Survivor benefits
VA DIC Rates (2026)
The 2026 VA Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) rate for a surviving spouse is $1,699.36 a month, effective December 1, 2025, when the Veteran died on or after January 1, 1993. VA adds $421.00 a month for each eligible child under 18. Under the 8-year provision, VA adds $360.85 a month when the Veteran had a VA disability rating of totally disabling (including for individual unemployability) for at least the 8 full years leading up to their death, and the surviving spouse was married to the Veteran for those same 8 years. Below are all 9 of VA's DIC rate tables for surviving spouses and children, under VA's own headings.
- Surviving spouse
- $1,699.36
- a month, if the Veteran died on or after Jan 1, 1993
- Each child under 18
- $421.00
- added a month for each eligible child
- 8-year provision
- $360.85
- added a month if rated totally disabling for the 8 full years before death and married those 8 years
Surviving spouses
Surviving spouse rates if the Veteran died on or after January 1, 1993
If you’re the surviving spouse of a Veteran
Your monthly payment rate is: $1,699.36Effective
VA decides which of these added amounts apply to you. Aid and Attendance and the housebound allowance are not paid together: under 38 U.S.C. 1311(d) (opens in a new tab), the housebound increase is for a surviving spouse who is “permanently housebound but does not qualify for the aid and attendance allowance under subsection (c) of this section.”
| If this description is true… | You may qualify for this benefit | Added monthly amount (in U.S. $) |
|---|---|---|
| 8-year provision | $360.85 |
| You have a disability and need help with regular daily activities (like eating, bathing, or dressing) | Aid and Attendance | $421.00 |
| You can’t leave your house due to a disability | Housebound allowance | $197.22 |
| You have 1 or more children who are under 18 |
|
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Note: You can find the details of these rates in title 38 U.S.C. 1311(a, b, c, d, f) and 38 CFR 3.461(b).
Surviving spouses, by pay grade
Surviving spouse rates if the Veteran died before January 1, 1993
If you’re the spouse or child of a Veteran who died before January 1, 1993, we use a different method to determine your monthly payment.
Surviving spouse, with or without dependent children
To find your monthly payment, select your Veteran’s pay grade category. Find their specific pay grade in the left column of the Monthly payment rates table, and the matching monthly payment to the right.
Then, go to the Added or increased amounts table. Add any added or increased amounts that apply to you based on the Veteran’s disability rating and whether you have dependent children under 18.
Enlisted Veteran pay grades E-1 to E-9
Note: If you’re the surviving spouse of an aviation cadet or other service member not covered by this table, you’ll receive the rate for enlisted E-3.
| Veteran’s pay grade | Monthly payment (in U.S. $) |
|---|---|
| E-1, E-2, E-3, E-4, E-5, E-6 | $1,699.36 |
| E-7 | $1,758.09 |
| E-8 | $1,856.02 |
| E-9 regular | $1,935.72 |
E-9 special capacityVeteran served as:
| $2,089.58 |
| If this description is true… | We’ll adjust your monthly payment by this amount (in U.S. $) |
|---|---|
| Add $360.85 |
| Increase payment to $2,060.20 |
| You have 1 or more children who are under 18 | Add $421.00 per child |
Warrant officer pay grades W-1 to W-4
| Veteran’s pay grade | Monthly payment (in U.S. $) |
|---|---|
| W-1 | $1,794.49 |
| W-2 | $1,865.80 |
| W-3 | $1,920.33 |
| W-4 | $2,032.23 |
| If this description is true… | We’ll adjust your monthly payment by this amount (in U.S. $) |
|---|---|
| Increase payment to $2,060.20 |
| You have 1 or more children who are under 18 | Add $421.00 per child |
Officer pay grades O-1 to O-10
| Veteran’s pay grade | Monthly payment (in U.S. $) |
|---|---|
| O-1 | $1,794.49 |
| O-2 | $1,856.02 |
| O-3 | $1,983.26 |
| O-4 | $2,102.15 |
| O-5 | $2,313.37 |
| O-6 | $2,608.49 |
| O-7 | $2,815.45 |
| O-8 | $3,092.41 |
| O-9 | $3,307.79 |
| O-10 regular | $3,628.08 |
O-10 special capacityVeteran served as:
| $3,893.83 |
| If this description is true… | We’ll adjust your monthly payment by this amount (in U.S. $) |
|---|---|
| Increase payment to $2,060.20 |
| You have 1 or more children who are under 18 | Add $421.00 per child |
Surviving children
Monthly rates if you’re the surviving child of a Veteran
Surviving, unmarried adult child of a Veteran, when the Veteran’s surviving spouse is also eligible for Dependency and Indemnity Compensation
We make this monthly payment to you separately as the adult surviving child, in addition to the eligible surviving spouse’s compensation.
| Child status | Monthly payment (in U.S. $) |
|---|---|
| Child between 18 and 23 who’s in a qualified school program | $356.66 |
| Helpless child over 18(An adult child who became permanently unable to support themselves before age 18) | $717.50 |
Surviving eligible child of a Veteran, when the Veteran doesn’t have a surviving spouse who’s eligible for Dependency and Indemnity Compensation
We’ll base your payment amount on the number of the Veteran’s eligible surviving children. You’re an eligible child if you meet at least 1 of these requirements.
At least 1 of these must be true:
- You’re under 18, or
- You’re between 18 and 23 and in a VA-approved school program, or
- You’re permanently unable to support yourself due to a disability that happened before age 18 (we use the term “helpless child”)
| Number of Veteran’s eligible children | Monthly rate for each child (in U.S. $) | Total monthly payment (in U.S. $) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $717.50 | $717.50 |
| 2 | $516.09 | $1,032.18 |
| 3 | $448.97 | $1,346.92 |
| 4 | $400.72 | $1,602.87 |
| 5 | $371.76 | $1,858.82 |
| 6 | $352.46 | $2,114.77 |
| 7 | $338.67 | $2,370.72 |
| 8 | $328.33 | $2,626.67 |
| 9 | $320.29 | $2,882.62 |
Added amounts
- For each additional eligible child in a family of 10 or more children, add $255.95.
- For each helpless child over 18, add $421 to your monthly rate above. This will be your total monthly payment. For example, if there are 2 eligible surviving children, and 1 of them is a helpless child, the rate for that child would be $937.09 ($516.09 + $421).
Eligibility
Who can get DIC?
A surviving spouse, child, or parent of a service member who died in the line of duty, or the survivor of a veteran who died from a service-related injury or illness, may be able to receive DIC when they meet VA requirements.
VA sets the full requirements on its Dependency and Indemnity Compensation page (opens in a new tab). Parents' DIC has its own rates, on VA's parent rates page (opens in a new tab). Our DIC survivor benefits guide explains the rules in plain language.
Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is VA DIC for a surviving spouse in 2026?
VA's basic monthly DIC rate for a surviving spouse is $1,699.36, effective December 1, 2025, when the Veteran died on or after January 1, 1993. VA's table adds monthly amounts for the 8-year provision ($360.85), Aid and Attendance ($421.00), the housebound allowance ($197.22), and children under 18. Aid and Attendance and the housebound allowance are not paid together (38 U.S.C. 1311(d)). When the Veteran died before January 1, 1993, VA pays by the Veteran's pay grade instead.
How much does DIC add for each child under 18?
VA's table adds $421.00 a month for each eligible child under 18, the D.I.C. apportionment rate. With 1 or more children under 18, it also lists a transitional benefit of $359.00 a month for the first 2 years after the Veteran's death.
What is the DIC 8-year provision?
It is the $360.85 a month VA's table adds for a surviving spouse when the Veteran had a VA disability rating of totally disabling (including for individual unemployability) for at least the 8 full years leading up to their death, and the surviving spouse was married to the Veteran for those same 8 years. For a Veteran who died before January 1, 1993, the pay grade tables set the 8-year amount by grade; for some grades VA increases the payment to $2,060.20.
How much DIC does a surviving child get when there is no eligible surviving spouse?
VA pays $717.50 a month when the Veteran has 1 eligible child. With more children, VA sets a monthly rate for each child, and the family total rises with each child, to $2,882.62 a month for 9 children. For each additional eligible child in a family of 10 or more children, VA adds $255.95.
Sources & Authorities
- 1.VA.gov: Current D.I.C. rates for spouses and dependents (opens in a new tab)
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Rates effective December 1, 2025; page updated September 22, 2026; read October 11, 2026.
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