The enduring

nature of VA survivor benefits often is overlooked by widows who remarry

after losing their veteran husband. If the veteran's death arose in service

or from a service-connected medical condition, the widow may have been

receiving benefits from VA up until the time of remarriage.

What many widows

don't realize is that if their subsequent marriage ends due to the husband's

death or by divorce, they may be eligible to return to the VA rolls for

survivor benefits under a 1998 law.

VA is working

with funeral directors and veterans service organizations and developing

publications to let spouses of deceased veterans know that if they lost

VA survivor benefits when they remarried, they may be eligible for restored

benefits if no longer married.

The current

basic monthly rate for this survivor benefit, known as dependency and

indemnity compensation, is $911. It is adjusted upwards when there are

dependent children or if the widow or widower has severe limitations on

his or her own ability to live independently.

More information

about benefits for veterans' survivors, including a program for low-income

survivors of wartime veterans is available at https://www.va.gov

or by calling VA toll-free at 1-800-827-1000.

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