VA Form 21P-534
DIC Application
Apply for Dependency and Indemnity Compensation as a surviving spouse or child.
DIC Application
In Plain English
Apply for Dependency and Indemnity Compensation as a surviving spouse or child.
Application for Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) — monthly tax-free payments for surviving family members.
Step-by-Step Guide
How to file 21P-534
When to use this form
For complex survivor benefit situations where the simplified 21P-534EZ doesn't cover your needs. Most survivors should use 21P-534EZ instead.
Required
- ✓Veteran's death certificate
- ✓Veteran's DD-214
Proof of the veteran's military service.
- ✓Marriage certificate
For surviving spouse claims.
Recommended (if applicable)
- +Birth certificates for dependent children
Mail to
Department of Veterans Affairs, Pension Intake Center, PO Box 5365, Janesville, WI 53547-5365
In most cases, use the simplified 21P-534EZ instead — it covers DIC, death pension, and accrued benefits in one form.
Which Form Do I Need?
Both are DIC applications. Which do I use?
DIC Application
Use this when
- •You have a complex estate situation or your VSO specifically advises it
- •Rarely needed for most survivors
DIC Application (Simplified)
Use this when
- •Use this for almost all DIC, death pension, and accrued benefit claims
- •One form covers three separate benefit types
- •Most surviving spouses and children should use this
Our recommendation
In nearly all cases, file 21P-534EZ. It combines three separate survivor benefit applications into one and is processed fastest by the VA.
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