Question:

Hi Jim, My husband died on September 26 of 2020. I would like to know if I get more benefits if my husband was service connected 100 percent total and permanent unemployable disable. I am not sure how to find facts because I am getting the run around. Could you please help answer this question? Thank you so much for your time. Oh I forgot, my husband had this disability for over 13 years.

Jim's Reply:

My condolences, I'm sorry to hear of your loss.

DIC or Dependency Indemnity Compensation is a benefit available to some survivors of certain veterans. Eligibility for the benefit may happen in a couple of ways.

The first and most common circumstance is that the veteran dies of a service connected condition. For example, if the veteran is rated for prostate cancer and dies of the cancer, eligible survivors may apply for the DIC benefit.

The second way to establish eligibility is for the veteran to hold a 100% permanent rating for 10 uninterrupted years or more. The veteran who is rated as 100% P & T for over ten years may pass from any cause and eligible survivors may apply for DIC.

You say you're getting a run around and I'm not sure why that may be? If your veteran was rated as 100% P & T for over 13 years then DIC should be awarded with little fuss.

That is unless a significant piece of that 13 years was a temporary rating period. There are many cases where the veteran was rated with a temporary benefit prior to the rating changing to the permanent status required for survivors benefits and if the 10 year period of a permanent rating isn't met, DIC will be denied.

If you'd like to have a look at any paperwork you may have available and determine when his benefit was awarded, I'd be happy to hear more.