Parents’ Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) is a tax-free monthly benefit from the VA to cover the loss of your child. It is for parents of servicemembers or Veterans who died from a service-connected condition. The monthly payment amount is adjusted annually, based on the cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) rate announced by the Social Security Administration (SSA) each year.
In 2026, Parents’ DIC rates increased 2.8%, which goes into effect on December 1, 2025.
Let’s break down who qualifies, how to apply, and how this program interacts with other VA benefits. But first, a look at the 2026 Parents’ DIC compensation charts.
2026 Parents’ Dependency and Indemnity Compensation Charts
Receiving DIC is also income-dependent, meaning you have to make a certain amount per year (set by Congress) to even be able to receive payments. The charts below lay out how much monthly compensation you can receive based on how much you make annually.
Note: Annual income is calculated as how much you bring in from things like salary, investments, gifts, rental property, retirement payments, and the income of any dependents living with you in the span of a calendar year.
2026 DIC Payments For a Sole Surviving Parent
| Yearly Income Limit | Beginning Monthly Rate | Rate of Decrease |
|---|---|---|
| $800 | $842 | None |
| $900 | $834 | 0.08 |
| $1,000 | $825 | 0.08 |
| $1,100 | $817 | 0.08 |
| $1,200 | $809 | 0.08 |
| $1,300 | $801 | 0.08 |
| $1,400 | $793 | 0.08 |
| $1,500 | $784 | 0.08 |
| $1,600 | $776 | 0.08 |
| $1,700 | $768 | 0.08 |
| $1,800 | $760 | 0.08 |
| $1,900 | $751 | 0.08 |
| $2,000 | $743 | 0.08 |
| $2,100 | $735 | 0.08 |
| $2,200 | $727 | 0.08 |
| $2,300 | $719 | 0.08 |
| $2,400 | $710 | 0.08 |
| $2,500 | $702 | 0.08 |
| $2,600 | $694 | 0.08 |
| $2,700 | $686 | 0.08 |
| $2,800 | $677 | 0.08 |
| $2,900 | $669 | 0.08 |
| $3,000 | $661 | 0.08 |
| $3,100 | $653 | 0.08 |
| $3,200 | $645 | 0.08 |
| $3,300 | $636 | 0.08 |
| $3,400 | $628 | 0.08 |
| $3,500 | $620 | 0.08 |
| $3,600 | $612 | 0.08 |
| $3,700 | $603 | 0.08 |
| $3,800 | $595 | 0.08 |
| $3,900 | $587 | 0.08 |
| $4,000 | $579 | 0.08 |
| $4,100 | $571 | 0.08 |
| $4,200 | $562 | 0.08 |
| $4,300 | $554 | 0.08 |
| $4,400 | $546 | 0.08 |
| $4,500 | $538 | 0.08 |
| $4,600 | $529 | 0.08 |
| $4,700 | $521 | 0.08 |
| $4,800 | $513 | 0.08 |
| $4,900 | $505 | 0.08 |
| $5,000 | $497 | 0.08 |
| $5,100 | $488 | 0.08 |
| $5,200 | $480 | 0.08 |
| $5,300 | $472 | 0.08 |
| $5,400 | $464 | 0.08 |
| $5,500 | $455 | 0.08 |
| $5,600 | $447 | 0.08 |
| $5,700 | $439 | 0.08 |
| $5,800 | $431 | 0.08 |
| $5,900 | $423 | 0.08 |
| $6,000 | $414 | 0.08 |
| $6,100 | $406 | 0.08 |
| $6,200 | $398 | 0.08 |
| $6,300 | $390 | 0.08 |
| $6,400 | $381 | 0.08 |
| $6,500 | $373 | 0.08 |
| $6,600 | $365 | 0.08 |
| $6,700 | $357 | 0.08 |
| $6,800 | $348 | 0.08 |
| $6,900 | $340 | 0.08 |
| $7,000 | $332 | 0.08 |
| $7,100 | $324 | 0.08 |
| $7,200 | $316 | 0.08 |
| $7,300 | $307 | 0.08 |
| $7,400 | $299 | 0.08 |
| $7,500 | $291 | 0.08 |
| $7,600 | $283 | 0.08 |
| $7,700 | $274 | 0.08 |
| $7,800 | $266 | 0.08 |
| $7,900 | $258 | 0.08 |
| $8,000 | $250 | 0.08 |
| $8,100 | $242 | 0.08 |
| $8,200 | $233 | 0.08 |
| $8,300 | $225 | 0.08 |
| $8,400 | $217 | 0.08 |
| $8,500 | $209 | 0.08 |
| $8,600 | $200 | 0.08 |
| $8,700 | $192 | 0.08 |
| $8,800 | $184 | 0.08 |
| $8,900 | $176 | 0.08 |
| $9,000 | $168 | 0.08 |
| $9,100 | $159 | 0.08 |
| $9,200 | $151 | 0.08 |
| $9,300 | $143 | 0.08 |
| $9,400 | $135 | 0.08 |
| $9,500 | $126 | 0.08 |
| $9,600 | $118 | 0.08 |
| $9,700 | $110 | 0.08 |
| $9,800 | $102 | 0.08 |
| $9,900 | $94 | 0.08 |
| $10,000 | $85 | 0.08 |
| $10,100 | $77 | 0.08 |
| $10,200 | $69 | 0.08 |
| $10,300 | $61 | 0.08 |
| $10,400 | $52 | 0.08 |
| $10,500 | $44 | 0.08 |
| $10,600 | $36 | 0.08 |
| $10,700 | $28 | 0.08 |
| $10,800 | $20 | 0.08 |
| $10,900 | $11 | 0.08 |
| $10,974 | $5 | 0.08 |
| If living with spouse: $10,975 to $25,936 If not living with spouse: $10,975 to $19,295 | $5 | None |
If entitled to Aid and Attendance allowance, add $457 to the monthly rate.
2025 DIC Payments When One of Two Living Parents Resides Alone
| Yearly Income Limit | Beginning Monthly Rate | Rate of Decrease |
|---|---|---|
| $800 | $611 | None |
| $900 | $602 | $0.08 |
| $1,000 | $594 | $0.08 |
| $1,100 | $586 | $0.08 |
| $1,200 | $578 | $0.08 |
| $1,300 | $570 | $0.08 |
| $1,400 | $561 | $0.08 |
| $1,500 | $553 | $0.08 |
| $1,600 | $545 | $0.08 |
| $1,700 | $537 | $0.08 |
| $1,800 | $528 | $0.08 |
| $1,900 | $520 | $0.08 |
| $2,000 | $512 | 0.08 |
| $2,100 | $504 | 0.08 |
| $2,200 | $495 | 0.08 |
| $2,300 | $487 | 0.08 |
| $2,400 | $479 | 0.08 |
| $2,500 | $471 | 0.08 |
| $2,600 | $463 | 0.08 |
| $2,700 | $454 | 0.08 |
| $2,800 | $446 | 0.08 |
| $2,900 | $438 | 0.08 |
| $3,000 | $430 | 0.08 |
| $3,100 | $421 | 0.08 |
| $3,200 | $413 | 0.08 |
| $3,300 | $405 | 0.08 |
| $3,400 | $397 | 0.08 |
| $3,500 | $389 | 0.08 |
| $3,600 | $380 | 0.08 |
| $3,700 | $372 | 0.08 |
| $3,800 | $364 | 0.08 |
| $3,900 | $356 | 0.08 |
| $4,000 | $347 | 0.08 |
| $4,100 | $339 | 0.08 |
| $4,200 | $331 | 0.08 |
| $4,300 | $323 | 0.08 |
| $4,400 | $315 | 0.08 |
| $4,500 | $306 | 0.08 |
| $4,600 | $298 | 0.08 |
| $4,700 | $290 | 0.08 |
| $4,800 | $282 | 0.08 |
| $4,900 | $273 | 0.08 |
| $5,000 | $265 | 0.08 |
| $5,100 | $257 | 0.08 |
| $5,200 | $249 | 0.08 |
| $5,300 | $241 | 0.08 |
| $5,400 | $232 | 0.08 |
| $5,500 | $224 | 0.08 |
| $5,600 | $216 | 0.08 |
| $5,700 | $208 | 0.08 |
| $5,800 | $199 | 0.08 |
| $5,900 | $191 | 0.08 |
| $6,000 | $183 | 0.08 |
| $6,100 | $175 | 0.08 |
| $6,200 | $167 | 0.08 |
| $6,300 | $158 | 0.08 |
| $6,400 | $150 | 0.08 |
| $6,500 | $142 | 0.08 |
| $6,600 | $134 | 0.08 |
| $6,700 | $125 | 0.08 |
| $6,800 | $117 | 0.08 |
| $6,900 | $109 | 0.08 |
| $7,000 | $101 | 0.08 |
| $7,100 | $93 | 0.08 |
| $7,200 | $84 | 0.08 |
| $7,300 | $76 | 0.08 |
| $7,400 | $68 | 0.08 |
| $7,500 | $60 | 0.08 |
| $7,600 | $51 | 0.08 |
| $7,700 | $43 | 0.08 |
| $7,800 | $35 | 0.08 |
| $7,900 | $27 | 0.08 |
| $8,000 | $19 | 0.08 |
| $8,100 | $10 | 0.08 |
| $8,162 | $5 | |
| $8,163 to $19,295 | $5 | None |
If entitled to Aid and Attendance allowance, add $457 to the monthly rate.
2025 DIC Payments When Living Parents Reside Together or With Another Spouse
| Yearly Income Limit | Beginning Monthly Rate | Rate of Decrease |
|---|---|---|
| $1,000 | $576 | None |
| $1,100 | $567 | 0.08 |
| $1,200 | $559 | 0.08 |
| $1,300 | $551 | 0.08 |
| $1,400 | $543 | 0.08 |
| $1,500 | $535 | 0.08 |
| $1,600 | $526 | 0.08 |
| $1,700 | $518 | 0.08 |
| $1,800 | $510 | 0.08 |
| $1,900 | $502 | 0.08 |
| $2,000 | $493 | 0.08 |
| $2,100 | $485 | 0.08 |
| $2,200 | $477 | 0.08 |
| $2,300 | $469 | 0.08 |
| $2,400 | $461 | 0.08 |
| $2,500 | $452 | 0.08 |
| $2,600 | $444 | 0.08 |
| $2,700 | $436 | 0.08 |
| $2,800 | $428 | 0.08 |
| $2,900 | $419 | 0.08 |
| $3,000 | $411 | 0.08 |
| $3,100 | $403 | 0.08 |
| $3,200 | $395 | 0.08 |
| $3,300 | $387 | 0.08 |
| $3,400 | $378 | 0.08 |
| $3,500 | $370 | 0.08 |
| $3,600 | $362 | 0.08 |
| $3,700 | $354 | 0.08 |
| $3,800 | $345 | 0.08 |
| $3,900 | $337 | 0.08 |
| $4,000 | $329 | 0.08 |
| $4,100 | $321 | 0.08 |
| $4,200 | $313 | 0.08 |
| $4,300 | $304 | 0.08 |
| $4,400 | $296 | 0.08 |
| $4,500 | $288 | 0.08 |
| $4,600 | $280 | 0.08 |
| $4,700 | $271 | 0.08 |
| $4,800 | $263 | 0.08 |
| $4,900 | $255 | 0.08 |
| $5,000 | $247 | 0.08 |
| $5,100 | $238 | 0.08 |
| $5,200 | $230 | 0.08 |
| $5,300 | $222 | 0.08 |
| $5,400 | $214 | 0.08 |
| $5,500 | $206 | 0.08 |
| $5,600 | $197 | 0.08 |
| $5,700 | $189 | 0.08 |
| $5,800 | $181 | 0.08 |
| $5,900 | $173 | 0.08 |
| $6,000 | $164 | 0.08 |
| $6,100 | $156 | 0.08 |
| $6,200 | $148 | 0.08 |
| $6,300 | $140 | 0.08 |
| $6,400 | $132 | 0.08 |
| $6,500 | $123 | 0.08 |
| $6,600 | $115 | 0.08 |
| $6,700 | $107 | 0.08 |
| $6,800 | $99 | 0.08 |
| $6,900 | $90 | 0.08 |
| $7,000 | $82 | 0.08 |
| $7,100 | $74 | 0.08 |
| $7,200 | $66 | 0.08 |
| $7,300 | $58 | 0.08 |
| $7,400 | $49 | 0.08 |
| $7,500 | $41 | 0.08 |
| $7,600 | $33 | 0.08 |
| $7,700 | $25 | 0.08 |
| $7,800 | $16 | 0.08 |
| $7,900 | $8 | 0.08 |
| $7,937 | $5 | 0.08 |
| $7,938 to $25,936 | $5 | None |
Calculating Parents’ Dependency and Indemnity Compensation
Follow this step-by-step process and use the charts above to estimate your monthly DIC payment:
Step 1: Find Your Total Annual Income
First is figuring out how much money you bring in annually. To do that, add together:
- Social Security income
- Pensions
- Investments
- Any other taxable and non-taxable income
Example: $7,162 in Social Security payments over 12 months + $2,428 in pension payments over 12 months, which totals $9,590 total annual income.
Step 2: Identify Your Living Situation
Use your living status to determine the correct income bracket based on if you’re single or married, and if you live alone, with a parent or other dependents.
Example: You live with your spouse, and your child’s other parent is deceased. Using the charts above, the monthly rate for those making up to $9,590 is $118.
Step 3: Find the VA Income Threshold
Check the latest VA income threshold table to determine the applicable rate for your living situation. In 2026, the income limit for a parent living with a spouse and no other parent is $19,835*. (*projected on 2.8% COLA increase)
Example: Since your income ($9,590) is below the threshold, you qualify.
Step 4: Figure the Difference Between Actual Income and Income Limits
You find the income limit closest to your annual income when you round down.
Example: $118 is for a $9,600 limit. That’s because your $9,590 is more than $9,500 but lower than the $9,600 limit, so you’d receive the $9,600 limit amount. To figure out your difference, you’d need to find the difference in your annual income and the lower amount limit that you surpassed. So in this case, it would:
$9,590 – $9,500 = $90
Step 5: Incorporate the Rate of Decrease and Add to the Monthly Amount
The rate of decrease (as listed in the table above) is .08. You’d take the difference in the previous step and multiply it by the rate of decrease.
Example: $90 x .08 (rate of decrease) = $7.20
Add $7.20 to the $118 monthly rate listed above.
Example: $7.20 + $118 (original monthly amount) = $125.20 is now the monthly amount.
Step 6: Aid and Attendance
If you can receive Aid and Attendance, add an additional $457 to the monthly amount.
Example: Taking the total from above, $125.20 + $457 = $582.20 for a monthly amount.
Step 7: Find When and How You’ll Get Paid
The final step is taking how much money you make monthly, and multiplying it by 12. The following conditions determine when you’ll be paid. If your payments for the year add up to:
- More than $228, the VA pays you monthly
- Between $144 and $228, you will be paid out 4 times a year (1 payment every 3 years)
- Between $72 and $144, you will be paid twice a year (1 payment every 6 months)
- Less than $72, you’ll receive one payment a year.
Example: Let’s use with and without Aid and Attendance:
- With Aid and Attendance: The $582.20 amount multiplied by 12 = $6,986.40 annually, meaning you will get paid monthly.
- No Aid and Attendance: $122.20 amount multiplied by 12 = $1,466.40 annually, meaning you will also get paid monthly.
Note: The VA will not pay negative amounts. If your income is too high, you may not receive monthly payments, but you are still eligible to apply and be reviewed.
Parents’ DIC Eligibility
You may qualify for Parents’ DIC if:
- You are the biological, adoptive, or foster parent of a deceased servicemember or veteran, and
- The veteran’s death was service-connected, and
- Your monthly income is below a certain threshold set by law, and
- You are not already receiving DIC as a surviving spouse or child.
Foster Parents
You qualify if the veteran was in your care before age 21 for at least one year, and you provided ongoing parental care.
Income Limits
Eligibility is determined based on your annual income, marital status, and whether you live with a spouse or other parent.
How to Apply for Parents’ DIC (Step-by-Step)
The main VA form needed to apply for Parents’ DIC is VA Form 21P-535. These documents can get a little overwhelming, so let’s make it easier for you to understand.
Filling Out the Form
- The first section (Section I) will be the deceased veteran’s information, as well as your personal details. The information you’ll need:
- Veteran’s personal information (Name, SSN, VA File number, veteran’s service number, veteran’s date of death)
- Your name (claimant’s personal information)
- Your VA File number
- Death certificate of the deceased veteran
- Section two (Section II) needs information about the veteran if they never filed for/received any VA compensation or pension. If they were already receiving VA benefits, then skip this section. If they never filed for any VA benefits, then you’ll need to attach the veteran’s DD-214 form proving the veteran’s service.
- The next section (Section III) is pretty straightforward. It basically asks if you’re applying for DIC benefits based on expanded eligibility under the Pact Act.
- Sections four and five (Section IV and V) are about the veteran’s parental information, which includes marital status.
- Section six (Section VI) touches on your need, or the need of another person living with you, for nursing homes or Aid and Attendance.
- The following sections (Section VII, Section VIII, and Section IX) strictly touch on finances. Section seven will touch on income, and sources of recurring monthly income from areas like social security or a retirement pension. Section eight touches on medical information, burial information and other reimbursed expenses. Note: Be sure to have all documentation on income as well as medical expenses. Section nine touches on direct deposit information.
- Sections 10 and 11 (Section X and Section XI) are just finalizing the application with signatures and any additional remarks.
Submitting Your Form
Mail the completed form and supporting documents to the VA Pension Management Center assigned to your state. Find the correct address at VA Pension Centers.
Alternatively, you can also file your claim through an accredited Veterans Service Organization (VSO) or at a local VA regional office.
Note: Despite the step-by-step instructions, be sure to address any further questions or concerns with either a representative associated with the VA or a trusted and accredited VSO.
How Parents’ DIC Interacts with Other VA Benefits
Receiving Parents’ DIC does not disqualify you from other VA survivor benefits, but you can’t receive multiple DIC payments for the same veteran.
If you’re exploring other options, here are some related programs:
- Survivors’ Pension / Pension Rate Tables – for low-income surviving spouses
- Aid and Attendance – adds money to a pension if you need daily help
- Burial Benefits – covers funeral and memorial expenses for qualifying veterans
Final Thoughts
Parents’ DIC exists to recognize the sacrifice your family made. If your child’s death was connected to their service, and you’re financially eligible, you deserve support from the VA.
Even if you think your income is too high, it’s still worth applying. The application process is straightforward, and help is available from VSOs and VA representatives.
Honor your child’s memory, and make sure you receive the benefits they earned for their service.
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Jon Rehagan covers financial topics and military news, aimed at helping those who've served our country and everyday civilians