90 days or 24 months of service determines whether a surviving spouse qualifies for a VA pension

The surviving spouses of veterans are eligible for Survivor Benefits in the form of financial support under their deceased loved one’s service record, and this includes a monthly pension. There are several requirements to be met to be eligible to claim these benefits once retirement age is reached, but the most important one has to do with your departed husband or wife’s date and duration of service.

If you are well-informed, you can maximize what’s due to you by complying with the criteria and following the application process below, according to the official Veterans Affairs website.

There’s 1 important criterion to qualify for a surviving spouse VA pension

There are several secondary requirements that spouses of deceased veterans must comply with to be eligible to claim VA Survivor Benefits. But the vital question is, when did your deceased spouse serve, and for how long? If one of these conditions below is not met, then the surviving spouse will not qualify for survivor’s pension benefits:

• Active duty before September 7, 1980: The deceased veteran must have spent at least 90 days in service, with at least one day during a wartime period.
• Active duty after September 7, 1980: Must have served 24 months or the full enlistment period, with at least one day of wartime service.
• Active duty after October 16, 1981: Must have served at least 24 months of active duty unless previously enlisted.

What other requirements must be met for the VA survivor’s pension?

These are the other conditions to qualify for a pension under your deceased veteran spouse’s record:

• You must not have remarried.
• The veteran must have received an honorable discharge.
• The veteran must have served during a recognized wartime period.

There are also requirements set out by Congress to do with your annual income. Claimants’ net worth and household income must fall within certain limits. When the VA assesses your net worth, it takes all assets into consideration except your primary residence, car, and most home furnishings.

It also factors in your marital status, which could affect your eligibility for benefits.

What are the recognized wartime periods?

These are the specific wartime periods recognized for VA survivor pension benefits:

• World War II: December 7, 1941 to December 31, 1946
• Korean Conflict: June 27, 1950 to January 31, 1955
• Vietnam War Era: November 1, 1955, to May 7, 1975, for service in Vietnam; August 5, 1964 to May 7, 1975, for service elsewhere
• Gulf War: August 2, 1990, to the present until determined by law

Do the children of deceased veterans qualify for benefits?

There are benefits available for the unmarried dependents of deceased wartime veterans under one of these conditions:

• They are below the age of 18.
• They are under age 23 and are enrolled in a VA-approved educational institution.
• They have had a disability since before 18 years old.

How to apply for a VA survivor’s pension

There are four options to apply for VA Survivor’s Benefits:

1. With professional help: Attorneys, claims agents, or a Veterans Service Organization (VSO) can help complete your application.
2. Online: Use QuickSubmit through AccessVA for fast processing.
3. In person: Visit a VA regional office near you.
4. By mail: Complete VA Form 21P-534EZ and send it to the Pension Intake Center in Janesville, WI.

You have the option to submit an Intent to File form if you need time to gather relevant documents, and this can get your payments processed earlier.

Additional survivor benefits

You may also qualify for Social Security survivor benefits in addition to VA benefits if your spouse contributed to the Social Security fund. Eligibility typically depends on your age, marital status, and disability, if any.

Surviving spouses can claim benefits from the age of 60, or 50 if disabled, but they must have been married for at least nine months before the veteran’s passing. Ex-spouses can also qualify, but they must have been married for at least 10 years before divorcing.

Children can claim benefits if they are under the age of 18, or 19 if they are still in school. Dependents with disabilities are eligible at any age as long as the disability has existed since before they were 18.

It’s important to only trust verified sources of information, such as the Veterans Affairs or Social Security official websites. If you are well-informed, you have a good chance of maximizing your monthly survivors benefits payments.