Question:
Hi Jim, my father just passed away. He was provided with 100 percent service connected disability late in life and died last week with a spouse he married more than 15 years after his Vietnam service. We are trying to assess which benefits she might be entitled to. With his SSI she will be over the threshold for needs based veteran’s spousal benefits but we aren’t sure about DIC and Aid and Attendance/ home health care should she need that at some point.
Jim's Reply:
My condolences. I'm sorry to hear of the loss of your veteran father.
The first step is to apply for burial/funeral benefits if she hasn't done so already. Many or even most funeral directors can help you with that.
I'm concerned when you say that he was rated as 100% late in life. To be eligible for the DIC benefit he must have either passed from a service connected condition or he must have been rated at 100% for 10 or more consecutive years.
I'm a bit surprised to hear you mention SSI as that's a means tested benefit and the VA 100% disability rating often means the veteran has too much income to qualify for SSI.
I can't speak to such things as the A & A benefit since I don't know more about his ratings at his passing and of course I don't know about her health.
The first hurdle is to establish eligibility for burial and then DIC benefits and that will bring CHAMPVA and once all that is wrapped up, then is the time to make future plans.
Good luck!