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------------------------- HOW DIC MAY AFFECT YOUR VA SURVIVORS PENSION OR SURVIVOR BENEFIT PLAN HOW DO MY PAYMENTS FOR DIC AFFECT MY ABILITY TO RECEIVE VA SURVIVORS PENSION? If you’re

eligible for both DIC and Survivors Pension benefits, we’ll pay you whichever benefit gives you the most money. You can't get both. Learn more about  Survivors Pension benefits Check

current VA Survivors Pension benefit rates WHAT’S A SURVIVOR BENEFIT PLAN? The Survivor Benefit Program is a voluntary annuity program that service members may buy as a retirement benefit

for their family members. An annuity is a monthly payment received for life. Depending on their military service, members may use this program to buy a Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) or Reserve

Component Survivor Benefit Plan (RCSBP). We don’t manage this program. It’s managed by the Defense Finance and Accounting Service at the Department of Defense. CAN I RECEIVE SBP OR RCSBP

PAYMENTS AND DIC AT THE SAME TIME? In most cases, you can’t receive a full SBP or RCSBP payment and a full DIC payment at the same time. The exception is if you're receiving an SBP or

RCSBP annuity from one spouse, then you remarry after age 55 and become eligible for DIC based on the service-connected disability of your new spouse. In this case you can receive full

benefits through both programs at the same time.  If the exception doesn't apply to you, the Defense Finance and Accounting Service will reduce your SBP or RCSBP payment by the amount

of your DIC payment. If your DIC payment is greater than your total SBP or RCSBP payment, the DFAS will stop your SBP or RCSBP payments. This is called the “SBP/DIC offset.” WHAT HAPPENS IF

I’M RECEIVING SBP OR RCSBP PAYMENTS AND THEN I QUALIFY FOR DIC? If the DFAS pays you more than the offset amount of SBP or RCSBP payments after you begin receiving DIC payments, they’ll

consider this amount an overpayment. This means you’ll have to pay the money back. To avoid owing money, be sure to notify the DFAS as soon as you qualify for DIC. You’ll need to send them a

copy of your VA DIC award letter. The DFAS will determine if they need to reduce your SBP or RCSBP payment amount. You can call the DFAS at 800-321-1080. They’re open Monday through Friday,

 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. ET. NOTE: Starting on January 1, 2023, the Defense Finance and Accounting Service will no longer reduce your SBP or RCSBP payments if you also qualify for DIC. You

can receive full benefits through both programs at the same time.  Learn more about these payment changes on the DFAS website ------------------------- FULL TITLE 38 REGULATIONS Read the

full regulations from Title 38 Code of Federal Regulations. FULL SECTION 38 U.S.C. II Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (chapter 13, sections 1310 to 1318)  38 U.S.C 501(a) Subpart

A—Pension, Compensation, and Dependency and Indemnity Compensation DETAILS RELATED TO RATES FOR SURVIVING SPOUSES AND CHILDREN 3.5 Dependency and indemnity compensation 3.10 Dependency and

indemnity compensation rate for a surviving spouse 3.22 DIC benefits for survivors of certain Veterans rated totally disabled at time of death