Military Veterans' Lawyer Blog
The surviving spouse of a service member who dies in the line of duty or who died from a service-related injury or illness may be able to receive VA Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (VA DIC). Those who are at or below a certain income and net worth limit may also be eligible for the VA Survivors Pension.
However, the VA does not permit attorneys, financial planners, or any other person to charge a fee for any services provided in helping a military widow apply for compensation. The VA warns survivors of veterans to avoid organizations that misrepresent themselves in order to provide financial products and services, and warns that “these organizations may charge substantial fees for products and services that may not always be in claimants’ best long-term interests.” (va.gov)
At Robert B. Goss, we’re disabled veterans and family members of servicemen, so it’s important to us to protect survivors of veterans from dishonest practices. Below are the situations in which a widow or widower can apply for these benefits.