Title 38Veterans' BenefitsRelease 119-73

§1312 Benefits in certain cases of in-service or service-connected deaths

Title 38 › Part PART II— - GENERAL BENEFITS › Chapter CHAPTER 13— - DEPENDENCY AND INDEMNITY COMPENSATION FOR SERVICE-CONNECTED DEATHS › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER II— - DEPENDENCY AND INDEMNITY COMPENSATION › § 1312

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

Pay dependency and indemnity compensation (DIC) to survivors of certain veterans who died after December 31, 1956. The veteran must not have been “fully and currently insured” for Social Security when they died. The death must have happened on active duty (including training) or from a service-connected disability that began after September 15, 1940. The survivors must not be getting monthly Social Security benefits on the veteran’s record but would be eligible if the veteran had been fully and currently insured. If a surviving spouse with children gets less DIC than the death pension they (or the children, if the spouse were not entitled) would get under chapter 15, the Secretary must increase the DIC so it equals that pension amount. (fully and currently insured — a Social Security status about having enough work credits)

Full Legal Text

Title 38, §1312

Veterans' Benefits — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)In the case of any veteran—
(1)who dies after December 31, 1956, and is not a fully and currently insured individual (as defined in section 214 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 414)) at the time of such veteran’s death; and
(2)whose death occurs—
(A)while on active duty, active duty for training, or inactive duty training; or
(B)as the result of a service-connected disability incurred after September 15, 1940; and
(3)who leaves one or more survivors who are not entitled for any month to monthly benefits under section 202 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 402) on the basis of such veteran’s wages and self-employment income but who would, upon application therefor, be entitled to such benefits if such veteran had been fully and currently insured at the time of such veteran’s death;
(b)In any case where the amount of dependency and indemnity compensation payable under this chapter to a surviving spouse who has children is less than the amount of pension which would be payable to (1) such surviving spouse, or (2) such children if the surviving spouse were not entitled, under chapter 15 of this title had the death occurred under circumstances authorizing payment of death pension, the Secretary shall pay dependency and indemnity compensation to such surviving spouse in an amount equal to such amount of pension.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

The Social Security Act, referred to in subsec. (a), is act Aug. 14, 1935, ch. 531, 49 Stat. 620. Title II of the Social Security Act is classified generally to subchapter II (§ 401 et seq.) of chapter 7 of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare. section 214 and 202 of the Social Security Act are classified to section 414 and 402 of Title 42, respectively. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see section 1305 of Title 42 and Tables.

Amendments

1991—Pub. L. 102–83, § 5(a), renumbered section 412 of this title as this section. Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 102–83, § 4(b)(1), (2)(E), substituted “Secretary” for “Administrator” in two places in concluding provisions. Pub. L. 102–54 substituted “401” for “201” in concluding provisions. Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 102–83, § 4(b)(1), (2)(E), substituted “Secretary” for “Administrator”. 1984—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 98–223, § 213(2), substituted “section 214 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 414)” for “section 414 of title 42” in par. (1), “section 202 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 402)” for “section 402 of title 42” in par. (3), and “title II of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 201 et seq.)” for “subchapter II of chapter 7 of title 42” in provision following par. (3). 1976—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 94–433 substituted “such veteran’s” for “his” in cls. (1) and (3) and in text following cl. (3) and “such veteran” for “he” in cl. (3). Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 94–433 substituted “surviving spouse” for “widow” wherever appearing. 1966—Pub. L. 89–466 inserted “to a widow who has children”, “to (1) such widow, or (2) such children if the widow were not entitled”, and “such widow”. 1961—Pub. L. 87–268 designated existing provisions as subsec. (a) and added subsec. (b).

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

of 1976 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 94–433 effective Oct. 1, 1976, see section 406 of Pub. L. 94–433, set out as a note under section 1101 of this title.

Effective Date

of 1961 Amendment Pub. L. 87–268, § 3, Sept. 21, 1961, 75 Stat. 566, provided that: “The

Amendments

made by this Act [amending this section and section 107, 411 [now 1311], 415 [now 1315], 422 [now 1322], and 503 [now 1503] of this title and enacting provisions set out as notes under this section] shall take effect as of the first day of the first calendar month which begins after the date of its enactment [Sept. 21, 1961].” Filing of Application for Benefits Pub. L. 87–268, § 2, Sept. 21, 1961, 75 Stat. 566, provided that the increased pension benefits authorized by Pub. L. 87–268 were to be payable from the

Effective Date

of Pub. L. 87–268 to anyone receiving dependency and indemnity compensation on such date only if the application for such increased benefits were filed with the Veterans’ Administration within one year from such date and evidence of entitlement were of record or received within one year from the date of request therefor.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

38 U.S.C. § 1312

Title 38Veterans' Benefits

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73