Q: Can a spouse keep his/her DoD medical benefits if the sponsor dies? A: Yes, in general, as long as the spouse does not remarry, TRICARE benefits can continue, depending on the sponsor’s military status at time of death. For details on the different scenarios, please visit the TRICARE Web site.

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How do I enroll in TFL? There are no enrollment forms for you to submit or paperwork to complete. If you already show as eligible for TRICARE in DEERS, are entitled to Medicare Part A, and have Medicare Part B, you’re covered under TFL. Your TFL coverage starts the first day you have both Medicare Part A and Part B.

When a military retiree dies their retirement pay stops. This means that the surviving spouse will be left without a substantial income source. The SBP is an insurance plan that will pay your surviving spouse a monthly payment (annuity) to help make up for the loss of your retirement income.

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Military retired pay stops upon death of the retiree! The Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) allows a retiree to ensure, after death, a continuous lifetime annuity for their dependents. A military retiree pays premiums for SBP coverage upon retiring. Premiums are paid from gross retired pay, so they don’t count as income.

The death gratuity is a tax-free payment of $100,000 that is paid to survivors of the following armed service members: A member who dies while on active duty or while on authorized travel.

How Much Does VA Pay? The basic monthly rate of DIC is $1,340 for an eligible surviving spouse. The rate is increased for each dependent child, and also if the surviving spouse is housebound or in need of aid and attendance.

Since income does not matter for DIC benefits, receipt of Social Security benefits will not affect your DIC eligibility. Deceased veterans earned both the DIC benefit and the Social Security benefit through their work and their military service.

How Much Is DIC? The basic monthly tax-free DIC benefit will increase from $1,319.04 in 2019 to $1,340.14 for 2020, with additional amounts also seeing the 1.6% increase.

Under this program, the Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) pays a lifetime payment each month to eligible surviving family members upon the death of an active duty or retired service member. WHO IS ELIGIBLE FOR DIC PAYMENTS? The death of the member or retired member must be service-connected.

Survivors of veterans who served during wartime can apply to receive a tax-free pension, known as a Survivors Pension or Death Pension. The pension provides a monthly payment to surviving spouses with modest incomes who have not remarried.

In 2023, the SBP-DIC offset will be eliminated in total, so that surviving spouses eligible for both programs will receive both SBP and DIC in full, effective January 1 (paid as of February 1).