DIC Payment Calculator 2026

Estimate the monthly Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) your family qualifies for under 38 USC § 1310, § 1311, § 1315, and § 1318. Rates effective Dec 1, 2025 (paid Jan 2026 onward). Tax-free.

Who is the survivor?

Spouse's current age

Used to evaluate the remarriage rule (age 55+ does not terminate DIC).

Years married to veteran before death

Required for the 8-year rule (must be 8+ if veteran was rated 100% for 8+ years).

Aid & Attendance: spouse needs the regular help of another person for activities of daily living (bathing, dressing, eating, etc.).

Housebound: spouse is permanently confined to their home due to disability. Cannot be combined with A&A; if both apply, A&A pays more.

Children

Children under 18

Children in school, age 18-23

Helpless adult children (38 USC § 101(4))

A child who became permanently incapable of self-support before age 18.

About the veteran's death

Cause of death

At death, was the veteran rated totally disabling (100% schedular or TDIU)?

Veteran was a former POW (relevant for § 1318 1-year rule).

Year of veteran's death

Pre-1993 deaths use the older spouse rate table by veteran's pay grade. Most calcs assume post-1993.

How DIC eligibility works

DIC has two doors. Most claims go through one; some can use either.

§ 1310 — 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.

§ 1318 — 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. 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. The pay-grade selector exposes the option but uses a simplified mapping; survivors of pre-1993 deaths should confirm with 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.

Related guides

DIC overview guide — eligibility, claim process, and what to expect
VA Math Calculator — combined ratings explained (relevant for evaluating the veteran's rating history)
TDIU eligibility — Total Disability Individual Unemployability counts as 100% for the 8-year and 1318 rules
Find a free accredited VSO representative — DIC claims have specific evidence requirements; a VSO files at no cost

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.