Disabled Army Veterans Death Benefits

By Paul Bright

When a disabled Army veteran dies, spouses and surviving family members may be left without significant benefits such as medical care. Families often rely on the veteran's disability compensation payments. To help alleviate any financial stress after death, the Veterans Administration (VA) and the federal government have special programs for survivors such as the CHAMPVA health care system, burial benefits and educational assistance.

The Dependent Indemnity Compensation program helps make up disability compensation payments that are lost when the veteran dies. Surviving spouses may receive a basic monthly rate of $1,154 in the event of the disabled army veteran's death. Rates are increased for each dependent child. Additional funding is also available if the spouse is homebound or needs special medical assistance.

A disabled Army veteran's family members are eligible for educational benefits under the Dependents' Educational Assistance Program (DEA). Recipients are entitled to grant amounts paid monthly by the VA. Benefits are payable for 10 years after the disabled veteran's death. The payment rates for 2010 were $925 for full-time school attendance, while half-time attendance paid $461 per month.

A disabled veteran's surviving family members are entitled to benefits under the Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veteran Affairs (CHAMPVA) medical program. Under CHAMPVA, the VA shares costs of covered healthcare services, which include psychological counseling, medical equipment, inpatient services and hospice care. To extend benefits after age 65, survivors must be eligible for Medicare Parts A and B.

Disabled Army veterans are entitled to burial in a national cemetery, provided they were honorably discharged and not convicted of, or facing, federal felony charges at the time of death. If the disabled Army veteran died in a VA hospital, the VA provides transportation costs from the hospital to the burial site. The federal government will also reimburse up to $1,000 towards a private burial ceremony in a national cemetery and $8,000 towards burial in a private cemetery.

The Social Security Administration provides benefits to the surviving family members. Surviving spouses will receive full benefits at age 65, or reduced benefits at age 60. If the surviving spouse cares for the army veteran's child that is under the age of 16 or disabled, she will also receive benefits. Unmarried children who are in high school or under the age of 18 also receive Social Security benefits.

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