Family benefits

Survivors Pension: money for widows, widowers and children

A needs-based monthly payment for the surviving spouse and children of a wartime veteran.

Rates shown are effective 1 December 2025 through 30 November 2026. VA updates them each December. Survivors Pension is different from DIC. See the DIC page.

What it is

Survivors Pension gives monthly payments to a qualified surviving spouse and unmarried dependent children of a wartime veteran when income and net worth are under limits set by Congress. It is based on need. Your pension is the maximum annual pension rate (MAPR) minus your yearly income for VA purposes.

Who qualifies

The veteran did not have a dishonorable discharge, and met one of these: entered active duty on or before 7 September 1980 with at least 90 days, including at least 1 day of wartime; entered after that date with at least 24 months (or the full period ordered) including 1 day of wartime; or was an officer who started active duty after 16 October 1981 with no earlier 24-month service.

A surviving spouse must be within the income and net worth limits, have lived continuously with the veteran from marriage until death (VA notes temporary separations may be exceptions), and not have remarried.

A child must be unmarried and under 18, or under 23 and in a VA-approved school, or unable to care for themselves because of a disability that began before 18.

What it pays (effective 1 December 2025)

Surviving spouse, no children: $11,699 a year, $14,298 with Housebound, $18,697 with Aid and Attendance.
Surviving spouse with one child: $15,311, $17,902 with Housebound, $22,304 with Aid and Attendance.
Each additional child adds $2,984. A qualified child on their own has a maximum of $2,984.

These are ceilings. Your income is subtracted. The net worth limit from 1 December 2025 to 30 November 2026 is $163,699. VA counts net worth as everything you own except your house, your car and most home furnishings, minus debts.

1 December 2025

spouse, no children: $11,699; Housebound: $14,298; Aid and Attendance: $18,697; spouse with one child: $15,311; Housebound: $17,902; Aid and Attendance: $22,304.VA: Survivors Pension rates · Page reviewed September 2026.

How to apply, step by step

Consider filing an intent to file first (VA Form 21-0966). VA says it can secure the earliest effective date for retroactive payments while you gather evidence, and you then have 1 year to finish the claim.
Fill out VA Form 21P-534EZ, Application for D.I.C., Survivors Pension, and/or Accrued Benefits.
Send it: mail to Department of Veterans Affairs, Pension Intake Center, PO Box 5365, Janesville, WI 53547-5365; or bring it to a VA regional office; or apply online through VA.gov; or work with an accredited representative.

1Consider filing an intent to file first (VA Form 21-0966). VA says it can secure the earliest effective date for retroactive payme

2Fill out VA Form 21P-534EZ, Application for D.I.C., Survivors Pension, and/or Accrued Benefits.

3Send it: mail to Department of Veterans Affairs, Pension Intake Center, PO Box 5365, Janesville, WI 53547-5365; or bring it to a V

Traps

A surviving spouse must not have remarried after the veteran's death, and must meet VA's continuous cohabitation rule. Ask VA if your situation is unusual.
Income and net worth still decide the amount. Report them fully.

Where to call and where to go

Phone

VA benefits hotline, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. ET: 1-800-827-1000 (TTY: 711). Source: va.gov/pension and Helpful VA phone numbers (hours).
Veterans Crisis Line, 24/7: 988, then select 1. Source: Helpful VA phone numbers

Official pages

Free accredited help

Find an accredited representative (a VSO representative's help on VA claims is always free; attorneys and claims agents may charge fees)

Sources