Written By: Devin Golden
Mesothelioma VA Benefits for Family Members
Unfortunately, mesothelioma cancer has claimed the lives of many U.S. military veterans, leaving behind a profound void for their spouses and children, causing not only emotional distress but oftentimes financial challenges as well. Recognizing this devastating outcome, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) offers monthly benefits to support the families affected by this loss.
Reviewed By
Retired LCDR Carl Jewett
VA-Accredited Claims Agent
Reviewed By
Retired LCDR Carl Jewett
VA-Accredited Claims Agent
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Important Facts About Mesothelioma VA Benefits for Family Members
- The VA offers financial benefits to spouses and children of deceased veterans, including Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) and Survivors Pension.
- Dependency and Indemnity Compensation is for survivors of veterans who have passed away due to a service-related condition, such as mesothelioma.
- Survivors Pension is financial aid for the spouse or dependent children of wartime veterans who died from non-service-related mesothelioma.
- Other benefits include Aid & Attendance, a comprehensive health care program and burial benefits.
Impact of Mesothelioma on Veterans’ Families
An estimated 1,000 U.S. military veterans are diagnosed with mesothelioma each year. Many veterans pass away due to their cancer, which leaves their family members struggling with the emotional and financial challenges as a result of the veteran’s death.
Mesothelioma spreads and grows aggressively, with an average prognosis of 1-2 years. This means most people with mesothelioma, including veterans, pass away due to this cancer.
When a military veteran passes away, their surviving family members are often eligible for certain compensation programs through the VA. These family compensation options are different from VA benefits for veterans with mesothelioma, which are only available to veterans while they are still alive.
Overview of VA Benefits for Family Members of Veterans With Mesothelioma
The VA offers various benefits to veterans with mesothelioma and their family members. Veterans often receive financial assistance through Disability Compensation or Pension, and family members can also receive compensation through similar programs.
Surviving family members, such as surviving spouses, children and parents, of veterans who have passed away are eligible for certain benefit programs through the VA, including:
- Dependency and Indemnity Compensation – If the veteran passed away due to service-connected mesothelioma or a similar condition
- Survivors Pension – If the veteran meets certain income and net worth requirements
- Aid & Attendance – If the survivor requires the assistance of another person to perform at least two activities of daily living
- CHAMPVA – A health care program for spouses and children of disabled veterans (alive or deceased)
- Burial benefits – Financial assistance offered to families of deceased veterans to contribute to funeral costs
These benefits apply depending on whether the veteran was primarily exposed to asbestos during military service or in their civilian jobs.
Military Veterans Can Get Compensation
VA Dependency and Indemnity Compensation for Mesothelioma
Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) is for the immediate family (spouse and dependent children) of veterans who have passed away due to a service-connected condition, such as mesothelioma.
The VA determines whether a veteran’s mesothelioma is service-connected by comparing the amount of asbestos exposure that occurred during active duty versus the veteran’s civilian career. At least 50% of the veteran’s occupational asbestos exposure must have occurred during military service.
The average amount of time to receive a decision on a Dependency and Indemnity Compensation claim depends on whether the veteran already was receiving VA Disability Compensation for the disability that caused their death. This is important as the VA will have already determined whether the veteran’s mesothelioma was service-connected or not.
DIC claims can be filed if the veteran never filed a disability claim before their death, but the decision will take longer as the VA will need to determine if the disability resulting in the veteran’s death was service-related.
Veterans Already Receiving VA Disability Compensation for Mesothelioma
If a veteran has already filed and been approved for VA Disability Compensation for their mesothelioma, then the family member(s) needs to submit only:
- VA Form 21P-534EZ: DIC Application
- Copy of the death certificate indicating mesothelioma as the cause of death
In these cases, a decision is usually rendered in less than 60 days since the VA has a record of the veteran’s specific circumstances and has already determined that their mesothelioma was primarily caused by asbestos exposure that occurred in the military.
Veterans Not Already Receiving VA Disability Compensation for Mesothelioma
If a veteran with mesothelioma did not file a claim for VA Disability Compensation before their death, then the spouse or dependent child will need to submit the following documentation to the VA:
- VA Form 21P-534EZ
- Copy of the veteran’s DD-214
- Copy of a marriage license or birth certificate
- Medical records proving that the veteran had mesothelioma
- Copy of the death certificate showing mesothelioma as a cause of death
- Asbestos exposure summary
These types of claims take longer as the VA must determine if the veteran’s mesothelioma was service-connected. Average decision times vary, but the national average is around 104 days.
Our VA-accredited claims agent, retired Navy LCDR Carl Jewett, has helped hundreds of surviving spouses and children write their exposure summary letters. Contact him today for free assistance writing your exposure summary and applying for Dependency and Indemnity Compensation.
How Much Compensation to Expect: VA Dependency and Indemnity Compensation for Mesothelioma
Dependency and Indemnity Compensation is a tax-free benefit starting at $1,612.75 per month for surviving spouses. The amount may increase due to other variables and factors, such as whether the spouse has a dependent child. Each child younger than 18 adds $399.54 to the monthly payment.
Surviving spouses with a dependent child also receive additional compensation under the transitional benefit, which is $342 per month for the first two years after the veteran’s death.
Surviving spouses are eligible for an 8-year provision benefit if they: were married to a veteran with a VA disability rating of 100% (including for individual unemployability) for at least 8 years leading up to their death; and were married to the veteran for those same 8 years. This benefit contributes an additional $342.46 to the spouse’s monthly compensation.
Another variable is whether or not the surviving spouse qualifies for Aid & Attendance or housebound benefits. Housebound status adds $187.17 per month. Aid & Attendance adds $399.54 per month.
These amounts reflect the December 1, 2023 update.
Example: You’re a surviving spouse with two dependent children, and you require Aid & Attendance and qualify for the 8-year transitional benefit. Your compensation will be:
- $1,612.75 monthly foundation rate
- $399.54 for first child under age 18
- $399.54 for second child under age 18
- $342.46 for 8-year provision
- $399.54 for Aid & Attendance
- $342 transitional benefit for two years
This equates to $3,495.83 per month. After two years, the transitional benefit expires, reducing your monthly amount to $3,153.83.
Dependency and Indemnity Compensation for Surviving Children
In some cases, dependent children of unmarried veterans can also qualify for Dependency and Indemnity Compensation. Payment amounts vary based on certain factors.
To qualify as a dependent child, you must meet one of three criteria:
- Under age 18
- Under age 23 and enrolled in a qualified school program
- 18 or older but unable to care for oneself due to a disability that occurred before age 18
Dependency and Indemnity Compensation amounts for dependent children when the surviving spouse is also eligible for DIC include:
- $680.94 for a helpless child over the age of 18
- $338.49 for any child aged 18-23 who is in a qualified school program
Dependency and Indemnity Compensation is also available for dependent children when the veteran does not have a surviving spouse eligible for DIC. The amounts for the dependent children vary based on which child is applying. For example, the veteran’s first dependent child receives more ($680.94 per month) from the VA than the second dependent child does ($489.79), and the second receives more than the third ($426.09), and so on.
VA Survivors Pension for Mesothelioma
While Dependency and Indemnity Compensation is for the families of veterans who developed a service-related disease, Survivors Pension helps the spouse or dependent children of wartime veterans who died from a non-service-related condition, such as mesothelioma cancer.
Eligibility is based on whether the veteran served during a wartime period. Veterans must have served on active duty for at least 90 days, with at least one of those days during a war period*. Wartime periods are defined as follows:
- World War II (December 7, 1941 to December 31, 1946)
- Korean War (June 27, 1950 to January 31, 1955)
- Vietnam War period (February 28, 1961 to May 7, 1975, for veterans who served in the
- Republic of Vietnam; August 5, 1964 to May 7, 1975 for veterans who served outside the Republic of Vietnam)
- Gulf War (August 2, 1990 through an undetermined future date)
*Note: A veteran does not need to have served in theater or battle to be considered a wartime veteran.
Survivors Pension is income-based, and your Maximum Annual Pension Rate (MAPR) will determine your monthly payment. Pension payments are calculated by subtracting your annual income from this amount, which determines your annual Survivors Pension. This amount is split into 12 monthly payments.
QUICK FACT
You are permitted to subtract a portion of your out-of-pocket medical expenses from your income, which increases your Survivors Pension payments. However, you may only subtract out-of-pocket medical expenses that exceed 5% of the applicable MAPR.
For example, if the applicable MAPR is $11,102, then you can only deduct medical expenses that exceed $555 per year from your income.
The length of time to process a VA Survivors Pension claim fluctuates. The VA says it processes claims in the order it receives them, but on average, it takes 2-4 months for the VA to render decisions on Survivors Pension claims.
How Much to Expect From VA Survivors Pension for Mesothelioma
The MAPR for Survivors Pension depends on the number of dependent children and whether the surviving spouse is eligible for Housebound or Aid & Attendance (A&A) benefits.
The VA website lists the Survivors Pension benefit rates — specifically the MAPR — for each specific circumstance, current as of December 1, 2023. The VA updates these amounts annually, so these figures are in effect until Nov. 30, 2024.
For surviving spouses with no dependents, the MAPR is:
- $11,102 (no Housebound or Aid & Attendance benefits)
- $13,568 (Housebound benefits)
- $17,743 (Aid & Attendance benefits)
Surviving spouses with one dependent child have an MAPR of:
- $14,529 (no Housebound or Aid & Attendance benefits)
- $16,989 (Housebound benefits)
- $21,166 (Aid & Attendance benefits)
Each additional surviving dependent child adds $2,831 to the MAPR amount given to surviving spouses.
Example: You’re a surviving spouse with two dependent children and qualify for Aid & Attendance benefits. Your MAPR will be $23,997 based on:
- $21,166 for one dependent child and Aid & Attendance benefits
- $2,831 for an additional dependent child
Unmarried dependent children can also receive VA Survivors Pension. The MAPR listed on the VA website is $2,831. To qualify as a dependent child, you must meet one of three criteria:
- Under age 18
- Under age 23 and attending a VA-approved school
- Unable to care for oneself due to a disability that occurred before age 18
There are other variables to VA Survivors Pension amounts, such as excluding a child’s wages from your household’s MAPR and deducting medical expenses. If you have questions about your MAPR, contact our VA-accredited claims agent, retired LCDR Carl Jewett, for free assistance.
Get Help Filing for Dependency and Indemnity Compensation or Survivors Pension
You don’t have to file for VA benefits on your own. If you are part of a family affected by mesothelioma, you can receive free help from a VA claims expert. Your eligibility depends on whether your spouse or parent was a U.S. military veteran who was diagnosed with mesothelioma, which is caused by asbestos exposure. If so, our veterans staff can help you with your VA benefits claim.
Our VA claims agent Carl Jewett can explain each step of the process and assist you in filling out all the paperwork. Even better, Carl will ensure that your claim includes all the necessary information to garner approval.
Carl is a retired Navy veteran with more than 15 years of expertise helping survivors of deceased mesothelioma veterans. Contact him for free assistance filing your Dependency and Indemnity Compensation or Survivors Pension claim.
Other VA Benefits for Families Affected by Mesothelioma
The other three VA benefits for families are health care (CHAMPVA), a caregivers support program, and burial benefits. These are not financial assistance benefits for family members like Dependency and Indemnity Compensation, Survivors Pension, and Aid & Attendance, which provide monthly compensation to families.
To learn about CHAMPVA, caregiver support, or burial benefits from a VA claims agent, contact Mesothelioma Guide’s team of experts.
CHAMPVA for Families Affected by Mesothelioma
The Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs (CHAMPVA) is a comprehensive health care program available to eligible family members of certain disabled veterans, including the families of veterans with mesothelioma.
The main criteria is the veteran’s disability rating. To meet the eligibility criteria, the veteran must be permanently and totally disabled by the VA for a service-related condition. This means many families of veterans with mesothelioma are eligible for CHAMPVA.
Note: Unlike other benefits previously mentioned, the CHAMPVA health care program is for family members of veterans who are alive as well as families of veterans who have passed away.
The program provides medical coverage to those not eligible for TRICARE or Department of Defense health care programs. Spouses and dependent children of veterans with a permanent 100% disability rating are eligible for CHAMPVA. Surviving spouses and dependent children are also eligible if the veteran passed away from a service-connected disability.
PCAFC for Primary Family Caregivers of Veterans With Mesothelioma
The VA’s Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers (PCAFC) is a support and financial assistance program for family caregivers of eligible veterans, including those with mesothelioma cancer. The program provides a range of services – financial stipends, access to health insurance, training, counseling and respite care – to help family members serving as a veteran’s primary caregiver.
The benefit originally was for veterans who were injured in the line of duty on or after Sept. 11, 2001. However, a new law called the VA MISSION ACT has expanded coverage for veterans of all eras. This law went into effect Oct. 1, 2022.
Burial Benefits for Surviving Family Members
The VA offers burial benefits to the families of eligible veterans to show respect for their military service. This benefit can be used for families of veterans who died of mesothelioma cancer or another service-connected condition.
Burial and Funeral Reimbursement for veterans who died from a service-connected disability, such as mesothelioma, is $2,000. Burial benefits for veterans who did not have service-connected mesothelioma are $1,896 ($948 each for funeral services and plot or interment).
Benefits vary depending on when the veteran died, whether the veteran’s death was service-connected and whether there is any reimbursement for transporting the veteran’s remains.
Frequently Asked Questions About VA Claims for Survivors
Does My Income Play a Role in My Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) Claim?
No. Dependency and Indemnity Compensation is not means-tested, which means neither your income nor your assets play any role in your eligibility. However, VA Survivors Pension is means-tested, meaning your income must be below the limits set by U.S. Congress (called the MAPR) to qualify.
How Do I Know If I Qualify For Aid & Attendance (A&A)?
To qualify for Aid & Attendance, you must require the assistance of another person to perform at least two activities of daily living. These include bathing, dressing, using the bathroom, feeding yourself, or managing your medications or your finances.
Must a Veteran File for VA Disability Compenesation (VADC) Before Passing Away In Order for Their Spouse to Qualify for Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC)?
No. However, if the veteran never filed for Disability Compensation, then the surviving spouse will need to convince the VA that the majority of the veteran’s occupational asbestos exposure occurred in the military, which is much easier for the veteran to do themselves. Therefore, veterans diagnosed with mesothelioma should file for Disability Compensation as soon as possible.
Can I File For Aid & Attendance (A&A) When I File for Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) and Surviviors Pension?
Yes. You can have your doctor fill out the Aid & Attendance form and submit it with either your Dependency and Indemnity Compensation claim or Survivors Pension claim. However, approval for Aid & Attendance is contingent upon approval of your Dependency and Indemnity Compensation claim or Survivors Pension claim.
Sources & Author
- Current DIC rates for spouses and dependents. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Retrieved from: https://www.va.gov/disability/survivor-dic-rates/. Accessed: 12/08/2023.
- About VA DIC for spouses, dependents, and parents. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Retrieved from: https://www.va.gov/disability/dependency-indemnity-compensation/. Accessed: 11/05/2020.
- VA Survivors Pension. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Retrieved from: https://www.va.gov/pension/survivors-pension/. Accessed: 11/05/2020.
- Current Survivors Pension benefit rates. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Retrieved from: https://www.va.gov/pension/survivors-pension-rates/. Accessed: 12/08/2023.
- CHAMPVA Benefits. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Retrieved from: https://www.va.gov/health-care/family-caregiver-benefits/champva/ Accessed on: 05/03/2023.
- The Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Retrieved from: https://www.va.gov/family-member-benefits/comprehensive-assistance-for-family-caregivers/. Accessed: 02/19/2024.
