Vietnam Veteran’s Widow Nets $220K in Accrued Benefits

A widow recently notified Florida veteran service officer (VSO) Marc McCabe that her husband died in 2020 before completion of a claim. The boots-on-the-ground Vietnam veteran was rated at 30% service-connected disability and had applied for additional benefits. 

After taking power of attorney and performing a high-level review of the case, the office was able to get the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to complete the claim, increasing the veteran’s disability rating from 30% to 100% retroactive to 2018. 

His widow applied for hardship dependency and indemnity compensation (DIC), which was granted retroactively to her spouse’s death on Feb. 1, 2020. She received 35 months’ worth of accrued benefits at the 100% rate ($135,625) and DIC compensation for 42 months ($84,630). 

The veteran’s widow received a check for a grand total of $220,255 and continues to receive Chapter 35 survivors and dependents benefits.

Contact a VVA Veteran Service Officer to assist with your claim in states that have a benefits program here, or search for a VSO from another organization through the VA’s website in states where we do not. Enter your ZIP code or city and state, and you’ll see which VSOs serve your area.