VA Announces Change to Veteran Benefits

Source: Newsweek

Published Feb 15, 2026 at 08:57 AM EST


The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has finalized a new rule that it says is designed to streamline certain decisions around veteran survivors’ benefit claims—a move the agency says will result in “faster decisions and quicker payments” for survivors.

The VA’s New Survivors' Benefits Rule

Previously, under existing regulations, the VA had to individually process survivors' claims for “Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC)” and “Survivors Pension.” This often slowed decisions, because each benefit required a separate formal review.

Under the new rule, which will be effective from February 23, the VA will pay a surviving spouse or child claimant whichever benefit is higher—either the DIC or the Survivors Pension (the agency says the higher benefit is usually the DIC)—without delaying payment to fully process the lesser benefit. The VA identified one exception: if the claimant is the veteran’s surviving spouse, has no dependents, is residing in a nursing home, and has applied for or is receiving Medicaid, then the Survivors' Pension will be awarded instead of DIC.

Under the new rule, when a surviving spouse stops Medicaid-covered nursing home care, DIC may become effective, as of the date Medicaid coverage ended, if a claim is filed within one year. Conversely, if a spouse receiving DIC begins Medicaid‑covered nursing home care and otherwise qualifies for Survivors Pension, the pension may take effect on the first day of the month after DIC ends, provided a claim is filed within one year.

Read more: https://www.newsweek.com/va-change-veteran-benefits-dic-survivors-11526561