100% Disabled Veterans Spousal Benefits

The VA provides benefits to spouses of veterans with a permanent 100% VA disability rating. These benefits may include additional monthly compensation as well as healthcare and educational benefits for the disabled veterans’ dependents. Also, if your partner with the 100% disability rating passes, you may be eligible for other VA benefits after their death.

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VA Benefits for Spouses of Disabled Veterans

Monetary Benefits

While the spouse of a disabled veteran typically doesn’t directly receive monetary benefits, the veteran’s monthly monetary benefit is increased for each eligible dependent, including the spouse. This increase in monetary benefits for dependents is available not just at the 100% disability level, but to all veterans with a VA disability rating of 30% or higher.

Education Benefits

Figuring out how to pay for schooling while your veteran spouse is suffering from disabling conditions can be extremely frustrating and challenging. The Department Of Veteran Affairs offers education and training benefits to the partners and children of 100% disabled veterans and veterans who passed away in the line of duty.

Different benefits are subject to different requirements and restrictions, and some cannot be collected together. So, it is important to understand each benefit that may be available to you and how they work together before making decisions about which benefits to claim and when.

The primary educational benefit that may be available to the spouse of a veteran with a permanent 100% VA disability rating is assistance with college, career training, certificate programs and apprenticeships through the Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance program (DEA).

The amount of assistance available depends on the type of program and whether the spouse is attending full or part time. The maximum available benefits for the one-year period from October 1, 2024 to September 30, 2025 are listed below.

Benefits For College and Vocational Training

For full-time attendance, $1,536 for each full month of attendance
For attendance at least ¾ time but less than full time, $1,214 for each full month of attendance
For attendance at least ½ time but less than ¾ time, $890 for each full month of attendance
For attendance at least ¼ time but less than ½ time, the lesser of $890 for each full month of attendance or the cost of tuition
For attendance less than ¼ time, the lesser of $384 for each full month of attendance or the cost of tuition

Benefits for Apprenticeship and On-the-Job Training

Unlike benefits for college and vocational school, benefits for apprenticeships and on-the-job training phase out over time. The spouse of a 100% disabled veteran pursuing either of these paths to better employment will receive:

$975/month for the first six months
$733/month for months seven through 12
$481/month for months 13 through 18
$245/month for months 19 and after

Other Educational Benefits

The DEA program may also provide funds for test preparation courses and licensing exams. In addition, the spouse of a 100% disabled veteran may be entitled to:

Transferred Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits
Yellow Ribbon Program funds
Educational and career counseling

Call 1-888-373-4722 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form

Healthcare Benefits

Healthcare is one benefit you can receive if your spouse has a VA disability rating of 100%. TRICARE provides healthcare benefits to disabled veterans’ spouses, and other dependents.

Some health programs may include:

Health plans
Dental plans
Prescription medications
Special needs programs

If you learn that you don’t qualify for TRICARE, you may qualify for benefits through CHAMPVA.

Caregiver Assistance

The spouse of a 100% disabled veteran (or any veteran with a disability rating of 70% or higher who needs day-to-day assistance) may qualify for PCAFC (Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers) benefits. These benefits may include:

CHAMPVA medical coverage
A monthly stipend
Respite care for the veteran to allow the caregiver spouse time off
Caregiver education and training

Spouses of Veterans Who Pass Away With a 100% Disability Rating

You may qualify for Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) if your spouse has passed away with a 100% VA disability rating. These monthly benefits are sent to the surviving spouse and are tax-free. In 2025, the DIC rate is $1,653.07. Compensation may be higher if the surviving spouse has minor children, an adult child who is disabled, or a child between the ages of 18 and 23 who is attending school.

Benefits may also be increased in other circumstances, such as when:

The surviving spouse is disabled and needs regular help with daily activities
The surviving spouse is housebound due to a disability
The veteran spouse had a VA disability rating of 100% for at least eight years before death and the surviving spouse was married to them throughout that time

Call 1-888-373-4722 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form

Other Benefits Available to Spouses of Deceased Veterans

If you are a spouse of a deceased veteran who had a 100% disability rating, you may be eligible for additional benefits from VA, such as:

Free Career and Educational Counseling
Beneficiary Assistance
Home Loan Programs

Call 1-888-373-4722 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form

Help Securing VA Benefits For Spouses of Disabled Veterans

As a spouse or the surviving spouse of a 100% disabled veteran, it is important to understand the ins and outs of the benefits the VA has available to you. This brief overview has probably made it clear that sorting out what you may and may not be entitled to and maximizing the benefits you can collect is complicated. Too often, people leave the valuable benefits on the table because they dont know their righs or dont event know a particular program exists. At Disabled Vets, our advocates have put in the time and effort to develop an in-depth undersatnding of VA benefits for bveterans their families, so we can help you understand these benefits further and ensure that you dont miss out on benefits youre qualified for. Call or contact our team here to learn how we can help you secure the benefits you deserve.