VA Sets Up Office To Help Survivors

November 11, 2009
By Air Force News Service
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Air Force News Service

WASHINGTON - To strengthen the Department of Veterans Affairs programs for survivors of the nation’s veterans and servicemembers, VA officials have staffed an office to serve as the their advocate, with a charter that includes creating or modifying programs, benefits and services.

“Taking care of survivors is as essential as taking care of our veterans and military personnel,” said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki. “By taking care of survivors, we are honoring a commitment made to our veterans and military members.”

The office serves as the primary adviser to the secretary on all issues affecting the survivors and dependents of deceased veterans and service-members. It will monitor VA’s delivery of benefits to survivors, make appropriate referrals to VA offices for survivors seeking benefits, and explore innovative ways of reaching survivors who are not receiving the VA benefits for which they are eligible.

VA benefits for eligible survivors include educational assistance, home-loan guaranties, health-care insurance, and dependency and indemnity compensation. Known as DIC, this is a monthly payment to the survivors of some people who die on active duty and some seriously disabled veterans.

More than 554,000 spouses, dependents and other survivors of veterans are receiving VA benefits.