What benefits are spouses and children of veterans eligible for?

County Veterans Assistance Fund

County aid for indigent families of deceased veterans who have resided in Washington state for at least one year may be available.  Contact your County officials for eligibility information.

Employment Preference

Preference for public employment is given to surviving spouses of honorably discharged wartime veterans, and spouses of honorably discharged veterans with a permanent and total service-connected disability.

Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC)

When a veteran dies of service-related causes – or was continuously rated totally disabled for at least 10 years preceding death, or five years from date of discharge – benefits may be paid to a surviving spouse, dependent or low-income parents.

Dependents must be:

• Less than 18 years of age,
• Not yet 23 years of age if attending a VA-approved school; or
• Disabled before age 18.

 Survivors & Dependents Education Benefits

Based on the veteran’s length and degree of service-related disability, or other qualifying factors for service members, educational benefits may be available to dependents and spouses who have not remarried.

Dependents must be between the ages of 18 and 26 to receive education benefits, though extensions may be granted.

Spina Bifida Allowance  

Dependents of Vietnam veterans who suffer from Spina Bifida are eligible for vocational training, health care and a monthly allowance based on degree of disability.

Home Loan Guarantees   US DVA link 

Spouses who have not remarried may qualify for a VA loan guarantee if they were married to:

• A veteran;
• A service member who died of service-related disabilities;
• A service member who died while on active duty; or
• A service member who has been listed as MIA or a POW for more than 90 days.

Death Pension

Surviving spouses who have not remarried – as well as unmarried dependents of deceased veterans – may receive pension benefits if:

• The veteran served more than 90 days in active duty military service;
• Served at least one day during a period of wartime; and
• Received any discharge other than dishonorable.

Burial Benefits      US DVA link

Benefits include the gravesite, headstone or marker, opening and closing of the grave and perpetual care.

The federal VA may pay reimbursement of a portion of the veteran’s funeral and burial expenses, as well as provide headstones and markers for the unmarked graves of veterans anywhere. Eligible spouses and dependents may also qualify for headstones and markers in national, state veteran or military post cemeteries.

Qualifying veterans, service members, spouses and dependents may be eligible for burial in a VA National Cemetery.

Headstones and Markers       US DVA link

The Federal VA provides headstones and markers for the unmarked graves of veterans anywhere, and for eligible spouses and children of veterans interred in national, state veteran or military post cemeteries.