DIC Veteran Widow Benefits Worldwide

Dependency and indemnity compensation, or DIC for short, is a benefit for spouses or children of deceased veterans. Unfortunately, families often have trouble collecting the survivor benefits they are eligible for.

At Bassett Murray Law Group, PLLC, we can help you prepare your application for DIC veteran widow benefits to maximize your odds of success. If your application has been denied or undervalued, we can assist you in filing an appeal. Call 734-930-9200 to schedule your consultation by phone, video or in person in Ann Arbor, MI.

Are You Eligible for DIC Benefits?

Typically, the eligible survivor is the veteran’s widow, but in some cases the veteran’s dependent children may also qualify for DIC benefits.

Surviving Spouses

To collect DIC veteran widow benefits as a surviving spouse, you must meet one of the following criteria:

• You were married to the veteran for at least one year, and the marriage took place before January 1, 1957.
• Your spouse passed away while on active duty, inactive duty training, or active duty for training.
• You married your spouse within 15 years of their discharge from service, during which the health condition that caused their death started or was aggravated.
• You had a child with your spouse.
• You lived with your spouse continuously until their passing or, if you were separated, you weren’t at fault and aren’t remarried at present.

Children

As the child of a veteran, you must meet the following requirements to qualify for dependency and indemnity compensation:

• You are under 18 or between 18 and 23 and attending school.
• You are not married.
• You are not included in the DIC payment of the surviving spouse.

It doesn’t matter whether you were the deceased’s biological or adoptive child.

What If Your DIC Application Has Been Denied?

If the VA has denied your first DIC application before February 19, 2019, you can appeal the decision by filing a legacy notice of disagreement at your local VA office.

If the VA issued the denial after February 19, 2019, you can appeal by requesting either:

• Higher Level Review at your local Regional Office; or
• Review by a Veterans Law Judge at the Board of Veterans’ Appeals

Our experienced veterans benefits attorneys can walk you through the VA appeals process for DIC claims and advise you on the next steps.

How We Can Help

Applying for and receiving DIC veteran widow benefits can be complicated. Our legal team can advise you on how to prepare your initial application and determine what evidence you may need to collect to prove a service connection, such as medical and service records.

If the VA has already denied your DIC claim, we can assist you in filing an appeal and preparing your testimony for an administrative hearing if needed.

Talk to an Experienced DIC Benefits Attorney Serving Worldwide

Our experienced and successful legal team at Bassett Murray Law Group, PLLC, has been helping veterans and their families collect the benefits they are entitled to. Call 734-930-9200 to schedule an initial consultation with a DIC veteran widow benefits attorney by phone, video or in-person in Ann Arbor, MI.