VA Form 21P-534EZ (Application for DIC, Survivors Pension, and/or Accrued Benefits) is the form a surviving spouse, child, or parent uses to claim benefits after a veteran's death.
What it can claim
- •Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) — a monthly benefit for eligible survivors when the veteran died from a service-connected condition (or, in some cases, while totally disabled for a required period).
- •Survivors Pension — a need-based benefit for eligible low-income survivors of wartime veterans.
- •Accrued Benefits — benefits the veteran was owed but hadn't been paid at the time of death.
Timing matters
For some survivor benefits, filing within one year of the veteran's death can set the effective date back to the date of death — meaning more retroactive benefits. Don't wait if you may be eligible.
Who can file
- •A surviving spouse.
- •A surviving child (in certain circumstances).
- •A dependent parent (for Parents' DIC, often via a related form).
Tip
Survivor claims have their own rules and evidence needs (the cause of death and the service connection both matter for DIC). If a veteran had a pending claim at death, the accrued benefits piece can be important — ask about it.
VA forms mentioned in this guide
Put this to work
DIC and Survivors Pension claims are best filed with an accredited representative — VA.gov's free finder connects you with one near you.
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A VA-accredited Veterans Service Officer (VSO) helps with your claim at no cost — filing, evidence review, and appeals. Find an accredited representative on VA.gov →
This guide is educational information about the VA claims system — it is not legal or medical advice, and it does not predict or promise any claim outcome. Regulations and procedures change; always verify current requirements at VA.gov. VA Claim Commander is a self-service documentation tool, not a VSO, law firm, or VA-accredited representative.