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STATEMENT

VA rule: survivors meeting certain criteria will receive Survivors Pension instead of DIC

True

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VA awards Survivors Pension and stops developing the DIC claim for survivors who meet the listed criteria (surviving spouse, no dependents, residing in a nursing home, applied for or receiving Medicaid).

Source summary
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs issued a regulation, effective Feb. 23, 2026, that will speed survivors’ claims by allowing VA to pay the higher of Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) or Survivors Pension without first completing separate formal decisions for both benefits. DIC is typically higher and will generally be paid immediately, except when the claimant meets four specific conditions (surviving spouse with no dependents, residing in a nursing home, and applied for or receiving Medicaid), in which case Survivors Pension will be awarded. Veterans and survivors can contact the VA benefits hotline at 800-827-1000 for more information.
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Latest fact check

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs press release (Feb. 13, 2026) and the VA final rule clarify that VA will pay the greater of Survivors Pension and Dependency and Indemnity Compensation and that, in the specific circumstances listed (surviving spouse with no dependents, residing in a nursing home, and applied for or receiving Medicaid), VA will award Survivors Pension rather than DIC and will not further develop the DIC claim. Verdict: True — official VA materials (the Feb. 13, 2026 VA News release and the VA final rule published in the Federal Register) state the policy and the effective date (Feb. 23, 2026).

Sources

Timeline

  1. Update · Feb 14, 2026, 12:23 AMTrue
    The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs press release (Feb. 13, 2026) and the VA final rule clarify that VA will pay the greater of Survivors Pension and Dependency and Indemnity Compensation and that, in the specific circumstances listed (surviving spouse with no dependents, residing in a nursing home, and applied for or receiving Medicaid), VA will award Survivors Pension rather than DIC and will not further develop the DIC claim. Verdict: True — official VA materials (the Feb. 13, 2026 VA News release and the VA final rule published in the Federal Register) state the policy and the effective date (Feb. 23, 2026).
  2. Original article · Feb 13, 2026
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