What Happens to Your Veterans Affairs (VA) Account When You Die
Quick Facts
Deadline
Apply within 2 years for burial
Difficulty
Moderate
Key Info
Burial benefit, headstone, flag, and DIC available
Step-by-Step Guide
Document veteran status
Record the DD-214 (discharge papers) location, VA claim number, and service dates.
Estimated time: 10 min
Apply for burial benefits
Apply for VA burial benefits, national cemetery burial, headstone/marker, and burial flag.
Estimated time: 30 min
Apply for DIC benefits
Surviving spouse or dependents may be eligible for Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC).
Cancel VA healthcare enrollment
Notify the VA to cancel healthcare enrollment and stop any ongoing benefits.
Estimated time: 15 min
Document Now Checklist
- DD-214 location
- VA claim number
- Service dates and branch
- VA healthcare status
- Current VA benefits received
Save this to your vault
When you document your accounts in Passed Plan, your family gets a personalized action plan — with only the guides that apply to them, in the right order, with your notes attached.
Start your vault — free for 30 daysLast verified: June 2026. Platform policies may change. Verify current procedures directly with Veterans Affairs (VA). This guide is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.
Related Guides
Social Security
Social Security must be notified of death immediately. Benefits paid after death must be returned. Survivor benefits may be available.
IRS / Tax Returns
A final individual tax return must be filed for the year of death. Estates over $13.61M may owe federal estate tax.
Passport / Driver's License / State IDs
Cancel government IDs promptly to prevent identity theft. A deceased person's identity is a target for fraudsters.
Protect your Veterans Affairs (VA) account — and all your others
Document your digital life in a zero-knowledge encrypted vault. 1,800+ platform guides. Dead Man's Switch. Everything your family needs.
Start your free trial →This is 1 of 1,800+ guides in Passed Plan. When you document your accounts, your family gets a personalized Family Action Guide with only the steps that apply to them — in the right order, with your notes.
Browse all 1,800+ guides →