WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Benjamin L. Cardin wants to ensure that surviving spouses of deceased veterans are aware of an approaching deadline that may affect entitlement to Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) Benefits.

Last year, Congress changed the law to restore DIC and related home loan and education benefits for surviving spouses who remarry on or after their 57^th birthday. Generally, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) pays DIC to the surviving spouses of military service members who die while on active duty, and to surviving spouses of veterans whose deaths resulted from service-connected causes.

Under previous law, surviving spouses who remarried were not eligible for DIC. They could only apply for reinstatement of DIC benefits if their subsequent marriage ended. Under the new law, surviving spouses who remarried after age 57 and before Dec. 16, 2003, have until Dec. 15, 2004 to apply for restoration of benefits. After that date, by law the VA must deny the application for DIC benefits.

"I want to be sure that surviving spouses know about this important change in the law so that they can receive the benefits to which they are entitled," said Rep. Cardin.

For more information on restoration of DIC, call the VA’s toll-free number at 1-800-827-1000 or visit the VA’s web site at

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