Fill and Sign VA 21-534 Forms
What Is VA Form 21-534 Series?
The VA 21-534 Forms is a now-obsolete series of U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) documents that were completed by the deceased veteran's surviving spouse or child in order to apply for dependency and indemnity compensation, death pension, and/or accrued benefits. The forms are no longer in use, but the Dependency and Indemnity Compensation program is still in full force.
Printable versions of the VA 21-534 Forms are available for download below. This series includes three forms:
- VA Form 21-534, Application for Dependency and Indemnity Compensation, Death Pension and Accrued Benefits by a Surviving Spouse or Child (Including Death Compensation if Applicable), was submitted in all situations involving the death of a veteran – when the veteran died on active service, or after a service-related injury or disease. Additionally, this document was used if at the time of death the veteran was eligible to receive compensation from the VA for the disability or injury received in active service.
- VA Form 21-534A, Application for Dependency and Indemnity Compensation by a Surviving Spouse or Child - In-Service Death Only, is a related form that was filed when the veteran's death occurred in active duty service.
- VA Form 21-534EZ, Application for DIC, Death Pension, and/or Accrued Benefits, was the first document to be submitted when veterans' surviving spouses and children wished to receive various benefits. This form outlined all the necessary evidence that served as a basis for the potential claim to receive compensation.
VA Form 21-534, VA Form 21-534A, and VA Form 21-534EZ were replaced by VA Form 21P-534, VA Form 21P-534A, and VA Form 21P-534EZ respectively.
VA Application for Dependency and Indemnity Compensation
The VA has various programs that provide services and benefits to veterans, their surviving spouses, dependents, or beneficiaries. One of them is the Dependency and Indemnity Compensation paid monthly to eligible surviving spouses and children. The federal government mandates a streamlined process that creates the system used for survivors of veterans and servicemembers. To claim compensation or pension benefits, it was required to complete and submit VA 21-534 Forms.
The first step was to submit VA Form 21-534EZ to provide the necessary evidence for the claim, including a copy of the veteran's death certificate, necessary net-worth and income information, private medical treatment records, etc. If the veteran's death occurred during active duty service, it was necessary to complete VA Form 21-534A, in all other cases VA Form 21-534 was used.
Documents:
3
This document was required to make sure the surviving spouses and children of veterans are eligible to receive benefits for the service members who died during active duty service. The form is now replaced by VA Form 21P-534A.
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This form was used by a surviving spouse, children, or parents of a deceased veteran to claim benefits they may be entitled to, including Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC), death pension, and/or accrued benefits.
This form was used to apply for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) benefits or any money the VA owed to veterans that had not been paid prior to their death.
