Alyssa Lane
In the US, dependent children of veterans or active service members may qualify for a range of benefits, including health care, life insurance, and financial assistance for education or vocational training. The benefits available to children of veterans vary depending on the veteran's service history and their relationship to the child.
To qualify as a dependent child, an individual must be either the biological, adopted, or stepchild of the veteran and meet certain age requirements.
Characteristics of what is considered a veteran's child on insurance:
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Relationship to veteran | Biological child, adopted child, or stepchild |
| Age | Under 18 years old; between 18 and 23 years old and enrolled in school full-time; or a helpless child (permanently incapable of self-support due to a physical or intellectual disability established before the age of 18) |
| Veteran's service status | Active duty, retired, or deceased |
| Veteran's service branch | National Guard, Reserves, or Medal of Honor recipient |
| Veteran's duty status | Active duty, active duty training, inactive duty training, or served during a wartime period |
| Veteran's medical condition | Disabled, or died due to a service-connected condition/injury |
| Child's dependency status | Dependent or surviving child |
| Child's marital status | Unmarried |
| Child's education status | Enrolled in school full-time |
| Child's disability status | Permanently disabled before turning 18 years old |
What You'll Learn
Children of veterans can qualify for health care benefits
If you are the child of a veteran, you may be eligible for health care benefits. This includes biological, adopted, and stepchildren of veterans. To qualify, you must meet one of the following requirements:
- Be under 18 years old
- Be between 18 and 23 years old and enrolled in school full-time
- Be a helpless child (permanently incapable of self-support due to a physical or intellectual disability established before the age of 18)
There are several health care programs that children of veterans may qualify for:
TRICARE
Children of active-duty, retired, or deceased service members, including National Guard soldiers, reservists, and Medal of Honor recipients, may qualify for TRICARE. TRICARE provides comprehensive health coverage, including health plans, prescriptions, medicines, dental plans, and programs for individuals with intellectual and physical disabilities.
Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs (CHAMPVA)
If you don't qualify for TRICARE, you may be eligible for CHAMPVA. CHAMPVA is a cost-sharing program that covers some of the costs of health care services and supplies. To qualify, you must be the current or surviving child of a veteran with a 100% permanent and total disability rating or a service member who died in the line of duty.
Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers (PCAFC)
If you are providing personal care services for your veteran parent, you may be eligible for the PCAFC program. This program offers a range of services, including a financial stipend, access to health insurance, mental health services, caregiver training, and respite care.
Camp Lejeune Family Member Program
If you lived with your veteran parent at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina for at least 30 cumulative days between August 1953 and December 1987, you may have been exposed to contaminated water. If you have developed any of the associated conditions, you may qualify for health care benefits through this program.
Spina Bifida Health Care Benefits Program for Children of Vietnam Veterans
If you are the biological child of a Korean or Vietnam War veteran and have been diagnosed with spina bifida, you may qualify for health care benefits through this program.
Children of Women Vietnam Veterans (CWVV) Health Care Benefits Program
If you are the biological child of a woman Vietnam War veteran and have been diagnosed with certain birth defects, you may qualify for health care benefits through the CWVV program. These benefits can help pay for services needed to treat your covered birth defect and related medical conditions.
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Children of veterans can qualify for life insurance
Health Care Benefits
The VA offers several health care programs for children of veterans, including:
- TRICARE: Comprehensive health coverage for children of active-duty, retired, or deceased service members, National Guard soldiers, Reservists, or Medal of Honor recipients. TRICARE covers health plans, prescriptions, medicines, dental plans, and programs for individuals with special needs.
- Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs (CHAMPVA): If you don't qualify for TRICARE, you may be eligible for CHAMPVA, which covers some of the costs of health care services and supplies through cost-sharing.
- Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers (PCAFC): This program offers support for children who are serving as their veteran parent's primary caregiver following a serious injury incurred or exacerbated by active-duty service. Eligible participants may receive a financial stipend, health insurance, mental health services, caregiver training, and respite care.
- Camp Lejeune Family Member Program: Children who lived with their veteran parents at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina for at least 30 days between August 1953 and December 1987 may have been exposed to contaminated water. This program provides health care benefits for those who have developed associated conditions.
- Spina Bifida Health Care Benefits Program: Biological children of Korean or Vietnam War veterans diagnosed with spina bifida may qualify for health care benefits.
- Children of Women Vietnam Veterans (CWVV) Health Care Benefits Program: Biological children of female Vietnam War veterans who have been diagnosed with certain birth defects may qualify for health care benefits to treat their covered birth defect and related medical conditions.
Education Benefits
Dependent and surviving children of veterans may be eligible for education benefits, also known as Chapter 35 Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits. The DEA program offers education and training opportunities to eligible dependents of veterans who are:
- Permanently and totally disabled due to a service-connected condition.
- Currently receiving TDIU benefits.
- Deceased while on active duty or as a result of a service-connected condition.
The DEA benefits can be used for degree and certificate programs, apprenticeships, and on-the-job training. Dependents may receive up to 45 months of education benefits if they started before August 1, 2018. If they began on or after this date, they have 36 months to use the benefits.
Life Insurance
Children of veterans may be eligible for life insurance through the VA's Family Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance (FSGLI) program. FSGLI offers coverage for dependent children of service members who are:
- On active duty and covered by full-time Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance (SGLI).
- Members of the National Guard or Ready Reserve and covered by full-time SGLI.
There is no cost for coverage up to $10,000 for each dependent child. Beneficiaries can also receive free financial planning and online will preparation services.
Financial Support
The VA also provides financial support for children of veterans, including:
- Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC): A tax-free monthly benefit for the surviving children of service members who died in the line of duty or from a service-related injury or illness.
- Survivors' Pension: A tax-free monthly pension for low-income, unmarried surviving children of deceased veterans with wartime service.
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Children of veterans can qualify for education and training benefits
Children of veterans can qualify for a range of educational benefits, including:
- The Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance (DEA) Program (Chapter 35): This program offers education and training benefits to the dependents of disabled veterans, as well as the children of veterans who died on active duty or due to a service-related condition. DEA provides monthly payments to help cover the cost of degrees, certificates, correspondence courses, and apprenticeships for children between the ages of 18 and 26.
- Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry Scholarship (Fry Scholarship): Children of service members who died on active duty after September 10, 2001, may be eligible for this scholarship, which offers money for tuition, housing, books, and supplies.
- Post-9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33): Dependent children can use benefits transferred by an eligible veteran or service member to help pay for school or training for up to 36 months.
- Other scholarships: Various organizations offer scholarships and grants specifically for the children of veterans, such as the American Legion Legacy Scholarship, Ankin Law Office Scholarship for Military Veterans, and Air Force Aid Society General Henry H. Arnold Education Grant Program.
In addition to these federal benefits, many states also offer education benefits for the children of veterans. For example, in California, children of veterans can apply for the CalVet Fee Waiver, which enables them to attend a California State University without paying tuition fees.
Children of veterans can qualify for burial benefits
The VA will repay a fixed amount for transportation, funeral, and burial costs for eligible veterans. In some cases, the VA will also pay for the cost of transporting the veteran's remains to the nearest national cemetery. Additionally, the VA offers burial in national cemeteries for qualifying veterans and their families at no cost. This includes the gravesite, grave liner, opening and closing of the grave, a headstone or marker, and perpetual care.
To be eligible for VA burial benefits, the veteran must have been discharged from active duty under conditions other than dishonorable. Active-duty service members who die while on active duty, active duty for training, or inactive duty training are also eligible, as are their spouses and dependent children. Reservists and National Guard members, along with their spouses and dependent children, are eligible if they were entitled to retired pay at the time of death or would have been upon reaching the requisite age.
The VA's National Cemetery Scheduling Office or local national cemetery directors verify eligibility for burial. To determine eligibility, a copy of the veteran's discharge document specifying the period(s) of active duty and character of discharge is usually required. In some cases, a copy of the death certificate and proof of relationship to the veteran may also be needed for eligible family members.
In addition to burial benefits, children of veterans may also qualify for other benefits such as education, healthcare, and pension benefits. These benefits are provided by the VA to honour and support the families of those who have served.
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Children of veterans can qualify for survivor compensation
To qualify for DIC, surviving children must meet the following requirements:
- They are not married.
- They are not included in the surviving spouse's compensation.
- They are under the age of 18 (or under 23 if they are attending school).
Surviving children must provide evidence to support their claim, including military service records, doctor's reports, and medical test results. They will also need to prove that the service member died while on active duty, active duty for training, or inactive-duty training, or that the veteran died from a service-connected illness or injury.
In addition to DIC, children of veterans may also be eligible for other benefits such as health care, life insurance, and educational assistance.
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Frequently asked questions
A veteran child is a biological, adopted, or stepchild of a veteran. They must be under 18 years old, or between 18 and 23 and enrolled in school full-time, or a helpless child permanently incapable of self-support due to a physical or intellectual disability established before the age of 18.
Veteran children may be eligible for the Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs (CHAMPVA), which covers some of the cost of health care services and supplies. They may also be eligible for TRICARE, which offers comprehensive health coverage, including health plans, prescriptions, medicines, dental plans, and programs for individuals with special needs.
Veteran children may also be eligible for Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC), which is a tax-free monthly benefit paid to the surviving children of service members who died in the line of duty or from a service-related injury or illness. They may also be eligible for educational benefits, such as the DEA program, which offers education and training opportunities to eligible dependents of veterans.
