Champva And Survivors

[john999]

What happens when the ChampVA sponsor dies and before the surviving spouse has their DIC approved? Does ChampVA stop until the survivor gets their DIC claim approved? If my wife were to be on Medicare as primary and ChampVA as the secondary medigap coverage and I croak then what? I know the money from my compensation stops, but do all the other benefits to the spouse stop as well until she/he has DIC approved? My wife is entitled to three survivor pensions so to speak. She would be eligible for my SSA, my Civil Service survivor pension and to DIC. The thing is how long does it take for all this to kick in after she applies? Not many survivors just snap out of it in a week and then claim their life insurance and all their survivor pensions. They have to bury their vet and deal with all that plus they might be in grief for a while. The way I see it the survivor can't afford to grieve if they want to keep paying their bills. Now I have some of this taken care of but the insurance thing worries me. One thing I do know is that the vet and the spouse need an emergency fund that will carry them at least 6 months while all this stuff gets worked out. I have the disabled vet insurance which is enough to bury me, but do undertakers extend credit based on the VA insurance? Even if a vet has the grave and headstone paid for by the VA the service and all the extras can come out to $5000-6000. I did take a course in financial planning but I did not get to that specific section I guess. My wife always avoids my talking about what she will have to do if I leave this world before her. She says " John, you worry too much!" Yeah, I have been dealing with the VA for 40 odd years, so I do worry. I think it would behoove her to get one of those medicare advantage plans so she would not be high and dry if I croak and she has to wait for DIC claim.

John

[Pete53]

I was told that ChampVA would continue. I asked them the same question. ChampVA Customer Service Rep told me. DIC should be automatic for those who have Service Connection that is qualified.

[Buck52]

you already know this I'm sure..

If you die from a service -connected disability or a condition directly related to a service connected disability.

if you have 10 years as total disability your spouse can get the DIC & if you have 10 year then there's special month payments if housebound or need asst, but any vet that dies and has been total disable yes she is entitled to DIC...the basic rate is 1195 monthly.

payments change yearly so this is just a estimated.

But she has to file for it within one year after but I'm not sure on that?... a lot of vets spouse don't think about it.

Theres special monthy rate allowances if the veteran was totally disabled eight continuous tears prior to death add 254 I think its 8 years now!

So your spouse is entitled I'm fairly sure! how long the wait is is anybodys guess but I do think VA moves fast on this type claim

I'm not sure if the champ VA will stays the same I think it does Ms berta would know!

btw I think your spouse is right on ''John you worry to much!

Edited November 9, 2014 by britton

[Philip Rogers]

John, I "commend" you for discussing these things w/your wife. Most people tend to avoid talking about the fact that we are all going to die. It's just a fact. By avoiding it, we are doing our loved ones a great disservice. When death happens, many are overcome with the loss and grief and don't know what to do. It's amazing how many don't have a will or a trust!!! Many funeral directors prey on this, often by making the family feel "cheap" and upgrading them to an expensive funeral, they can't really afford.

I suggest leaving a folder with after death instructions, with copies of life insurance policies, maybe a final personal letter to your spouse/family, instructions as to who to contact for help, funeral instructions/requests, etc.. You should let a few others, you trust, know where this folder is kept, just in case your spouse/family can't function at the time of your death.

As to your question(s), I believe ChampVA continues intact but I'm not sure. You may want to write the VA and specifically ask for a written answer. A friend died, a little over 3 yrs ago, who'd been TDIU, P&T, for a little over 10yrs, and his widow received her DIC within 6 wks of his death (we filed immediately after he died). His VA life insurance policy paid in about 3wks. I was amazed!!!

Myself, personally, I want the cheapest disposal possible, direct cremation, w/no service, no obituary, no military honor guard - I just want my death/passing to go unnoticed! My mom donated her body to Tufts University, in Boston, for their cadaver program. Our cost was zero. A year later we received her ashes and a letter from the school thanking her, and us, for allowing them to continue their program. It was my mother's final wish and saved us at minimum about $3k. BTW, most newspapers charge a hefty amount for an obituary. They are no longer free.

jmo

pr

[Philip Rogers]

Forgot to mention, both the VA and SS have people who follow the obits, so they know who's died and who they can swoop in and seize their latest payment, from their bank account. Sad but true.

We should all talk about our demise, freely, and do it now, as it will happen, no matter how much we avoid the conversation. again, jmo.

pr

[Buck52]

Great post Phillip...I agree!

[Berta]

"basic rate is 1195 monthly."

I get 1233.33 a month in DIC ...dont know where the 33 cents came in. The cola will be added to that next year.

"But she has to file for it within one year after but I'm not sure on that?"...

A filing within one year after death protects the date of death as the EED.

Also if a claim was pending at death, VA will only pay accrued, if the survivor succeeds on the claim and the accrued claim was filed either with the DIC form or separtely within one year after death.


"a lot of vets spouse don't think about it."

That is why I strongly recomend that they get familar with your VA disabilities now and learn how to use a PC NOW because they most likely might need HADIT when the times comes.

Put the hadit link and your hadit password first on your password lists in your death files....

Almost every questiion I can think of regarding DIC, accrued, CHAMPVA, Chap 35 etc etc, has an answer here at hadit somewhere , in the DIC forum and searchable with the hadit search feature.

I have plenty info here on the death file,and just mentioned it in a widow's arrythmia topic in claims research ,and have done shows on this on the old SVR station available in our show archives hopefully in our hadit radio archives too.

PR is right. Both my husband and I are organ donors. I have to be cremated anyhow to fit on top of him at the local VA cemetery.

It is absurd to spend lots of money on fancy coffins and such....I just want a graveside service from my Pastor and then they can dump me in (they will give my daughter some cremains like I got when Rod died, if she asks for them) and I ,as a civilian, will spend eternity along with hundreds and hundreds of veteran buried there, going back to the Civil War. Life cant get better then that...I mean death.,..., (and of course I cant wait to see Jesus!)

We need to do another death show soon. It wont be sad.or boring but It will be Reality.

And remember that an autopsy might be the Only way the spouse will ever see DIC and it wont hurt a bit.

This should be discussed along with any potential organ donations NOW with the spouse.

Edited November 9, 2014 by Berta