Basic Eligibility Criteria for VA Death Pension Benefits for
Widows/Widowers and Dependent Children
(Pension is a needs based program)
You may be eligible if:

the deceased veteran was discharged from service under other than dishonorable
conditions, AND

the deceased veteran served at least 90 days of active military service 1 day of
which was during a war time period. If he or she entered active duty after September
7, 1980, generally he or she must have served at least 24 months or the full period for
which called or ordered to active duty, AND

you are the unremarried surviving spouse or unmarried child of the deceased veteran,
or a child in school and under 23 or a child that was incapable of self support before
the age of 18, AND

your countable income (includes most sources of income) is below a yearly limit set
by Congress. Note that a portion of un-reimbursed medical expenses may be deducted
to lower countable income.
VA recognizes these war periods

World War II: December 7, 1941, through December 31, 1946.

Korean War: June 27, 1950, through January 31, 1955.

Vietnam War: August 6, 1964 (Feb. 28, 1961, for veterans who served “in country”
before August 5, 1964), through May 7, 1975.

Gulf War: August 2, 1990, through a date to be set by law or Presidential
Proclamation.
Applying for Death Pension benefits

VA Form 21-534, Application for Dependency and Indemnity Compensation, Death
Pension and Accrued Benefits by Surviving Spouse or Child

If available, attach copies of dependency records (marriage & children's birth
certificates).

You must send the completed application and any copies of other documents to the
VA regional office that serves your area of residence.

For additional information see http://www.vba.gov/bln/21/pension/spousepen.htm#8

NOTE: Aid and Attendance is a benefit paid in addition to monthly pension
benefits!


Aid & Attendance Benefits
for Widows/Widowers and Dependent Children
Aid and Attendance is a benefit paid in addition to monthly pension when:
o
The claimant requires the aid of another person in order to perform personal
functions required in everyday living, such as bathing, feeding, dressing,
attending to the wants of nature, adjusting prosthetic devices, or protecting
himself/herself from the hazards of his/her daily environment, OR,
o
The claimant is bedridden, in that his/her disability or disabilities requires that
he/she remain in bed apart from any prescribed course of convalescence or
treatment, OR,
o
The claimant is a patient in a nursing home due to mental or physical
incapacity, OR,
o
The claimant is blind or so nearly blind as to have corrected visual acuity of
5/200 or less, in both eyes, or concentric contraction of the visual field to 5
degrees or less.
Housebound is paid to a claimant when:
o

The claimant is substantially confined to his/her immediate premises because
of permanent disability.
The survivor may not receive A&A benefits and Housebound benefits at the same
time.
How to Apply for Aid and Attendance and Housebound:

File your request for A&A or Housebound benefits using VA Form 21-4138,
Statement in Support of Claim, at the VA regional office having jurisdiction of the
claim or if that is not known file the request with any VA regional office.

Include copies of any evidence, preferably a report from an attending physician
validating the need for A&A or Housebound type care. A doctor should be advised to
report his or her determination in sufficient detail of whether there is disease or injury
producing physical or mental impairment, loss of coordination, or conditions
affecting the ability to dress and undress, to feed oneself, to attend to sanitary needs,
and to keep oneself ordinarily clean and presentable. The report should also indicate
how well the claimant gets around, whether the individual is confined to the home or
immediate premises, where the individual goes, and what he or she is able to do
during a typical day. In addition, the doctor should specify any other essential needs
the person cannot fulfill on his or her own.

For additional information see
http://www.vba.va.gov/bln/21/Pension/spousepen.htm#7