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10.2. Survivors or Death Pension

Non-Service Connected Survivors Pension Benefit, aka "Non-Service Connected Death Pension"

The Non-Service Connected Survivors Pension benefit, which may also be referred to as Death Pension, is a tax-free monetary benefit payable to a low-income, un-remarried surviving spouse and/or unmarried child(ren) of a deceased Veteran with wartime service.

The following requirements apply for the survivor pension:

1. Discharge Requirements for the deceased Veteran remain the same, and

2. Service Requirements for the deceased Veteran remain the same, and

3. The surviving spouse is the current spouse and is unmarried, and

4. The surviving unmarried children of the deceased Veteran are either:

   1. under 18 years of age,

   2. became permanently "helpless" before 18 years of age

   3. between the ages of 18 and 23 and is in the process of pursuing a course of study at an approved institution such as college or vocational school.

Date of cost-of-living increase: December 1, 2021
Increase factor: 5.9%

The net worth limit to qualify for a Survivors Pension as of December 1, 2021, is $138,489.

Standard Medicare deduction: Actual amount will be determined by SSA based on individual income.

For qualified surviving spouses with at least 1 dependent:

If you have 1 dependent child and…	Your MAPR amount is (in U.S. $):
You don’t qualify for Housebound or Aid and Attendance benefits	12,951
You qualify for Housebound benefits	15,144
You qualify for Aid and Attendance benefits	18,867
You qualify for Aid and Attendance benefits and you’re the surviving spouse of a Veteran who served in the Spanish-American War (SAW)	19,438

Notes:

• The Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP)/Minimum Income Annuity (MIW) limitation is $9,896.
• If you have more than 1 child, add $2,523 to your MAPR amount for each additional child.
• If you have a child who works, you may exclude their wages up to $12,950.
• If you have medical expenses, you may deduct only the amount that’s above 5% of your MAPR amount ($647 for a surviving spouse with 1 dependent).

For qualified surviving spouses with no dependents:

If you have no dependents and…	Your MAPR amount is (in U.S. $):
You don’t qualify for Housebound or Aid and Attendance benefits	9,896
You qualify for Housebound benefits	12,094
You qualify for Aid and Attendance benefits	15,816
You qualify for Aid and Attendance benefits and you’re the surviving spouse of a Veteran who served in the Spanish-American War (SAW)	16,456

Notes:

• The Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP)/Minimum Income Annuity (MIW) limitation is $9,896.
• If you have medical expenses, you may deduct only the amount that’s above 5% of your MAPR amount ($494 for a surviving spouse with no dependent child).

For qualified surviving children:

If you’re…	Your MAPR amount is (in U.S. $):
A qualified surviving child	2,523