The information below was handed out by Dwight Winkler at the September meeting of VVA Texas Chapter #1069 and is intended for all Veterans in the Wharton County area, including the members of VVA Chapter 1069. You may call Dwight at his VSO Office (979-532-1311) if you have any questions about the information below. Please see the link at end of this page to View, Copy or Print VA Form 21-534EZ.
The presentation included information about three VA claim processes that the spouse of a deceased veteran can apply for, after the veteran has passed away: (1) Accrued Benefits, (2) Death Pension, and (3) Dependency Indemnity Compensation. These three benefits are just some of the many benefits that a spouse of a deceased veteran would be entitled to if they met the eligibility requirements. All spouses of deceased veterans should contact their Veteran’s Service Officer (VSO) to determine the benefits to which they may be entitled.
ACCRUED BENEFITS: These are benefits that the veteran was entitled to prior to the veteran passing way. The VA will determine these benefits and pay the spouse upon receipt of a completed VA Form 21-534EZ and supporting documents.
DEATH COMPENSATION: A death pension is provided to an eligible spouse based on the veteran’s service, disability, and net worth of the veteran’s survivor.
(1) The veteran must have served 90 days of consecutive service, at least one day of which was during a period of war; OR 90 days of combined service during at least one period of war; OR any length of active service during a period of war when: (a) at the time of death, the veteran was receiving (or entitled to receive) VA disability compensation or retirement pay for a service connected disability; OR (b) the veteran was discharged from active service due to a service-connected disability.
(2) The survivor’s net worth and income do not exceed certain requirements. Income for a surviving spouse as of 12-1-2013 cannot exceed $8485. The income can be reduced by non-reimbursable recurring medical expenses. For example: A spouse with and income of $10,000 and eligible medical expenses (such as Medicare premium and other medical premiums that total to $3915) would have the total income reduced to $6085 ($10,000 -$3915 = $6085). The VA adjusts the eligible medical expenses (not included here for simplicity sake) and the VA compensation ($8485) is reduced by the $6085 (income of the survivor) to leave $2400 that the VA would pay the survivor in 12 equal payments or $200 a month as a Death Pension. A completed VA Form 21-534EZ and supporting documents is needed to apply for a Death Pension.
DEPENDENCY INDEMNITY COMPENSATION (DIC): The DIC claim is based on a service- connected disability established during the veteran’s lifetime. The evidence must show that the veteran died while on active service OR the veteran had a service-connected disability/disabilities that was either the principal or contributory cause of the veteran’s death Or the veteran died from non-service-connected injury or disease AND was receiving, or entitled to receive VA compensation for a service-connected disability rated totally disabling: (1) For at least 10 years immediately before death; OR (2) For at least 5 years after the veteran’s release from active duty preceding death; OR (3) For at least 1 year before death, if the veteran was a former POW who died after 9-30-1999. The spouse, if awarded the DIC compensation, would receive $1233.23 for 2014. Again, a completed VA Form 21-534EZ and supporting documents is needed to apply for Dependency Indemnity Compensation.
CLICK HERE to View, Copy or Print the above Handout (single sheet)
Use the link below to View, Download or Print the 21-534EZ Form. Note that fhis PDF file is non-fillable Form and so should be Downloadable and Viewable on any computer or cell phone. And should also be printable to any printer.
CLICK HERE to View, Download or Print VA Form 21-534EZ (non-fillable form)
Use the link below to View, Download, Print or Fill Out the 21-534EZ Form online. Note that this is a Fillable PDF Form that resides on the VA website. Note that it may not be viewable on your computer or cell phone unless you have an updated PDF reader (with form extensions) installed. However, if it is viewable on your computer's PDF reader, you should be able to fill it out (use your keyboard to fill in the fields) and then print the form to your local computer. This will save you having to use a pen to manually fill out the printed form.
CLICK HERE to View, Download, Print or Fill Out VA Form 21-534EZ (fillable form)