Dependency and Indemnity Compensation Claims in Florida

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) offers tax-free, monthly Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) to qualifying survivors of deceased veterans in Florida.

To be eligible, you must be the spouse, dependent child, or parent of a veteran with a service-connected death or 100% disability rating prior to death. Specific qualifications are as follows:

• Service member died while on active duty, active duty for training or inactive duty training, OR
• Veteran died as a result of a service-connected injury or disease, OR
• Veteran did not die as a result of a service-connected injury or disease, but was rated as 100% disabled by a service-connected disability:
  • For at least 10 years before death, OR
  • Since their release from active duty and for at least five years before death, OR
  • For at least one year before death, if they were a former prisoner of war and died after Sept. 30, 1999

Note that in order to file a successful DIC claim you must prove that your loved one’s death was directly connected to their time in the service. Examples include death from a service-related condition, death from a PACT Act presumptive condition, or a qualifying in-duty death.

A Florida DIC lawyer will work with you to ensure you have all necessary documentation in support of your claim. This may include:

• DD-214 and service records
• Medical nexus opinions
• Death certificate findings
• Exposure documentation
• Service treatment records
• Prior VA decisions and rating history

Depending on your relationship to the deceased, you may need to provide additional documentation, such as a marriage certificate or birth certificate.

Money can never erase the pain of losing your loved one. However, it can help you take care of your family without their support with benefits such as financial assistance for housing, healthcare, education, household bills, and more.

Common scenarios that may qualify an individual for DIC include loss of a veteran loved one due to:

• Service-connected condition that appears on their death certificate
• Toxic exposure presumptive, such as burn pits, Agent Orange, etc.
• Secondary or contributing conditions tied to service-connected disabilities

You may also qualify for monthly DIC payments in Florida if the deceased veteran had a pending VA claim at the time of their death.

Step 1: Schedule a Free Review
Call, text, chat, or fill out our online contact form to schedule a free review of your DIC eligibility in Florida. We are available 24/7 and will respond to your inquiry as soon as possible.

Step 2: Evidence Development
The VA requires plenty of evidence in support of veteran spouse DIC claims. Our team can help you gather, organize, and submit necessary documentation, as well as respond to additional VA information requests in a timely manner.

Step 3: File or Reopen Your DIC Claim
If this is your first time filing for DIC, our team will oversee your application and ensure it is thorough, accurate, and filed in time. We also offer support for the reopening of previous DIC claims in instances where new evidence is available, or circumstances have changed (such as new eligibility based on the expanded PACT Act).

Step 4: Wait for a VA Decision
Get ongoing support as you await the VA’s decision on your DIC claim. This includes prompt handling of all information requests made by the VA during this time.

Step 5: Appeal, If Necessary
If you were denied DIC and disagree with the VA’s decision, we may be able to help you appeal via a Higher-Level Review (HLR), Supplemental Claim, or formal Board Appeal.

The process of applying for DIC can be difficult to undertake on your own. Our VA-focused law firm has years of experience with Dependency and Indemnity Compensation claims in Florida, and will walk you through every step of securing necessary DIC funds. And because we work on a contingency-fee basis, you won’t owe a penny until your DIC claim is successful.

Services are offered on a claim-by-claim basis, and may include:

• Support building nexus arguments
• Coordinating medical experts
• Preparing all forms and written submissions
• Managing VA communication
• Filing and tracking claims
• Handling all appeal lanes

We offer support for veteran spouses, dependent children, and parents across the state of Florida. If you need help with your DIC claim, contact us now.

Who qualifies for DIC as a widow or widower?
To qualify for DIC as a widow or widower, you must be the eligible spouse of a deceased veteran or a veteran who was given a 100% VA disability rating prior to their death.

Can I reopen a denied claim after the PACT Act?
Yes. Recent changes to the PACT Act expanded the presumptive conditions for VA benefits, so it may be worth reopening your claim and trying again.

What evidence most often moves a DIC appeal?
A successful DIC appeal generally requires additional documentation related to the deceased veteran’s military service and medical history, as well as lay statements from friends or fellow service members.

I don’t live near a VA office. Can I still get help with a DIC claim?
Absolutely. We offer statewide support for Florida veteran family members in need of help with their DIC claim, including the ability to apply for compensation online or by mail instead of in person at a VA office.

The death certificate doesn’t clearly mention the service-connected condition. Can I still qualify?
Yes, you may still qualify for DIC in Florida so long as you provide additional evidence of the service-connected condition, the condition was a contributory cause of the veteran’s death, or if the veteran was given a 100% disability rating prior to their death.