Does the surviving spouse get their spouse's VA disability benefits when they die?

When the veteran dies the VA kills the surviving spouse and buries them in the same grave as the service member free of charge.

But seriously, best advice is to find and seek the assistance of a local VA service officer (experiences may vary), veteran who has used extensive VA benefits, or visit a “vet center” and see if they have help. Local congressmen are usually pretty helpful for issues as well because it’s an easy PR stunt for them.

The VA can and does provide some fantastic and generous benefits but navigating the process is the hard part. Best of luck helping your parents or whoever.

ETA:
I’m also fairly convinced that anything is possible with the VA depending on how persistent and compelling the claimant can be. I hate the massive fraud that some veterans are committing for benefits but for legitimate cases I’d recommend asking for whatever you think you can make a compelling argument for. Then when they deny it, be a big enough pain in the arse to get someone in the bureaucratic leviathan to make it happen.

Most cases no

My dad got pension and mom got it after his death and submitting their “history” of paperwork. VA held some of her first few checks because of her diagnosis, dementia. I had to be declared a fiduciary to handle the money. However, I had been Handling their estate for several years as POA. We got Aid & Attendance for both of them.

Reddit r/veteransbenefits is a great resource for navigating VA benefits https://www.reddit.com/r/VeteransBenefits/

This is probably what you're looking for

quote:

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The Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) program provides monthly benefits to surviving spouses and dependent children in recognition of the economic loss caused by a Servicemember’s death during military service, or by the death of a Veteran as a result of a service-connected disability. VA also pays these benefits to the survivors of a Veteran whose death is not service-connected, but who was rated by VA as being totally disabled due to a service-connected disability for a specified period of time immediately preceding death.

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VA.gov

Was the death due to service or a disability caused by the member's service? If no, then she wouldn't be eligible

If you are 100% service connected the surviving spouse keeps getting paid. Kids college is free to at 100%. It’s a scam for most but lucrative.

Unemployability is separate from 100% service connection. You get extra tax free money for unemployability. I see people apply for unemployability all the time when they retire. I say “sir, you are 75 years old and just retired. That is not unemployable just because you stopped working.” And it’s definitely a scam for most. I see these cases all the time.