation.
Find Your Applicable Benefit
You likely qualify for DIC, not Survivors Pension
DIC pays a flat monthly rate with no income test.
Estimated Monthly DIC Rate
Additional amounts may apply if you require Aid and Attendance or are Housebound yourself. Check your total at VA.gov.
Estimated Survivors Pension
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The exact MAPR for a surviving spouse with a dependent child who also qualifies for Aid and Attendance has not been verified for this tool. Contact a VSO or the VA for your rate.
| DIC | Survivors Pension | |
|---|---|---|
| Requires | A service-connected death, or a veteran rated totally disabled for a set period before death (generally 10 years) | A wartime veteran. The death need not be service-connected. |
| Income or net worth test | None | Both. Net worth under $163,699. |
| Rate, surviving spouse alone | $1,699.36 a month | Up to $11,699 a year, less countable income |
| Additions | $360.85 a month if the veteran was rated totally disabled for 8 continuous years before death, and more for a dependent child | Up to $18,697 a year with Aid and Attendance |
DIC. When a survivor qualifies, DIC is usually the larger benefit, because other income does not reduce it. The veteran's death has to be connected to military service, or the veteran has to have been rated totally disabled for the required period before death.
Survivors Pension. This works like VA Pension. Your Maximum Annual Pension Rate minus your countable income is the annual benefit. A surviving spouse alone with $7,000 of countable income would receive $11,699 minus $7,000, which is $4,699 a year, or about $392 a month. Unreimbursed medical expenses above 5% of the rate are subtracted from income first.
One or the other. You cannot receive DIC and Survivors Pension together. VA pays the one you qualify for, or the higher one if you qualify for both.
Remarriage and the SBP offset. A surviving spouse who remarries at 55 or older, on or after January 5, 2021, keeps DIC. Survivors of military retirees now receive DIC and the Survivor Benefit Plan annuity in full. See DIC, Survivors Pension, the SBP offset and remarriage.
Applying. Surviving spouses apply for both benefits on VA Form 21P-534EZ. An accredited Veterans Service Organization will help at no charge. Rates change each December 1.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between Survivors Pension and DIC?
Survivors Pension is needs-based, with income and net worth tests, and is available when the veteran's death was not service-connected. DIC pays a flat rate with no income test. It requires that the veteran's death was connected to military service, or that the veteran was rated totally disabled for a set period before death.
How much is DIC in 2026?
The base rate is $1,699.36 a month for a surviving spouse with no dependent children. More is paid for a dependent child, or if the veteran was rated totally disabled for at least 8 continuous years before death.
How much is Survivors Pension in 2026?
Your Maximum Annual Pension Rate minus your countable income. For a surviving spouse alone the rate is $11,699 a year, or $18,697 a year with Aid and Attendance.
Can I get both DIC and Survivors Pension?
No. You receive one: the program you qualify for, or the one that pays more if you qualify for both.
Do I need to prove the veteran's death was service-connected for DIC?
Generally yes. The exception is when the veteran was rated totally disabled for the required period before death, usually 10 years. In that case the cause of death does not matter.
Is there an income limit for DIC?
No. DIC has no income or net worth test.
This calculator gives a general estimate based on VA DIC and Survivors Pension rules and rates effective December 1, 2025. It is not a determination of eligibility. VA decides service connection for DIC through a formal review. For an official decision, consult a Veterans Service Organization (VSO) or apply through the VA.