We honor the opportunity to provide assistance to spouses and dependents of veterans who honorably served in our Nation's armed forces. The United States and the State of Oregon provide benefits for the surviving spouse, dependent children and dependent parents of deceased veterans and military servicemembers.

 

The Oregon Department of Veterans’ Affairs (ODVA) and Service Officers throughout the state provide free benefits counseling and claims service to military spouses and dependents. A Service Officer assists military spouses and dependents, free of charge, with application of benefits.

 TRICARE Standard
When you use TRICARE Standard, you have more choice in providers as you can seek care from any TRICARE-authorized provider (network or non-network), but you'll pay higher out-of-pocket costs. In general, the following are eligible for TRICARE Standard and Extra:
 
-- Active duty family members.
-- Retirees and their family members
-- Surviving family members (widowed spouses, children)
-- Eligible former spouses
-- Family members of activated National Guard or Reserve members
-- Retired National Guard and Reserve members and their families (upon reaching age 60)
-- Medal of Honor recipients and their families
 
To reduce your out-of-pocket costs, use the TRICARE Extra option by seeking care TRICARE network providers.  Using TRICARE Extra is like using a Preferred Provider Option (PPO).

Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance Program (DEA)
Education and training program for eligible spouses and dependent children of certain veterans. Benefit may be used for college or university degree, certificate programs, apprenticeship, and on-the-job training. The program offers up to 45 months of education benefits.

Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance Program (DEA)

Chapter 35
1-888-442-4551

If you are a son or daughter and wish to receive benefits for attending school or job training, you must be between the ages of 18 and 26. Benefit can be applied by the spouse, son, or daughter of a service member or veteran that is eligible:

• A servicemember who is hospitalized or receiving outpatient treatment for a service connected permanent and total disability and is likely to be discharged for that disability. This change is effective December 23, 2006.
• A servicemember forcibly detained or interned in line of duty by a foreign government or power.
• A servicemember missing in action or captured in line of duty by a hostile force.
• A veteran who died from any cause while such service-connected disability was in existence.
• A veteran who died or is permanently and totally disabled as the result of a service-connected disability. The disability must arise out of active service in the Armed Forces.

Employment Preference
Since the time of the Civil War, Veterans and Spouses of the Armed Forces have been given some degree of preference in appointments to Federal jobs. Ten (10) point preference added to the passing examination score of an unmarried spouse of certain deceased veterans, a spouse of a veteran unable to work because of a service-connected disability, and the mothers of a veteran who died in service or who is permanently and totally disabled.

http://www.usajobs.gov/EI3.asp

 Veteran Records - The National Archives
The National Archives can help families, next-of-kin and descendants of veterans to obtain copies of Military Service Records such as separation documents (DD-214)and medical records, and to get started with genealogical or historical research. A variety of important benefits and services are available to surviving spouses, their families, and next-of-kin from the Department of Veterans Affairs and other agencies. Call the National Archives at 1-866-272-6272 and select Option 4.

Learn about the National Archives
 
eVetRecs: Request Copies of Military Personnel Records

 VA Home Loan
A VA loan guaranty to acquire a home may be available to an unmarried spouse of a veteran or service member who died as a result of service-connected disabilities, a surviving spouse who remarries after age 57, or to a spouse of a service member officially listed as MIA or who is currently a POW for more than 90 days. Spouses of those listed MIA/POW are limited to one loan.

www.homeloans.va.gov/eligibility.htm

VA Pension
Death pension is a benefit paid to eligible dependents (surviving spouse and/or child) of deceased wartime veterans whose deaths were not related to military service. You may be eligible if:

• the deceased veteran was discharged from service under other than dishonorable conditions,  AND
• he or she served 90 days or more of active duty with at least 1 day during a period of war*,  AND
• you are the surviving spouse or unmarried child of the deceased veteran,  AND
• your countable income is below a yearly income limit set by law.

Fact Sheet and Income Limits

Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC)
Payable to the surviving spouse, children and dependent parents when the veteran died while on active duty or from an injury or illness which occurred in the U.S. Armed Forces. Parents who are dependent on a veteran with a service-connected disability, or whose child died in-service or from a service-connected disability, may be entitled as dependents on the veterans compensation award or to Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) if they are in financial need. Parents may be biological, step, adopted, or in loco parentis. The VA adjusts monthly payments subject to certain factors.

Learn more about DIC

 Burial and End of Life Veterans with a discharge other than dishonorable, their spouses and dependent children can be buried in a national cemetery. Other burial benefits available for all eligible veterans, regardless of whether they are buried in a national cemetery or a private cemetery, include a burial flag, a Presidential Memorial Certificate, and a government headstone or marker.

Oregon Military Funeral Honors Program

A burial allowance (if receiving or entitled to receive USDVA benefits at time of death), burial flag, grave marker and, if desired, burial in a national cemetary.

Burial Flags

Veterans and family members are also eligible for Burial At Sea. Anyone desiring burial at sea should indicate that preference in writing (in a will or other legal document).

Burial At Sea Program

 

 VA Life Insurance
Insurance programs were developed to provide insurance benefits for veterans and service members who may not be able to get insurance from private companies because of the extra risks involved in military service, or a service connected disability.

Filing a Death Claim (except SGLI/VGLI)

 CHAMPVA Medical Program

Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs (CHAMPVA) is a comprehensive health care program in which the VA shares the cost of covered health care services and supplies with eligible beneficiaries. To be eligible for CHAMPVA, you cannot be eligible for TRICARE/CHAMPUS and you must be in one of these categories:

• the spouse or child of a veteran who has been rated permanently and totally disabled for a service-connected disability by a VA regional office, or
• the surviving spouse or child of a veteran who died from a VA-rated service connected disability, or
• the surviving spouse or child of a veteran who was at the time death rated permanently and totally disabled from a service connected disability, or
• the surviving spouse or child of a military member who died in the line of duty, not due to misconduct (in most of these cases, these family members are eligible for TRICARE, not CHAMPVA).

www.va.gov/hac/forbeneficiaries/champva/champva.asp

 Bereavement Counseling

Bereavement counseling is assistance and support to people with emotional and psychological stress after the death of a loved one. Bereavement counseling includes a broad range of transition services, including outreach, counseling, and referral services to family members.

www.vetcenter.va.gov/Bereavement_Counseling.asp

 “No-Fee” Passports

“No-fee” passports are available to immediate family members (spouse, children, parents, brothers and sisters) for the expressed purpose of visiting their loved one’s grave or memorialization site at the American military cemeteries on foreign soil. For additional information, write to the American Battle Monuments Commission, Courthouse Plaza II, Suite 500, 2300 Clarendon Blvd., Arlington, VA  22201, or telephone 703-696-6897, or visit the Web site at http://www.abmc.gov/home.php.

 

 Social Security
Possible increase in benefits for survivors, due to service credits. Also, supplemental benefits for low-income persons.

www.vba.va.gov/bln/dependents/irs.htm

 

 Spouse and Dependent Tuition Waiver

Full tuition waiver for a bachelor's or master's degree at an Oregon University System institution. The program is open to eligible children and spouses of service members of the United States Armed Forces who:

• incurred a service connected condition(s), rated at 100% by the Department of Veteran Affairs, after 11 SEPT 2001, or
  
• died due to a service connected condition incurred after 11 SEPT 2001, or
  
• died while on active duty after 11 SEPT 2001.
  

The student must be a child (includes adopted child or stepchildren), a spouse, or un-remarried surviving spouse of a member of the United States Armed Forces. An eligible child must be 23 years of age or younger at the time the child applies for the waiver.

Download the Dependent Tuition Waiver Application

 Property Tax Exemption for Surviving Spouses
ORS 307.250 grants an exemption to any qualified surviving spouse of a war veteran. To qualify, you cannot remarry. If
you do remarry, you will become disqualified. The deceased war veteran must have been a member of and discharged or
released under honorable conditions from the U.S. Armed Forces and have completed a minimum period of service.

 
Complete a Surviving Spouse Exemption Claim form (150-303-086). File the application form with the county assessor on or before April 1, to claim a property tax exemption on your primary residence for the following tax year, beginning July 1. The surviving spouse, must attach proof of marriage to the deceased war veteran and the veteran’s military discharge or release papers (DD214). You also cannot have remarried.

 

 Gold Star License Plates

Available through the Oregon Department of Motor Vehicles for $10 every 2 years for the surviving parent, spouse or dependent of a person who was killed in action during an armed conflict while serving the Armed Forces of the United States.

www.oregon.gov/ODOT/DMV/vehicle/platevet.shtml

 Oregon Veterans Home
In addition to providing nursing home care for veterans, the Oregon Veterans Home provides nursing home care for the veteran's spouse/surviving spouse, and certain gold-star parents who are now in need of nursing home and/or Alzheimer's Disease care. The 151-bed long-term care facility provides skilled nursing, Alzheimers and other dementia, and inpatient and outpatient rehabilitative care. The Oregon Veterans´ Home is a Medicare and Medicaid certified facility. Toll free information number 1-800-846-8460.

Learn more about the Oregon Veterans' Home

 Public Records
Help in obtaining copies of records necessary for veterans' benefits claims.