Disability Benefits

The VA administers two disability programs.  Both pay monthly benefits to disabled veterans.

• Disability Compensation  The VA can pay you compensation if you are at least 10% disabled as a result of your military service.
• Disability Pension  The VA can pay you a pension if you are a wartime veteran with limited income and you are no longer able to work.

Time Limits.  There is no deadline for applying for disability benefits.

Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) is payable to survivors of :

• Service members who died on active duty.
• Veterans who died from service-related disabilities.
• Certain veterans who were being paid 100% VA disability compensation at time of death.

Death Pension is payable to some surviving spouses and children of deceased wartime veterans.  The benefit is based on financial need.

VA Civilian Health and Medical Program (CHAMPVA) shares the cost of medical services for eligible dependents and survivors of certain veterans.

Time Limits.  There are  not time limits for applying for the benefit described above.

The VA offers certain benefits and services to honor our Nation's deceased veterans.

• Headstones and Markers  The VA can furnish a monument to mark the unmarked grave of an eligible veteran.
• Burial Flag The VA can provide an American flag to drape an eligible veteran's casket.
• Reimbursement of Burial Expenses  Generally, the VA can pay a burial allowance of $2,000 for veterans who die of service-related causes.  For certain other veterans, the VA can pay up to $600 for burial, plot and funeral expenses.
• Burial in a VA National Cemetery  Most veterans and some dependents can be buried in a VA national cemetery.

Time Limits  Burial claims must be filed within two years of the veterans burial.