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BenefitsCT

VA Survivors Pension

Programs & services

Listed on the organization's official site (va.gov), checked Aug 21, 2026. Always confirm availability with the organization.

  • Survivors PensionQualified surviving spouses and unmarried dependent children of wartime Veterans who meet certain income and net worth limits set by Congress.
  • Higher monthly payment for Survivors Pension with dependentsSurviving spouses with dependents, including a child under 18, a child 18 to 23 who attends school, or a child over 18 permanently incapable of self-support.

Eligibility

A VA Survivors Pension offers monthly payments to qualified surviving spouses and unmarried dependent children of wartime Veterans who meet certain income and net worth limits set by Congress. You may be eligible for this benefit if you haven’t remarried after the Veteran’s death, and if the deceased Veteran didn’t receive a dishonorable discharge and their service meets at least 1 of these requirements. You may be eligible for this benefit if you’re unmarried and you meet at least 1 of these requirements.

How to apply

Summarized from the program's official site (va.gov), checked Aug 21, 2026. Always confirm details with the program.

  1. Review the program's site eligibility details for surviving spouses or unmarried dependent children of wartime Veterans.
  2. Choose one application method: get help from an accredited attorney, claims agent, or VSO representative; apply online; apply by mail; or apply in person.
  3. If applying by mail, fill out VA Form 21P-534EZ, Application for DIC, Survivors Pension, and/or Accrued Benefits.
  4. Mail the completed application to the VA Pension Intake Center in Janesville, Wisconsin, if you apply by mail.
  5. Or bring your application to a VA regional office if you apply in person.
  6. Submit an intent to file before applying if you want time to gather evidence and want to preserve a possible earlier effective date.
  7. Provide the evidence needed to support your claim.

What to bring

  • VA Form 21P-534EZ
  • Evidence to support your claim

What to expect

VA processes Survivors Pension claims in the order received unless a claim requires priority processing. If you submit an intent to file before applying, you may be able to get retroactive payments.

Contact

Next step

See every Connecticut program for this need, how they fit together, and what to try first.

Read the Connecticut guide

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Source: VA.gov, the official U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs website. Details can change; confirm directly with the program.

View source page (www.va.gov/pension/survivors-pension)

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