Apply for Survivors Pension
Needs-based monthly payments for qualifying surviving spouses or unmarried dependent children of wartime Veterans.
Who this program may help
VA considers survivor status, the Veteran’s service and discharge, and applicable income and net-worth rules.
Read official eligibility instructions1. Review survivor and wartime-service requirements
Spouse and child rules are different.
Read the requirements matching the applicant, including recognized exceptions.
Why this matters
A family relationship alone does not establish pension eligibility.
Official action:
Read Survivors Pension requirementsVA evaluates the applicant and Veteran’s service.
Official references
2. Prepare household and relationship information
The survivor application covers both personal and financial circumstances.
Prepare requested service, death, relationship, income, asset and medical-expense details.
Why this matters
Pension is a needs-based program.
Documents for this step
- VA Form 21P-534EZ — Apply for DIC, Survivors Pension or accrued benefits
Survivors Pension application
alternative - Requested financial, relationship and death information preparation
VA may request further financial or dependent evidence.
Official references
3. Read filing-date options
An applicable intent to file may affect the potential start date.
Read VA’s survivor-pension instructions and retain any official intent-to-file confirmation.
Why this matters
VA must receive an applicable intent to file to apply its rules.
Documents for this step
- VA Form 21-0966 — Intent to file a claim
If an applicable intent to file is appropriate
conditional
VA applies the applicable effective-date rules.
Official references
4. Choose the survivor-pension submission method
VA supports an online application and paper methods.
Apply online or send 21P-534EZ to pension intake; a regional office can accept the application.
Why this matters
The pension destination differs from health and cemetery intake.
Official action:
Continue to VA to apply for survivor benefitsKeep the application and official filing confirmation.
VA reviews the requested survivor benefits.
Official references
5. Follow requests and read the pension result
Processing depends on the claim and any required development.
Answer actual VA requests and read the decision for the requested benefit.
Why this matters
A DIC result and a pension result are different determinations.
Keep requests, responses and the decision.
VA sends its pension decision and review instructions.