Survivor Benefits — DIC, SBP, Aid & Attendance, CHAMPVA

2026 Monthly Rates

• Surviving spouse base: $1,699.36/month tax-free (deaths on/after Jan 1, 1993)
• Each dependent child under 18: +$421.00
• 8-year provision (100% rated 8+ yrs before death + married the entire 8 years): +$360.85
• Aid & Attendance allowance (spouse needs help with ADLs): +$421.00
• Housebound allowance: +$197.22
• Transitional benefit (first 2 yrs after death, child under 18): +$359.00/month
• Medal of Honor surviving spouse pension: $5,780/month
• School-age children (18–23) own portion: $356.66/month
• Helpless adult child: $717.50/month (for life)

Surviving spouse eligibility

Married to the veteran (lived together continuously until death, or were apart through no fault of your own) AND one of: married at least 1 year before death, OR married within 15 years of discharge from the service period in which the disability began, OR had a child together. Plus the veteran's death was service-connected, OR the veteran met the 10/5-year rule below.

10-year / 5-year rule (non-SC deaths)

Even when cause of death wasn't directly service-connected, DIC still pays if the veteran was:

• Continuously rated 100% disabled for at least 10 years immediately before death, OR
• Continuously rated 100% disabling for at least 5 years from active-duty release to death (recent discharges), OR
• Former POW who died after Sept 30, 1999 and was rated totally disabling for at least 1 year before death.

“Totally disabling” includes Individual Unemployability (TDIU), not just 100% schedular.

Parents DIC — income-tested, often overlooked

Separate, smaller, means-tested. Vet's death must be SC. 2026 max monthly rates:

• Sole surviving parent: up to $842/month
• Two parents not living together: up to $611/month each
• Two parents living together (or remarried sole parent with new spouse): up to $576/month each

Payments phase out as income rises. Caps roughly $19,836 (two parents apart) to $26,663 (sole parent or two together). File VA Form 21P-535.

How SBP works

• At retirement, member elects a base amount from $300 up to full gross retired pay
• Retiree pays 6.5% of base as a monthly premium
• Survivor receives 55% of base for life, taxable, COLA-adjusted
• Paid-up provision: premiums end when retiree reaches age 70 AND has paid 360 months (30 yrs). Coverage continues free after.

Example: retiree with $4,000/mo retired pay elects full coverage → pays $260/mo. Surviving spouse receives $2,200/mo.

Divorce + former spouse coverage

After divorce the retiree can voluntarily elect “former spouse coverage” within 1 year of divorce. If a divorce decree requires SBP coverage but the retiree doesn't elect, the former spouse can file a deemed election with DFAS — but ONLY within 1 year of the divorce decree date. Missing that deadline is one of the most expensive mistakes in military divorce. If you're a former spouse who was supposed to be covered: verify directly with DFAS. Do not assume it was set up.

Two different pots — don't confuse them

1. A&A added to DIC — spouse already qualifies for DIC, adds $421/mo for A&A or $197.22 for Housebound.
2. A&A added to Survivors Pension — the means-tested wartime pension benefit (NOT DIC). Different eligibility.

You generally cannot collect DIC and Survivors Pension at the same time; VA pays whichever is higher.

2026 Survivors Pension MAPR (Dec 1, 2025)

The benefit fills the gap between countable income and MAPR. Unreimbursed medical expenses (in-home aides, assisted living, prescriptions) are deductible from countable income — this is how many seniors qualify even with Social Security.

2026 net worth limit + 3-year lookback

$163,699for Dec 1, 2025 – Nov 30, 2026. Includes spouse's assets plus annual income, minus primary residence (up to 2 acres), one vehicle, personal effects.

3-year lookback (since Oct 18, 2018): VA examines all asset transfers in the 36 months before application. Transfers for less than fair market value that would have pushed net worth over the cap create a penalty period of up to 5 years. No Medicaid- style “half-loaf” forgiveness.

Eligibility

Not eligible for TRICARE AND one of:

• Spouse or child of a veteran rated P&T from SC disability, OR
• Surviving spouse or child of a vet who died from SC disability, OR
• Surviving spouse or child of a vet who, at time of death, was rated P&T, OR
• Surviving spouse or child of a servicemember who died in line of duty (not TRICARE-eligible)

Remarriage: CHAMPVA terminates on remarriage but reinstates if the remarriage ends, OR if remarriage occurs at age 55+.

Cost-sharing

Pays after other insurance (except Medicaid and supplements). For most outpatient services, CHAMPVA covers 75% of allowable amount after a small annual deductible ($50 individual / $100 family), beneficiary pays 25%. Annual catastrophic cap: $3,000 per family. Prescriptions through Meds by Mail (no copay for generics and most brand-name maintenance meds) or retail pharmacies with 25% cost share.

2026 burial + plot allowances (Oct 1, 2025)

• Service-connected death: up to $2,000 burial allowance (no time limit) + $1,002 plot allowance (if not buried in a national cemetery)
• Non-SC death (died receiving VA care or in eligible status): $1,002 burial + $1,002 plot

File VA Form 21P-530EZ within 2 years of burial for non-SC deaths. No time limit for SC death claims.

Florida National Cemetery — Bushnell

Primary VA national cemetery for Tampa Bay, ~50 miles north of Tampa. Burial at no cost for gravesite, opening/closing, headstone, perpetual care. Eligible vets AND surviving spouses (including a later-remarried spouse) qualify.

6502 SW 102nd Ave., Bushnell, FL 33513 · (352) 793-7740

Pre-need eligibility determination

Don't wait until death. Submit VA Form 40-10007 to get an advance determination of eligibility for VA national cemetery burial. Dramatically reduces the paperwork burden on family at time of need.

Other burial items

• Presidential Memorial Certificate (VA Form 40-0247) — free engraved certificate signed by the sitting President. Multiple copies free.
• Military Funeral Honors — free; minimum 2-person uniformed detail + flag presentation + Taps. Request through funeral director or DoD at 1-877-MIL-HONR.

Property tax continuation (FL Stat § 196.081)

Florida protects the surviving spouse of a totally and permanently disabled veteran. Under § 196.081(4), if the vet predeceases the spouse:

• The vet's homestead ad valorem tax exemption carries over to the spouse as long as the spouse holds title, lives there as permanent residence, and does not remarry
• If the spouse sells, the exempt amount from the most recent year transfers to a new primary residence (same conditions apply)

Under § 196.081(6), if the vet died from an SC cause while on active duty, the surviving spouse receives a full ad valorem tax exemption on the homestead — same continuity/residency/non-remarriage conditions.

Administered by your county Property Appraiser (not the state). File the certifying VA letter at the appraiser's office. Hillsborough (813) 272-6100, Pinellas (727) 464-3207, Pasco (727) 847-8151.

See the Florida Benefits guide for the full property-tax exemption landscape.