Is a spouse eligible for veterans benefits?

VA benefits for spouses, dependents, survivors, and family caregivers. As the spouse or dependent child of a Veteran or service member, you may qualify for certain benefits, like health care, life insurance, or money to help pay for school or training.

What can a Veteran widow file for?

If you’re the surviving spouse, child, or parent of a service member who died in the line of duty, or the survivor of a Veteran who died from a service-related injury or illness, you may be able to get a tax-free monetary benefit called VA Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (VA DIC).

What are the benefits of being a spouse of a veteran?

VA benefits for spouses, dependents, survivors, and family caregivers As the spouse or dependent child of a Veteran or service member, you may qualify for certain benefits, like health care, life insurance, or money to help pay for school or training.

Do you have to be married to a veteran to get VA benefits?

The VA requires that a surviving spouse must have been married to a veteran for at least one year before the veteran’s death in order to qualify for DIC benefits. This requirement applies in cases of common law marriage, but it does not apply if: the marriage occurred before or during the veteran’s service,

Can a separation from a spouse affect VA benefits?

Separations that occurred during the marriage do not matter or disqualify from benefits, as long as the couple was no longer estranged at the time of the veteran’s death. The exception to this cohabitation rule is if the separation was the veteran’s fault (either because of misconduct or by their own choosing).

How are veterans benefits available to surviving family members?

One is to dependents of living veterans, and another is to surviving family members of deceased veterans. In each of these cases, however, benefits are only available based on a qualifying family relationship to the veteran. This is because the family member is only entitled to benefits through the veteran, not in their own right.

What are the requirements for surviving spouses of Veterans?

There are several requirements that a surviving spouse must meet to be eligible for DIC. The requirements are as follows: A surviving spouse must have married a service member who died on active duty, active duty training, or inactive duty training, or. Married the deceased Veteran before January 1, 1957, or.

Do you have to be married to a veteran to get aid and attendance?

You must have been married to a veteran at the time of his death. You must present your veteran spouse’s death certificate. Remarriage does not affect your surviving spouse eligibility for “Aid and Attendance” if you meet all the following requirements: You were married to your veteran spouse at the time of his death.

Who are military spouses who are not remarried?

Military spouses of 100% disabled separated or retired veterans and widows or widowers, who are not remarried, of military service members who were killed on active duty. Military spouses who are widows and widowers, and are not remarried, of military service members who were killed on active duty.

How to get a job as a spouse of a veteran?

For more information on that program, contact your local Department of Defense personnel office. As a spouse of a veteran, you will be eligible for derived preference if the veteran has been unable to qualify for a Federal position along the general lines of his or her usual occupation because of a service-connected disability.