VA Form 21P-534A, Application for Dependency and Indemnity Compensation by a Surviving Spouse or Child - In-Service Death Only , is a document used to properly determine the eligibility of a surviving spouse or child to receive dependency and indemnity compensation, benefits, death pension, and/or death compensation. It is used by surviving spouses and children of veterans who died during active duty service. The latest version of the VA 21P-534A Form was issued by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) on October 1, 2018 , with all previous editions obsolete. The form replaces the obsolete VA Form 21-534A and is available for download below.
VA Form 21P-534, Application for Dependency and Indemnity Compensation, Death Pension and Accrued Benefits by a Surviving Spouse or Child, is a related document used by surviving spouses and children to apply for VA benefits and any money the VA may owe the deceased veteran. It is used when a veteran's death occurred on active service, or when a veteran died of a service-connected disability or a non-service-connected injury while being entitled to receive VA compensation for a service-connected disability. VA Form 21P-534EZ, Application for DIC, Death Pension, and/or Accrued Benefits, should be submitted by surviving spouses and children to provide the necessary information and evidence to substantiate a claim for survivor's pension, accrued benefits, or dependency and indemnity compensation.
The last items on the form are to be completed by the Military Casualty Assistance Officer - a representative assigned to you to assist in completing the form. The Casualty Assistance Officer (CAO) is required to write down the full name, rank, telephone number, and e-mail address.