XII.i.1.A
Section summaries · M21-1 Part XII
Choose the correct survivor-benefit authority before building the award.
Part XII covers DIC, survivor allowances and offsets, death compensation, §1312 special allowance, and REPS.
22 of 22 section summaries shownXII.i.1.B
Common DIC issues
Resolve marriage/child status, claim dates, elections, offsets, prior awards, and other recurring DIC processing questions.
Read the captured Part XII source →XII.i.1.C
In-service death/FPOW DIC
Use casualty/FPOW facts and dedicated development to decide the survivor claim and related benefits.
Read the captured Part XII source →XII.i.2.A
DIC rating
Decide cause/contributory cause of death, §1318 or §1151 basis, evidence, effective date, and favorable findings.
Read the captured Part XII source →XII.i.2.B
Survivor A&A/housebound
Apply survivor-specific medical/factual standards for aid-and-attendance or housebound allowance.
Read the captured Part XII source →XII.i.3.A
Initial DIC authorization
Verify payee, relationship, rates, dates, dependency, offsets, elections, ancillary benefits, and notice.
Read the captured Part XII source →XII.i.3.B
Death of DIC payee/dependent
Stop or adjust the award and determine any successor child/claimant entitlement after the survivor/dependent dies.
Read the captured Part XII source →XII.i.3.C
Children after spouse determination
Award eligible children consistently with the surviving-spouse determination, custody/payee facts, rates, and dates.
Read the captured Part XII source →XII.i.3.D
FEGLI bar
Verify the specific Federal life-insurance facts and statutory bar before withholding or denying the affected award.
Read the captured Part XII source →XII.i.3.E
Allowance/allotment/service pay
Coordinate the survivor award with qualifying service payments under §5110(j) and use the proper date/payment rule.
Read the captured Part XII source →XII.i.3.F
No duplicate benefits
Identify overlapping Federal/survivor benefits and require the correct election or offset before payment.
Read the captured Part XII source →XII.i.4.A
SSA application as DIC claim
Determine whether and when an SSA survivor application qualifies as a VA DIC application for date purposes.
Read the captured Part XII source →XII.i.4.B
DIC allowances
Develop and award §1311(a)(2) and other additional allowances only when each duration/status requirement is met.
Read the captured Part XII source →XII.i.4.C
SBP offsets
Coordinate DIC and Survivor Benefit Plan payment under current offset/phase-out rules and verified DFAS information.
Read the captured Part XII source →XII.ii.1
Death compensation
Identify legacy death-compensation entitlement, election, rate, and relationship to DIC.
Read the captured Part XII source →XII.ii.2.A
§1312 special allowance
Identify the allowance’s purpose, claimant class, and threshold eligibility before development.
Read the captured Part XII source →XII.ii.2.B
§1312 eligibility/claims
Determine eligible claimant, qualifying death/benefit history, form, and timeliness.
Read the captured Part XII source →XII.ii.2.C
§1312 development
Develop relationship, prior payments, eligibility facts, and evidence required for the special allowance.
Read the captured Part XII source →XII.ii.2.D
§1312 authorization
Calculate, authorize, and notify the special allowance with correct payee, date, and payment controls.
Read the captured Part XII source →XII.ii.3.A
REPS overview
Identify the survivor and earnings-related entitlement intended to replace certain lost Social Security benefits.
Read the captured Part XII source →XII.ii.3.B
REPS claims
Establish and develop the REPS claim, claimant relationship, age/student/disability status, earnings, and required SSA facts.
Read the captured Part XII source →XII.ii.3.C