Side-by-side comparison
Comparing Veteran Survivor Benefits & Life Insurance
VA survivor benefits and private life insurance serve different purposes. Use this guide to understand how each program works, then decide if a private insurance review is right for your family.
This page provides general educational information only. It does not determine eligibility and is not assistance with preparing or filing a VA claim.
| Program | Who It's For | What It Provides | Payment / Amount | Key Eligibility | Tax-Free? | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VA Benefit DIC (Dependency & Indemnity Compensation) | Surviving spouses, children, and parents of veterans who died from service-connected conditions | Monthly tax-free cash payment | ~$1,612/mo (2024 base rate) | Death must be service-connected; spouse married ≥1 yr | VA.gov | |
VA Benefit Survivors Pension | Low-income surviving spouses and unmarried children of wartime veterans | Needs-based monthly cash payment | Varies by income & dependents | Wartime service; income below threshold | VA.gov | |
VA Benefit Burial & Memorial Benefits | Most veterans discharged other-than-dishonorable | Burial allowance, national cemetery plot, headstone, flag | Up to $2,000 (service-connected) / $780 (non-service-connected) | Other-than-dishonorable discharge | VA.gov | |
VA Benefit CHAMPVA | Spouses and children of veterans who died or are permanently disabled from service-connected conditions | Health care coverage | Cost-share per visit; no premium for most | Service-connected death or 100% permanent disability | VA.gov | |
VA Benefit Education (DEA / Fry Scholarship) | Surviving spouses and children of veterans who died on active duty or from service-connected conditions | Education and training assistance | Up to ~$1,500/mo for 36 months | Service-connected death or died on active duty | VA.gov | |
VA Benefit VA Home Loan (Surviving Spouse) | Certain surviving spouses of veterans | Home loan guaranty (no down payment required) | Loan guaranty, no monthly benefit | Veteran died in service or from service-connected cause | VA.gov | |
Private Insurance Final Expense Life Insurance | Adults aged 50–85 looking to cover funeral and final expenses | Whole life insurance with guaranteed level premium | $5,000–$50,000 death benefit | Simplified underwriting, often no medical exam | Private insurer | |
Private Insurance Indexed Universal Life (IUL) | Adults seeking lifelong protection plus cash-value growth | Permanent life insurance with cash value linked to a market index | Flexible, death benefit and cash value grow over time | Medical underwriting required | Private insurer |
DIC (Dependency & Indemnity Compensation)
- Who It's For
- Surviving spouses, children, and parents of veterans who died from service-connected conditions
- What It Provides
- Monthly tax-free cash payment
- Payment / Amount
- ~$1,612/mo (2024 base rate)
- Key Eligibility
- Death must be service-connected; spouse married ≥1 yr
Survivors Pension
- Who It's For
- Low-income surviving spouses and unmarried children of wartime veterans
- What It Provides
- Needs-based monthly cash payment
- Payment / Amount
- Varies by income & dependents
- Key Eligibility
- Wartime service; income below threshold
Burial & Memorial Benefits
- Who It's For
- Most veterans discharged other-than-dishonorable
- What It Provides
- Burial allowance, national cemetery plot, headstone, flag
- Payment / Amount
- Up to $2,000 (service-connected) / $780 (non-service-connected)
- Key Eligibility
- Other-than-dishonorable discharge
CHAMPVA
- Who It's For
- Spouses and children of veterans who died or are permanently disabled from service-connected conditions
- What It Provides
- Health care coverage
- Payment / Amount
- Cost-share per visit; no premium for most
- Key Eligibility
- Service-connected death or 100% permanent disability
Education (DEA / Fry Scholarship)
- Who It's For
- Surviving spouses and children of veterans who died on active duty or from service-connected conditions
- What It Provides
- Education and training assistance
- Payment / Amount
- Up to ~$1,500/mo for 36 months
- Key Eligibility
- Service-connected death or died on active duty
VA Home Loan (Surviving Spouse)
- Who It's For
- Certain surviving spouses of veterans
- What It Provides
- Home loan guaranty (no down payment required)
- Payment / Amount
- Loan guaranty, no monthly benefit
- Key Eligibility
- Veteran died in service or from service-connected cause
Final Expense Life Insurance
- Who It's For
- Adults aged 50–85 looking to cover funeral and final expenses
- What It Provides
- Whole life insurance with guaranteed level premium
- Payment / Amount
- $5,000–$50,000 death benefit
- Key Eligibility
- Simplified underwriting, often no medical exam
Indexed Universal Life (IUL)
- Who It's For
- Adults seeking lifelong protection plus cash-value growth
- What It Provides
- Permanent life insurance with cash value linked to a market index
- Payment / Amount
- Flexible, death benefit and cash value grow over time
- Key Eligibility
- Medical underwriting required
Interactive tool
Coverage Needs Calculator
Answer three quick questions to see an estimate of your potential life-insurance coverage gap.
How many people depend on your income?
Final Expense Life Insurance
A small whole life insurance policy designed specifically to cover funeral costs, medical bills, and other end-of-life expenses. Premiums are level and never increase, and coverage cannot be cancelled as long as premiums are paid.
- Guaranteed acceptance for ages 50–85 (often no medical exam)
- Death benefit from $5,000 to $50,000
- Level premiums that never increase
- Builds cash value over time
VA burial benefits help with cemetery and headstone costs, but may not cover the full funeral. Final expense insurance can bridge that gap.
Indexed Universal Life (IUL)
Permanent life insurance that combines a death benefit with cash-value growth tied to a market index (like the S&P 500). You get lifelong protection plus a tax-advantaged savings component that can supplement retirement income.
- Death benefit passes tax-free to beneficiaries
- Cash value grows based on market index performance
- Downside protection, floor on losses
- Flexible premiums and death benefit amounts
DIC and Survivors Pension provide monthly income, but they end. IUL builds a legacy you control and can access during your lifetime.
VA Benefits + Private Insurance = Stronger Protection
Government survivor benefits like DIC and burial allowances are valuable but limited in scope. Final expense insurance and IUL policies can fill coverage gaps, build long-term wealth, and give your family additional financial security, no matter what VA benefits you qualify for.
Veteran Family Advocates is an independent, for-profit educational and insurance referral service. We are not a nonprofit organization and are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or acting on behalf of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Department of Defense, or any government agency. We do not prepare, file, or determine eligibility for VA benefit claims. Official VA benefit information and assistance from accredited representatives may be available at no cost.