Spouse of a Veteran Benefits: Comprehensive Guide for 2026

e first, Military spouses often wonder what support is available to them through the Department of Veterans Affairs. As the spouse of a veteran or service member, you may qualify for healthcare, education funding, life insurance, and financial assistance programs designed specifically for military families. These benefits can provide crucial support for both current needs and future planning.

The VA offers different types of assistance depending on your situation. If you’re married to an active service member or veteran, you have access to certain programs. If you’re a surviving spouse, additional benefits become available to help with financial security and daily needs.

Understanding which VA benefits for family and caregivers you qualify for can make a real difference in your family’s well-being. From healthcare coverage through CHAMPVA to education assistance and home loans, these programs exist to support military families through various life stages.

Key Takeaways

• Eligible Spouses of veterans can access healthcare, education funding, and life insurance benefits through various VA programs
• Surviving spouses qualify for additional financial assistance including compensation payments and burial cost support
• Benefits vary based on your status as a current spouse versus surviving spouse, with different eligibility requirements for each program

Core VA Benefits for Spouses of Veterans

The Department of Veterans Affairs provides comprehensive benefits to spouses of veterans, including healthcare coverage, education assistance, and financial support programs. Eligibility depends on your marriage status and your veteran spouse’s service record, with specific documentation required for each benefit type.

Eligibility Requirements for Spouses

You must be legally married to a veteran to qualify for most VA benefits for spouses. The VA recognizes marriages performed in states where the union was legal at the time of ceremony.

Your veteran spouse must have served on active duty and received an other than dishonorable discharge. Some benefits require your spouse to have a service-connected disability rating.

Basic eligibility criteria include:

• Valid marriage certificate
• Veteran’s DD-214 discharge papers
• No remarriage if you’re a surviving spouse
• Meeting specific income limits for certain programs

The VA verifies your marriage through official documentation. Common-law marriages are typically recognized only if valid in the state where you lived when the relationship began.

Overview of Available VA Benefits

Healthcare benefits through CHAMPVA cover medical expenses when you can’t get TRICARE. This program pays for most medical services after you meet annual deductibles.

Education benefits help pay for school through multiple programs. The Survivors’ and Dependents’ Education Assistance Program provides up to 36 months of education benefits.

Financial support includes:

• Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) – Monthly tax-free payments
• Survivors Pension – Need-based monthly payments
• Aid and Attendance – Extra money for daily care assistance

VA-backed home loans help surviving spouses buy homes with no down payment required. Life insurance benefits provide financial protection for your family.

Application Process and Documentation

You can apply for most spouse benefits online through the VA website or by mail. Each benefit type requires specific forms and supporting documents.

Required documents typically include:

• Marriage certificate (certified copy)
• Veteran’s DD-214
• Death certificate (for survivor benefits)
• Income verification documents

Processing times vary by benefit type. Healthcare applications usually take 45-90 days. Education benefits can take several months during peak enrollment periods. Processing DIC can often take over a year.

Submit applications early to avoid delays. The VA may request additional documentation during review. Keep copies of all submitted paperwork for your records.

Health Care and Insurance Options

Spouses of veterans have access to two main health insurance programs through the Department of Veterans Affairs. The first, CHAMPVA, provides coverage for families of disabled veterans, while TRICARE serves military spouses during active duty and some periods after service.

CHAMPVA Health Coverage

CHAMPVA provides health care benefits to spouses, dependents, and survivors of veterans who meet specific service-connected disability requirements. Your veteran spouse must have a permanent and total service-connected disability rating.

You cannot be eligible for TRICARE to qualify for CHAMPVA. This program covers most medical services that Medicare considers reasonable and necessary.

CHAMPVA covers:

• Doctor visits and hospital stays
• Prescription medications
• Mental health services
• Preventive care

You pay a small cost-share for most services. CHAMPVA works as secondary insurance if you have other health coverage like employer insurance or Medicare.

The program also covers dental and vision care in some cases. You must apply through the VA and provide proof of your veteran’s disability rating.

TRICARE for Military Spouses

TRICARE serves as health insurance for active military families, and coverage may continue after your spouse leaves service if your spouse retired. You are generally eligible for one program or the other, not both CHAMPVA and TRICARE.

TRICARE eligibility depends on your spouse’s service status:

• Active duty spouses get automatic coverage
• Reserve and Guard families may qualify during certain periods
• Some retirees and their families maintain TRICARE access

You have different TRICARE plan options with varying costs and provider networks. TRICARE Prime requires you to choose a primary care doctor and get referrals for specialists.

TRICARE Standard gives you more freedom to choose doctors but costs more out of pocket. Coverage includes medical, prescription, and mental health services.

Mental Health and Substance Abuse Treatment

Both CHAMPVA and TRICARE cover mental health and substance abuse treatment services. These benefits include counseling, therapy sessions, and treatment programs.

You can access individual therapy, family counseling, and group treatment sessions. Most plans cover both inpatient and outpatient mental health care.

Mental health services covered:

• Depression and anxiety treatment
• Marriage and family therapy
• Substance abuse programs
• Crisis intervention services

You don’t need a referral for mental health services in most cases. Both programs also cover prescription medications for mental health conditions.

The Department of Veterans Affairs offers additional mental health resources for military families. You can access these services even if you’re caring for a veteran with mental health challenges.

Financial and Survivor Assistance Programs

The VA provides three main financial support programs for surviving spouses: monthly compensation payments for service-connected deaths, need-based pension benefits for wartime veteran survivors, and ongoing disability-related payments.

Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC)

DIC provides monthly tax-free payments to surviving spouses when a veteran dies from a service-connected condition. You receive this compensation regardless of your income level.

Basic Monthly Payment:

• $1,653.07 per month for a surviving spouse (2025 rates)
• Additional amounts for dependent children
• Extra payments if veteran was totally disabled for specific periods

You may qualify for DIC if your spouse died from:

• A service-connected disability rated 100% disabling
• A condition directly caused by military service
• Complications from a service-connected condition

Special Circumstances: The VA may award DIC if your spouse was rated totally disabled for at least 10 years before death. You can also receive DIC benefits if the veteran was disabled for five years from discharge until death.

You must have been married to the veteran for at least one year. If you remarry after age 57, you can keep your DIC benefits.

Survivors Pension for Spouses

The Survivors Pension helps low-income surviving spouses of wartime veterans with monthly payments. This need-based program requires your income to fall below VA limits.

Eligibility Requirements:

• Veteran served during wartime period
• You meet income and asset limits
• You were married to the veteran for at least one year
• You remain unmarried or remarried after age 57

Income Limits (2024):

• $10,726 annually for surviving spouse alone
• $14,051 annually with one dependent child
• Additional amounts for extra dependents

The VA counts most income sources including Social Security, employment, and investment income. They subtract medical expenses from your total income.

Payment Calculation: Your monthly pension equals the maximum annual rate minus your countable income, divided by 12. Medical expenses can reduce your countable income and increase your pension.

Disability Payments and Special Compensation

You may continue receiving certain disability-related payments after your veteran spouse dies. These programs provide ongoing financial support for specific circumstances.

Aid and Attendance Benefits: If you receive Survivors Pension and need help with daily activities, you can get additional monthly payments. This benefit adds $617 monthly to your pension for personal care assistance.

Housebound Benefits: You qualify for extra monthly payments if you’re mostly confined to your home due to disability. This adds $301 monthly to your Survivors Pension.

Spouses who are also disabled veterans: Some surviving spouses receive compensation for their own service-connected disabilities. You can receive both DIC for your spouse’s death and disability compensation for your own conditions.

The VA also provides financial assistance for burial costs and memorial services. You can receive reimbursement for cemetery expenses and veteran burial allowances.

Education, Career, and Life Insurance Benefits

Military spouses can access transferred GI Bill benefits, the Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry Scholarship, and life insurance coverage through SGLI, VGLI, and FSGLI programs. Career counseling services help with job searches and professional development.

Education Benefits and Scholarships

Transferred Post-9/11 GI Bill Benefits allow service members to transfer their education benefits to you. This covers tuition, housing allowances, and book stipends at approved schools.

The Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry Scholarship provides benefits if your spouse died in the line of duty after September 11, 2001. You receive the same benefits as the Post-9/11 GI Bill.

Fry Scholarship benefits include money for tuition, housing, books, and supplies. You can use these benefits for up to 36 months of education.

Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance (DEA) helps if your spouse has a permanent service-connected disability or died from service-related causes. This program provides monthly payments for education and training.

The Yellow Ribbon Program can supplement your benefits. It helps cover costs that exceed standard benefit amounts at participating private schools.

Life Insurance Protection for Military Families

Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance (SGLI)

SGLI provides life insurance coverage for active duty service members, with coverage amounts up to $500,000. Your spouse automatically has this coverage while serving.

The coverage protects your family with financial security if your spouse dies while in service. Premiums are deducted directly from military pay at low group rates.

Family Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance (FSGLI)

FSGLI provides term life insurance protection for the spouse and dependent children of a service member with active full-time SGLI coverage.

Spouse Coverage:

• Available in $10,000 increments up to $100,000
• Cannot exceed your service member spouse’s SGLI coverage amount
• Premiums paid by the service member through military pay deductions
• Premium costs increase with the spouse’s age

Dependent Children Coverage:

• Automatic coverage of $10,000 per child
• No additional cost to the family

Coverage Conversion: If you lose FSGLI spousal coverage due to your spouse leaving military service, divorce, or other qualifying events, you have 120 days to convert your policy into an individual commercial life insurance policy. You must act within this 120-day window. Children’s FSGLI coverage generally cannot be converted.

Veterans’ Group Life Insurance (VGLI)

VGLI allows veterans to continue life insurance coverage after leaving military service. This renewable term life insurance helps protect your family even after your spouse’s military career ends.

Coverage Amount: Your spouse can continue coverage equal to their SGLI amount at separation, up to $500,000.

Application Timeline: Veterans must apply within 1 year and 120 days after separation from service. The health requirements vary based on when you apply:

• First 240 days: No medical evidence required
• After 240 days (but within 1 year + 120 days): Must provide evidence of good health

Premium Costs: Monthly premiums depend on your spouse’s age and chosen coverage amount. Rates increase as your spouse gets older, but coverage can continue for life as long as premiums are paid.

Career and Counseling Support

Military OneSource career coaching provides free one-on-one support. Coaches help with resume writing, interview skills, and job search strategies.

MyCAA scholarships offer up to $4,000 for licenses, certifications, and associate degrees. These scholarships focus on portable careers that work with military moves.

VA vocational counseling helps you explore career options and education paths. Counselors provide testing and guidance for education decisions.

Spouse Education Partnership connects you with colleges offering military discounts. Many schools provide flexible online programs designed for military families.

Your Service Family Deserves Every Benefit You’ve Earned

Military spouses carry unique burdens – from frequent moves and deployments to caring for veterans with service-connected disabilities. The benefits available through the VA recognize these sacrifices and provide crucial support for healthcare, education, and financial security. However, navigating the complex web of eligibility requirements and application processes can feel overwhelming when you’re already managing so much.

At ProVet Legal, we understand that military families often don’t know about all the benefits available to them, or they struggle with denials when applications don’t properly demonstrate eligibility. Whether you need help securing DIC benefits after losing your veteran spouse, appealing a CHAMPVA denial, or understanding which education benefits will best serve your family’s future, we know how to navigate these programs effectively.

You’ve supported your veteran and our country – now let us help you secure the support you deserve. Contact ProVet Legal today for a free case review. We’ll help you understand which benefits you qualify for, ensure your applications are complete and compelling, and fight for every benefit your military family has earned through service and sacrifice.