Dependency and Indemnity Compensation(DIC)is a monthly benefit. It is paid to eligible survivors of:
• Service members who died while on active duty, active duty for training or inactive duty training, OR
• Veterans who died as a result of a service-connected injury or disease, OR
• Veterans who did not die as a result of a service-connected injury or disease, but were totally disabled by a service-connected disability:
• For at least 10 years before death, OR
• Since their release from active duty and for at least five years before death, OR
• For at least one year before death, if they were a former prisoner of war and died after Sept. 30, 1999.