VA Benefits for Spouses of Veterans

VA Benefits for Spouses of Veterans

As the spouse of a disabled veteran, you may be entitled to benefits. But, which benefits you qualify for and how you receive those benefits depends on your circumstances. Here’s what you need to know about eligibility and the types of benefits available. It’s a bit complicated, but you don’t have to untangle the options and processes alone. A veterans’ disability advocate can help. 

VA Disability Benefits for Qualifying Dependents

Veterans with a service-connected disability of 30% or more are entitled to additional monthly benefits if they have qualifying dependents, including a spouse. For example, in 2022, the basic monthly benefit amount for a veteran with a 50% VA disability rating is $958.44. If the veteran has a dependent spouse, that amount is increased by about 9.6%, to 1050.44. The amount of additional dependency benefits will increase based on the veteran’s overall disability rating. The increase may be larger if the veteran also has dependent children. 

Healthcare Benefits

Current and surviving spouses of veterans whether disabled or deceased may be entitled to health coverage under one of three different programs: 

• TRICARE, provides comprehensive healthcare benefits to certain spouses of veterans and surviving spouses of deceased veterans. 
• Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs (CHAMPVA), which covers necessary services for spouses of veterans who are totally and permanently disabled and the surviving spouses of veterans who died in the line of duty, died of a service-related disability or were rated totally and permanently disabled due to a service-related disability at the time of death. 
• Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers (PCAFC), which provides health insurance and other benefits to spouses and certain other family members who live with and provide services to certain disabled veterans.

Eligibility for and benefits provided under each of these programs vary, so it’s important to get reliable information before you apply.

Educational Benefits

The VA also offers educational assistance to spouses and some other dependents of veterans who are totally and permanently disabled or have died on active duty or as a result of a service-related disability. 

Benefits for Surviving Spouses

In addition to the medical benefits described above, surviving spouses of disabled veterans or veterans killed in active service may be eligible for monthly cash benefits under the Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) program. The base amount of this benefit in 2022 is $1437.66/month, and this may be increased under certain circumstances, including for those with dependent children. 

If a veteran passes away while his or her VA disability claims or appeals are still pending, a surviving spouse may also be eligible to file for Substitutions and Accrued Benefits, where the surviving spouse may “step into the veteran’s shoes” and continue pursuing the benefits that the veteran had been seeking during his or her lifetime. 

If the veteran had qualifying wartime service, a surviving spouse might also apply for Survivor’s Pension. Certain income and net worth limits do apply to this benefit. 

Surviving spouses may also apply for other burial benefits and memorial items, such as a burial allowance, headstone, burial flag, and/or Presidential Memorial Certificate. 

Talk to a Veterans Disability Advocate 

Determining which benefits you are qualified for can be complicated, and timing counts. At Veterans Help Group, we have more than 15 years of experience helping disabled veterans and their families. We are a compassionate team of experts, with a five-star average review on Google, who know how to battle the VA and win.

Learn how a veteran disability advocate can help you and your family. Contact us today here or call (855) 855-8992 right now.