For surviving family members
DIC Payment Calculator 2026
Use this DIC Payment Calculator 2026 to estimate the monthly Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) your eligible family members may receive based on U.S. law (specifically 38 U.S.C. § 1310, § 1311, § 1315, and § 1318). This tool reflects the most up-to-date DIC rates effective December 1, 2025 and the amounts you'll see in your first paycheck in January 2026 and beyond. DIC is a tax-free benefit paid by the Department of Veterans Affairs to surviving spouses, children, and dependent parents of service members who died from a service-connected condition, or whose death was related to their military service. With this calculator, you can quickly estimate what your household may qualify for each month, including additional allowances for dependents, so you have a clearer picture of your entitled compensation.
Know what to confirm.
For the bigger picture, see our Pension & Combat Pay guide: VA Pension, military retirement, CRDP, CRSC, and how DIC fits next to them.
Who is the survivor?
Choose the path that applies.About the surviving spouse
Household details and additional allowances.
Children
Children included in this household estimate.
About the veteran's death
Cause of death and rating history.
Changes are applied when you calculate.
This is an estimate, not a VA decision.
Understand the estimate
The rules, context and limitations.How DIC eligibility works
DIC has two doors. Most claims go through one; some can use either.
Service-connected death
The veteran died in service, or their death was caused by a service-connected condition (including PACT Act and Agent Orange presumptives). VA evaluates the cause of death from the death certificate, medical records, and any C&P opinion. This is the standard pathway and usually pays sooner. (see 38 U.S.C. § 1310)
Deemed service-connected (the "10-year rule")
The veteran died of something not service-connected, but they had a 100% rating long enough that the law treats their death as if it were SC for DIC purposes (see 38 U.S.C. § 1318). One of the following must be true:
- Rated 100% (schedular or TDIU) for 10 or more continuous years immediately before death
- Rated 100% for 5 or more years after separation from active service (and continuously to death)
- Former POW rated 100% for 1 or more years immediately before death
If neither door opens, surviving family members may still pursue a § 1310 cause-of-death claim with new medical evidence. A free VSO representative is the right step here, not this calculator.
The 8/8 rule (§ 1311(a)(2))
If the veteran was rated totally disabling for at least 8 continuous years immediately before death, AND the surviving spouse was married to them throughout those same 8 years, an additional $360.85 per month is added to the base DIC rate for life. The calculator above evaluates both prongs from your inputs.
What this calculator does NOT do
- Does not adjudicate cause-of-death claims. A § 1310 claim requires medical evidence linking the cause of death to a service-connected condition. The calculator assumes you've already established service connection or qualify under § 1318.
- Does not run the parents' income-tested formula precisely. The parent rate is computed by VA using countable income against statutory thresholds with a $0.08 per $1.00 reduction. Output here is a rough estimate; VA's parent rates table is the authoritative source.
- Does not account for pre-1993 spouse rates by pay grade in detail. This calculator does not use pay grade to adjust the rate. It uses the post-1993 standard rate; survivors of pre-1993 deaths should confirm with the VA.
- Does not model SBP-DIC interaction. Since Jan 1, 2023, surviving spouses receive full SBP + full DIC with no offset. If your case spans the 2021-2023 phase-out, contact DFAS for exact figures.
- Does not predict a § 1318 award. The calculator flags whether you appear to meet the 10/5/1-year window. The actual claim requires VA review of the full rating history.
Keep going
Related Tools and Guides
Not legal or financial advice. This calculator surfaces published VA rate tables and applies the statutory eligibility framework to your inputs. Your actual award depends on VA's review of medical records, rating history, and survivor relationship documentation. Use this as a starting point for a conversation with an accredited VSO. Find one for free.