After a veteran dies, a surviving spouse may have a separate claim for a survivors pension, and that claim can include an aid and attendance element if the rules are met. It is a different claim from the veteran's own pension, with different forms, different proof, and a different decision letter. Run it as its own process from the first day. This article is general information, not legal advice.

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Step 1: Gather proof of the death and the marriage

VA will need a certified copy of the death certificate and proof of the marriage. Order certified copies, because many offices return only photocopies to people who ask for originals. Keep the originals in the file and log who holds them. Gather proof of the veteran's service too, using the discharge record the family already has. If the family does not have it, write down the request you made and the date you made it.

Step 2: Use an Intent to File if the full packet will wait

An Intent to File, VA Form 21P-0966, tells VA that a claim is coming. VA.gov explains how the form affects the start date of a claim. It does not replace the full application. Use it when the packet cannot be finished quickly, and check the start-date rule on VA.gov for this claim type before you rely on it.

Step 3: Complete the survivors claim form

The survivors pension and related benefits application is VA Form 21P-534EZ. Use the revision printed on the form you download from VA.gov. Fill every section the form asks for, including the sections on income and net worth. Mark items that do not apply as not applicable rather than leaving them blank for someone to guess at later.

Step 4: Document the need for aid and attendance

If the claim includes an aid and attendance element, VA will look for evidence that the surviving spouse needs regular help with daily activities or is confined to home. That evidence has to come from sources VA accepts, which may include a medical provider's statement. Ask the provider's office what it can complete and whether it has used the VA form before, rather than assuming it knows what VA wants.

Step 5: Read the decision letter and the first payment separately

The decision letter sets the effective date and the amount. The first payment may arrive later than the letter suggests, so check both dates against each other and against your household budget. Ask for a copy of every letter VA sends and log each date in the file.

Keep the file moving

Name one person as the contact for VA, keep a copy of every submission, and calendar any deadline printed in a letter. If the surviving spouse has an accredited representative, ask who will see each VA letter first. The Local Help: St. Louis Offices page lists local contacts. The Sources page explains how this desk checks its references. This desk is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

Footnotes

  1. VA.gov, Survivors Pension, for eligibility and the aid and attendance element.
  2. VA.gov, Intent to File a Claim for Compensation and/or Pension, or Survivors Pension and/or DIC (VA Form 21P-0966).
  3. VA.gov, Application for DIC, Survivors Pension, and/or Accrued Benefits (VA Form 21P-534EZ).