If your spouse was a Veteran and they recently passed away, you may be entitled to your Veteran’s surviving spouse benefits. Then you can use these benefits to support yourself, as well as any dependent children in your care. Let’s explore what these benefits include and how AVCC can help you access them.
What Are the Eligibility Requirements for Surviving Spouse Benefits?
For you to be eligible for your spousal benefits from the VA, your spouse must have served at least 90 days of active military service, with at least one day of active duty during a period of war if they served before Sept. 7, 1980. If your spouse served after Sept. 7, 1980, they must have served 24 months or their full period of active duty, with at least one day served during a wartime period. Additionally, your spouse must have been honorably discharged. These are just the service requirements for a basic survivor’s pension.
In addition to service requirements, you must also meet countable income requirements to receive your surviving spouse Veteran’s benefits. Essentially, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs measures your countable income against your Maximum Annual Pension Rate (MAPR), which is a limit set by Congress. Then the VA sets your pension rate to cover the difference between your income and the MAPR. Your countable income includes your salary as well as your investments and retirement payments, and you can reduce your countable income with medical expenses your insurance doesn’t cover. Overall, your countable income must not exceed $129,094. If it does, you’ll be ineligible for VA benefits for surviving spouses.
Are Dependent Children Eligible for Survivors’ Benefits?
Yes, if you have a dependent child, they are eligible for survivor’s benefits if they are younger than age 18, under age 23 and attending a VA-approved school, and if they are incapable of self-support due to a disability they’ve had since before age 18. If they are eligible for survivor’s benefits, your child can receive educational assistance or disability compensation through the VA.
Can Surviving Spouses Receive Disability Benefits?
Yes, you can receive disabled Veterans’ and surviving spouse benefits if you qualify for a survivor’s pension. For example, AVCC can help you apply for the Aid & Attendance pension benefit, which the VA pays out to you as a monthly payment, along with your Veterans’ pension for surviving spouses. We can screen you to determine your eligibility for this benefit and then help you through the application process.
How Can AVCC Help You Receive Surviving Spouse Benefits?
At AVCC, we dedicate ourselves to making sure Veterans and their spouses and families receive the benefits each Veteran earned through their military service. We help Veterans receive Aid & Attendance for service-connected disabilities, but we also help spouses receive it for disabilities they may experience after their Veteran loved one has passed on. Beyond Aid & Attendance, we can help you find out if you’re missing out on any benefits for yourself, your children, or your deceased Veteran, such as burial in a national cemetery.
We understand that applying for benefits through the VA is a complicated process. That’s why we stay in constant contact with the VA and keep a VA-accredited attorney on our staff. We work to ensure your application goes through the process smoothly and doesn’t get lost or stuck anywhere along the way. If you have any questions or concerns about your surviving spouse benefits, you can always reach out to us.
At AVCC, we dedicate ourselves to making sure Veterans and their spouses and families receive the benefits each Veteran earned through their military service. We help Veterans receive Aid & Attendance for service-connected disabilities, but we also help spouses receive it for disabilities they may experience after their Veteran loved one has passed on.
Access Your Surviving Spouse Benefits With AVCC
Now that we’ve outlined how spouses of Veterans are eligible for VA benefits, we can help you receive them. Reach out to AVCC today to start applying for your benefits. Then, if you qualify for the Aid & Attendance benefit, we can also connect you with home care providers in your area. We make sure you receive the benefits you need to maintain your quality of life after your spouse has passed on.
