Hi Jim,
Happy New Year! I am rated 80% SC Unemployable Total & Permanent.
I have been married for 5 years. I would like to know what the spousal benefits are, should I pass away. I appreciate your help in advance! Great job you do and you are a great guy!
Reply:
Thanks for your kind words.
The benefits that would apply are called Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC). Whether your spouse would be eligible for any benefit will be determined by the cause of your death and/or the length of time that you've been rated as 100% P & T.
If a veteran dies of any service connected condition, the surviving spouse is usually eligible for DIC.
Click: https://www.vawatchdog.org/dic---survivor-benefits.html
Click: http://statesidelegal.org/dependency-and-indemnity-compensation-dic
If a veteran dies of any cause that isn't rated as service connected (in an auto accident, for example) then the surviving dependent spouse may or may not be eligible.
To be eligible in that circumstance requires that the veteran be rated as 100% P & T disabled for an uninterrupted period of 10 or more years. Thus, if you die in an auto accident today and your P & T rating hasn't been in place for 10 years, she's probably not eligible for any benefits.
Also see https://www.vawatchdog.org/permanent-and-total---p---t-.html