DIC Rates for 2026

Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) can be a lifeline for surviving dependents of service members killed in the line of duty or veterans who died due to a service-connected condition. Here’s what you need to know about DIC rates for 2026.

Who Can Get Dependency and Indemnity Compensation? 

DIC benefits may be available to the surviving spouse and children of a qualifying service member or veteran. Under certain circumstances, parents may also qualify. However, their benefits are calculated differently and are more limited.  

It’s also important to note that for purposes of DIC benefits, “surviving spouse” means more than just “married to the service member or veteran when he died. 

To qualify for DIC benefits, a surviving spouse must have: 

• Married the veteran or service member within 15 years of their discharge from the service that caused or aggravated their condition, OR
• Been married for at least one year, OR
• Had a child with the veteran or service member

The surviving spouse must also have lived continuously with the veteran or service member until the time of their death, though there is an exception if the surviving spouse can show that a separation was not their fault. Remarriage may disqualify a surviving spouse from DIC benefits, depending on the spouse’s age at the time of the remarriage.

Can Adult Children Get DIC Benefits? 

The main beneficiaries of DIC benefits are surviving spouses and minor children. However, adult children may receive benefits in two situations: 

• When they are between the ages of 18 and 23 and in a qualified school program, and
• When they are older than 18 but became permanently unable to be self-supporting due to a mental or physical health condition before the age of 18

The VA often describes the second category, in which a child became disabled before age 18, as a “helpless child.” To qualify for DIC benefits, an adult child must be unmarried.

DIC rates are different depending on which category a child falls into: minor, young adult in school or “helpless child.”

2026 DIC Rates By Beneficiary Type

The amount of benefits available depends on a variety of factors, the most significant being the relationship of the beneficiary to the deceased service member or veteran.

A surviving spouse may also be entitled to certain add-on benefits. 

Dependency and Indemnity Compensation Rates are Different if the Veteran Died Before January 1, 1993

Determining DIC rates is a bit more complicated if the veteran died before January 1, 1993. Before that time, DIC compensation rates depended in part on the veteran’s military pay grade. Surviving spouses receiving benefits under these DIC rates will receive at least the same monthly compensation as those paid under the current system. However, if the veteran was ranked E-7 or above or was a warrant officer or officer, DIC rates are higher.

DIC Benefits for Parents of the Veteran

DIC benefits for parents are not automatic based on status like benefits for surviving spouses and children. Rather, they are based on financial need, and the income ceiling for receiving benefits is quite low. 

If only one parent of the veteran is living, they may technically receive benefits with annual household income of up to $19,836 ($26,663 if married). But the benefit drops to $5/month at an annual income of $11,263. The highest benefit available to a surviving parent is $842/month, and that is available only when the parent is the sole surviving parent and their annual income is $800 or less.

Dependency and Indemnity Compensation rates are even lower when both parents are living, and the monthly benefit drops to $5 at an annual income of $8,375–less than $700/month. 

Dependency and Indemnity Compensation Eligibility

We’ve covered which surviving dependents can receive DIC benefits and what the benefit amounts are for 2026. However, there’s another variable–veteran qualifications. For dependents to be eligible for DIC benefits, the deceased service member or veteran must have either: 

• Died in the line of duty, or
• Died from a service-connected disability

Dependents are also eligible for Dependency and Indemnity Compensation benefits if the veteran had a permanent and total VA disability rating for at least 10 years prior to their death, even if the service-connected condition was not the cause of death. 

The Help You Need for the Benefits You Deserve

If you’re the surviving spouse or child of an eligible service member or veteran, your loved one earned those DIC benefits for you. We’re here to make sure you get them. 

At Veterans Help Group, fighting for disabled veterans and their families is all we do. Our advocates have in-depth knowledge of the often complex and confusing eligibility requirements and the types of evidence required to establish your claim. We can help ensure that you get all the compensation you’re entitled to. 

If you’ve lost a loved one and are unsure what benefits you’re qualified for or don’t know how to assemble the necessary evidence to secure your benefits, contact us today to learn more about how we can help. You can call us right now at 855-855-8992, or fill out our contact form HERE, and we’ll reach out to you.

DIC FAQ’s

1. Will VA DIC rates increase in 2026?

Yes. VA Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) rates typically increase each year based on the federal Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA). If approved, the 2026 DIC rate increase will apply automatically, and eligible survivors do not need to reapply to receive the higher monthly payment.

2. Who qualifies for VA Dependency and Indemnity Compensation benefits in 2026?

VA DIC benefits in 2026 are available to surviving spouses, dependent children, and in some cases, parents of veterans who died from a service-connected condition or who were rated totally disabled for a qualifying period before their death. Eligibility requirements remain unchanged even when DIC rates increase.

3. Can surviving spouses receive VA DIC and other VA benefits at the same time?

In many cases, surviving spouses can receive VA DIC benefits along with other VA benefits such as CHAMPVA healthcare or education benefits. However, some VA benefits cannot be paid at the same time as DIC, so survivors should review their options with a VA-accredited representative to avoid benefit conflicts.

More About VA Disability Here:

• VA Ratings Explained
• Proving Your PTSD VA Claim
• What Does A 100% VA Disability Rating Mean?
• TOP 5 REASONS TO WORK WITH A VA-ACCREDITED ADVOCATE
• How Much VA Disability Will I Receive?