American Former Prisoners of War -- Dependents

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Certain survivors of Former POWs who are rated by VA as totally disabled may be eligible for Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC), as well as other survivor benefits.

DIC is payable to the surviving spouse (and parents and children in some cases) of a former POW who:

• was a service member who died on active duty; or
• died from service-related disabilities; or
• died on or before September 30, 1999, and was continuously rated totally disabled for a service-connected condition (including individual unemployability) for at least 10 years immediately preceding death; or
• died after September 30, 1999, and was continuously rated totally disabled for a service-connected condition (including individual unemployability) for at least 1 year immediately preceding death.

DIC is terminated for a surviving spouse who remarries, but is resumed if the remarriage ends in death, divorce, or annulment.    Generally, DIC entitlement continues for a surviving spouse who remarries on or after attaining age 57.

CHAMPVA -- Some survivors may be eligible for a form of health insurance sponsored by VA.  Learn more at the CHAMPVA web site.


Survivors and Eligible Dependents VA Benefits -- Additional benefits information and links to application forms for survivor benefits may be found at VA's web site.