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Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) Claim
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Dependency and indemnity compensation (DIC) is a type of VA benefit available to family members of veterans who died from a service-related illness or injury. Asbestos-related diseases such as mesothelioma may qualify as service-related if the veteran was exposed while serving in the military.
Written by Aaron Munz | Edited By Walter Pacheco | Last Update: August 9, 2024
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Written by Aaron Munz | Edited By Walter Pacheco | Last Update: August 9, 2024
What Are the DIC Rates and Eligibility?
The VA increases DIC rates every December. They do this to provide adequate compensation to surviving dependents of veterans. The current rate was updated on Dec. 1, 2023, and the rate will remain in effect for a full year.
The VA pays the tax-free financial benefit every month. The benefit is increased for surviving spouses eligible for VA Aid and Attendance or Housebound benefits. Surviving spouses with children under age 18 also receive increased benefits.
Current DIC rates are $1,612.75 per month for surviving spouses. More monthly compensation under certain circumstances is available for those who qualify:
- $399.54 for each of your eligible children under 18
- $342 per month for the first two years after your spouse’s death as a transitional benefit for your eligible children under 18
- $342.46 per month if your spouse had a VA disability rating of totally disabling (including for individual unemployability) for at least the eight full years prior to their death and you were married for those same eight years
- $399.54 per month if you have a disability and need help with regular daily activities as an Aid and Attendance benefit
- $187.17 per month if you can’t leave your house because of a disability as a Housebound allowance
To get the full DIC benefits, reach out to an accredited VA claims agent. They can help ensure access to the full amount of compensation you are entitled to receive.
Veterans discharged “under conditions other than dishonorable” have a right to survivor benefits.
Who Can File a Mesothelioma DIC Claim?
- Surviving spouses
- Unmarried children under 18
- Unmarried children under 23 and attending school
- Children with disabilities
Military asbestos exposure causes many veterans to develop mesothelioma or lung cancer after retirement. In 2022, the VA updated eligibility guidelines and considered both of these cancers 100% disabling.
Veterans with asbestos-related cancer are entitled to VA disability benefits if they prove their asbestos exposure happened primarily during their military service. The same standard applies to family members applying for dependency and indemnity compensation.
How to File an Asbestos DIC Claim
Filing a DIC claim is relatively straightforward if the veteran was already receiving VA disability compensation for the asbestos disease that killed them. Otherwise, the surviving spouse must include documentation of the diagnosis and evidence linking it primarily to military asbestos exposure.
- Document the Diagnosis
The DIC claim must include medical records of the veteran’s diagnosis and treatment. The VA will also need to see a medical nexus letter from a doctor. This letter explains how asbestos exposure caused the veteran’s illness.
- Document the Asbestos Exposure
The DIC claim must include the veteran’s discharge paperwork to verify their military service. The claimant must also submit an asbestos exposure summary. This letter explains how the veteran was exposed to asbestos while they were on active duty.
The DIC claim documents must prove that at least 50% of the asbestos exposure occurred during the veteran’s military service. Without evidence of this, the VA will assume exposure that happened during the veteran’s civilian life caused the asbestos-related illness.
If the veteran already had an asbestos disability claim approved, it should not be necessary to submit proof of military asbestos exposure again.
Help with Dependency and Indemnity Compensation Claims
VA claim paperwork is complex, and proving military asbestos exposure after a veteran dies can be especially challenging. Working with an accredited claims agent familiar with asbestos-related diseases can make the process of filing a VA claim easier.
Surviving family members can explore other options for receiving compensation as well. The family may be able to file a wrongful death lawsuit against the company that supplied the asbestos-containing products.
This Page Contains 2 Cited Articles
The sources on all content featured in The Mesothelioma Center at Asbestos.com include medical and scientific studies, peer-reviewed studies and other research documents from reputable organizations.
- U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. (2022, August 15). About VA DIC for spouses, dependents, and parents. Retrieved from https://www.va.gov/disability/dependency-indemnity-compensation/
- U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. (2021, December 1). Dependency and Indemnity Compensation. Retrieved from https://benefits.va.gov/compensation/types-dependency_and_indemnity.asp
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August 9, 2024Written ByAaron MunzEdited ByWalter Pacheco
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