Military Survivor Benefits: What Families May Qualify For

Last verified July 30, 2026.

Military survivor benefits come through separate Department of Defense, Department of Veterans Affairs, insurance, health, education, and Social Security programs. Eligibility for one program doesn’t establish eligibility for another.

When a service member dies on active duty, the service branch assigns a casualty assistance officer or representative. Use that person as the first coordinator. Survivors of retirees and Veterans can start with DFAS, VA, the Office of Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance, and a VA-accredited representative as each section requires.^[1]

What it is: A one-time, tax-exempt payment of $100,000 for eligible deaths connected to active duty or qualifying training status. A service member can designate recipients in 10% increments. Federal law supplies a payment order for any undesignated share.^[2]

Action: Work through casualty assistance. Military OneSource states that payment is normally made within 72 hours after the government receives DD Form 397, the claim certification and voucher.^[2]

Important limit: Eligibility depends on the member's duty status and the circumstances specified in law. The casualty office determines whether the program applies.

What it is: SGLI provides up to $500,000 in coverage, in $50,000 increments, when the service member had coverage in force. The named beneficiary and the policy election control the payment.^[3]

Action: File SGLV 8283, Claim for Death Benefits, with the Office of Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance. The casualty assistance officer can help locate the beneficiary election and claim form.

Important limit: The maximum isn’t the amount every claim pays. The member could reduce or decline coverage.

What it is: SBP is a monthly annuity tied to military retired pay. A retiree generally must have elected and paid for coverage. Certain line-of-duty deaths have separate SBP rules.^[4]

Action: Report the retiree's death to the Defense Finance and Accounting Service and submit the documents DFAS requests. Retired pay stops at death, so reporting also prevents an overpayment.

Current rule: The SBP-DIC offset was fully eliminated effective January 1, 2023. Eligible surviving spouses who qualify for both programs can receive full SBP and DIC payments. DFAS made the offset adjustment automatically for affected recipients.^[5]

What it is: VA DIC is a tax-free monthly benefit for eligible surviving spouses, children, or parents when the service and cause-of-death rules are met. For a surviving spouse of a Veteran who died on or after January 1, 1993, the 2026 base monthly rate starts at $1,699.36. The rate is effective December 1, 2025. Added amounts can apply for eligible children, the eight-year provision, Aid and Attendance, or housebound status.^[6]

Action: Review eligibility and file through VA. A VA-accredited Veterans Service Organization representative, claims agent, or attorney can help without changing the official eligibility rules.

Important limit: DIC, Survivors Pension, and SBP are different programs. VA determines DIC from the service record and applicable law. Don’t rely on an estimate from another program.

• Burial benefits: VA burial allowances, transportation reimbursement, a national cemetery burial, a marker, and other memorial items have separate eligibility rules. Current allowance amounts depend on the date and circumstances of death.^[7]
• Health coverage: TRICARE or CHAMPVA eligibility depends on the service member's status and the survivor's relationship. Confirm coverage directly before changing any health plan.
• Education: The Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance program and the Fry Scholarship cover different survivor groups. Apply through VA education benefits after confirming which program applies.^[8]
• Social Security: Monthly Social Security survivor benefits and the $255 lump-sum death payment require their own SSA review and application. They're covered in our Social Security survivor-benefits guide.

Create one page for each program. Record the agency, benefit name, date reported, claim number, forms submitted, documents still needed, representative, and next follow-up date. Keep copies of every submission and decision.

A denial from one program doesn’t decide another program. Read the appeal instructions and deadline on each decision. A VA-accredited representative or military-survivor benefits attorney can review a disputed VA claim.