Survivor & Casualty Benefit Calculator

Death Gratuity — the immediate payment

The Death Gratuity is a $100,000 tax-free lump sum paid by the military under 10 U.S.C. §§ 1475-1480to designated beneficiaries (typically the surviving spouse, then dependent children, then parents). The FMR directs immediate payment — within 24 hours when possible — once the eligible beneficiary is determined (DoD FMR Vol 7A Ch 36, ¶2.9). The full amount is non-taxable under 26 U.S.C. § 134, and it is paid directly to the designated beneficiary rather than through the member's estate (DoD FMR Vol 7A Ch 36, ¶2.4.4).

Qualifying deaths include: active-duty death from any cause, death of an Inactive Duty Training (drill weekend) member, certain death within 120 days of separation from service-connected causes, and death in specific Reserve/Guard training scenarios. The member's DD Form 93 designates the beneficiary; if no designation, statutory order applies.

SGLI — Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance

Active-duty members are automatically enrolled in SGLI at $500,000 maximum coverage under 38 U.S.C. § 1967. Members can decline or reduce in $50,000 increments. Premium is $0.05 per $1,000 of coverage per month (effective Jul 1, 2025) — about $26/month at the maximum ($25 + $1 TSGLI). The beneficiary is named on the SGLV-8286 form; if no designation, statutory order applies (similar to Death Gratuity).

SGLI is paid to beneficiaries tax-free as a lump sum or in 36-month installments. TSGLI (Traumatic SGLI) is a separate add-on coverage that pays $25,000–$100,000 for traumatic injuries resulting in specific covered losses (limb loss, paralysis, severe burns, etc.) — paid to the servicemember themselves while alive.

DIC — Dependency and Indemnity Compensation

DIC is monthly tax-free compensation paid by VA to surviving spouses (and/or dependent children) under 38 U.S.C. § 1311. The 2026 rates (effective Dec 1, 2025):

• Spouse base rate: $1,699.36/month
• Per dependent child under 18: +$421.00/month
• 8-year provision: +$360.85/month if the veteran was totally disabled for 8+ years immediately before death and the spouse was married during those 8 years
• Aid & Attendance: +$421.00/month if the surviving spouse needs the regular help of another person for daily activities
• Housebound: +$197.22/month if substantially confined to residence
• Transitional benefit: +$359.00/month to a spouse with dependent children under 18, for the 2-year period beginning when DIC entitlement commences (38 U.S.C. § 1311(f))

DIC requires that death was caused by a service-connected condition, or that the veteran died during active service, or — under 38 U.S.C. § 1318 — that the veteran's service-connected disability was continuously rated totally disabling for 10+ years immediately before death, for at least 5 years continuously from the date of discharge, or for at least 1 year immediately before death in the case of a former prisoner of war.

DIC continues for the life of the surviving spouse. Remarriage ends DIC unless the spouse was age 55 or older at the time of remarriage and remarried on or after January 5, 2021 — 38 U.S.C. § 103(d)(2)(B), as amended by Pub. L. 116-315 (enacted Jan 5, 2021), which brought chapter 13 (DIC) under the age-55 threshold. For remarriages between December 16, 2003 and January 4, 2021, the threshold is age 57. If a disqualifying remarriage later ends by death, divorce, or annulment, DIC may be reinstated beginning the month after the remarriage terminates, unless VA finds the divorce or annulment was obtained by fraud or collusion (38 U.S.C. § 103(d)(1), (d)(2)(A), (d)(4), (d)(5)(A); 38 C.F.R. § 3.55).

DIC for surviving children (no eligible spouse)

If there is no eligible surviving spouse, dependent children receive DIC directly:

• 1 child: $717.50/month
• 2 children: $1,032.18 ($516.09 per child)
• 3 children: $1,346.92 ($448.97 per child)
• Each additional child beyond 3: +$255.95/month (VA publishes totals through 9 children; for a family of 10 or more, each additional eligible child adds $255.95)

Children receive DIC until they reach age 18 (or age 23 if attending an approved school full-time), or for life if they are "helpless children" (permanently incapable of self-support due to a disability incurred before age 18).

Burial benefits

VA pays burial benefits to qualifying veterans' families under 38 CFR Part 3, Subpart B (§§ 3.1700-3.1713). Key amounts:

• Service-connected death: $2,000 burial allowance (38 U.S.C. § 2307 / 38 CFR § 3.1704). This is paid in lieu of the standard burial and plot allowances — no separate $1,002 plot allowance is payable to the family. If the veteran is buried without charge in a State or Tribal veterans cemetery, VA pays the plot allowance directly to that cemetery under 38 CFR § 3.1707(b), not to the family.
• Non-service-connected death (VA care): $1,002 burial + $1,002 plot allowance (deaths on or after Oct 1, 2025; 38 CFR §§ 3.1705, 3.1707(c))
• Active-duty death: VA pays no burial allowance. The service branch pays funeral, mortuary, transportation of remains, and interment expenses under 10 U.S.C. §§ 1481-1482 (DoD FMR Vol 10, Ch 11, para 2.19).
• National Cemetery: Free burial and headstone for eligible veterans, spouses, and dependent children. Eligibility per 38 CFR § 38.620.
• Presidential Memorial Certificate: Free; honors the deceased veteran's service
• Military Funeral Honors: uniformed detail of at least 2 service members, with the playing of Taps and the folding and presentation of the flag; provided at no cost by the service branch (10 U.S.C. § 1491)

Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) — separate from DIC

SBP is a separate retirement-pay-based survivor annuity that retirees can elect at retirement under 10 U.S.C. § 1448. It pays the surviving spouse 55% of the elected "base amount" of retired pay, continuing for life. SBP premiums are deducted from retired pay during the retiree's lifetime (typically 6.5% of base amount; a disability retiree, a non-regular Guard/Reserve retiree, or a member who first entered service before 1 March 1990 pays the lower of 6.5% or 2.5% of the DFAS threshold-amount plus 10% of the base amount above it — DoD FMR Vol 7B Ch 45 ¶3.2.1).

SBP-DIC offset (now eliminated): Historically, DIC was offset dollar-for-dollar against SBP. Section 622 of NDAA 2020 phased out this offset over 3 years. As of January 1, 2023, the offset is fully eliminated — surviving spouses now receive both SBP and DIC in full. This is sometimes called the "Widow's Tax repeal" and adds substantial value to SBP elections.

SBP coverage and decision-making is its own complex topic — run the numbers with the SBP Premium Calculator, and see DoD FMR Vol 7B Ch 42-46 for premium computation rules.

Filing — what to do when death occurs

1. Active-duty death: a Casualty Assistance Officer (CAO) from the service branch is assigned to the family. The CAO walks the family through every step.
2. Veteran death (post-service): File VA Form 21P-534EZ (DIC, Survivors Pension, and/or Accrued Benefits) with the VA Pension Management Center.
3. SGLI claim: Filed by the named beneficiary with SGLV-8283 through OSGLI (Office of Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance).
4. Death Gratuity: Automatic — the service branch initiates payment to the designated beneficiary; the FMR directs immediate payment, within 24 hours when possible (DoD FMR Vol 7A Ch 36, ¶2.9).
5. Burial benefits: File VA Form 21P-530EZ (Application for Burial Benefits); reimbursement after burial. Gravesites cannot be reserved in advance, but eligibility can be confirmed ahead of time with a pre-need eligibility determination (VA Form 40-10007).

VA-accredited Veteran Service Organizations (American Legion, VFW, DAV, MOAA) assist for free with DIC and survivor pension claims. In active-duty cases, the CAO + Casualty Branch handle most paperwork.