### Section B. Eligibility

#### Overview

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| #          | > This section contains the following topics:           |
| #### In th |                                                         |
| is Section |                                                         |
+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+

  ------------ ---------------------------------------------- ------------
  Topic        Topic Name                                     See Page

  4            Eligibility for the Special Allowance Under 38 1-B-2
               U.S.C. 1312(a)                                 

  5            Claims for the Special Allowance Under 38      1-B-4
               U.S.C. 1312(a)                                 
  ------------ ---------------------------------------------- ------------

#### 4. Eligibility for the Special Allowance Under 38 U.S.C. 1312(a)

+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+
| ##### In   | > This topic contains information on eligibility for    |
| troduction | > the special allowance under 38 U.S.C. 1312(a),        |
|            | > including information on                              |
|            |                                                         |
|            | -   the eligibility requirements for veterans           |
|            |                                                         |
|            | -   eligibility determinations made by the Department   |
|            |     of Veterans Affairs (VA), and                       |
|            |                                                         |
|            | -   eligibility determinations made by the Social       |
|            |     Security Administration (SSA).                      |
+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+

+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+
| ##### C    | > November 16, 2004                                     |
| hange Date |                                                         |
+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+

+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+
| ###        | > The surviving dependents of a veteran are eligible    |
| ## a. Vete | > for the special allowance under 38 U.S.C. 1312(a), if |
| rans' Elig |                                                         |
| ibility Re | -   the veteran died after separation or release from   |
| quirements |     service, and                                        |
|            |                                                         |
|            | -   there is possible entitlement to special allowance  |
|            |     under 38 U.S.C. 1312(a), as described in M21-1MR,   |
|            |     Part IX, Subpart ii, 1.B.                           |
+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+

+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+
| #####      | > If the requirements of M21-1MR, Part IX, Subpart ii,  |
| b. Eligibi | > 1.B.4.a are met, Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)  |
| lity Deter | > makes the following determinations:                   |
| minations  |                                                         |
| Made by VA | -   line of duty and service connection for the cause   |
|            |     of death as provided in 38 CFR 3.1(k) and 38 CFR    |
|            |     3.1(m), based on a service-connected (SC)           |
|            |     disability incurred or aggravated after September   |
|            |     15, 1940, and                                       |
|            |                                                         |
|            | -   whether discharge or release from active duty,      |
|            |     active duty for training, or inactive duty training |
|            |     was under conditions other than dishonorable per 38 |
|            |     CFR 3.12 and 38 CFR 3.804.                          |
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Continued on next page

4\. Eligibility for the Special Allowance Under 38 U.S.C. 1312(a),
Continued

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| #          | > The Social Security Administration (SSA) determines   |
| #### c. El | > and certifies the following:                          |
| igibility  |                                                         |
| Determinat | -   whether the veteran was fully and currently insured |
| ions Made  |     at the time of death                                |
| by the SSA |                                                         |
|            | -   whether there is a survivor eligible to receive the |
|            |     special allowance under 38 U.S.C. 1312(a)           |
|            |                                                         |
|            | -   the first month of entitlement and the amount of    |
|            |     monthly benefits that are to be paid to each        |
|            |     eligible survivor under 38 U.S.C. 1312(a), and      |
|            |                                                         |
|            | -   any subsequent determination requiring              |
|            |                                                         |
|            | ```{=html}                                              |
|            | <!-- -->                                                |
|            | ```                                                     |
|            | -   deductions from monthly benefits                    |
|            |                                                         |
|            | -   termination of entitlement, or                      |
|            |                                                         |
|            | -   increases or decreases in monthly benefits.         |
+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+

#### 5. Claims for the Special Allowance Under 38 U.S.C. 1312(a)

+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+
| ##### In   | > This topic contains information on claims for the     |
| troduction | > special allowance under 38 U.S.C. 1312(a), including  |
|            | > information on                                        |
|            |                                                         |
|            | -   accepting claims for the special allowance, and     |
|            |                                                         |
|            | -   handling the receipt of *VA Form 21-4182*,          |
|            |     *Application for Dependency and Indemnity           |
|            |     Compensation or Death Pension (Including Accrued    |
|            |     Benefits and Death Compensation Where Applicable)*. |
+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+

+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+
| ##### C    | > April 19, 2004                                        |
| hange Date |                                                         |
+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+

+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+
| #          | > No special application is required to claim the       |
| #### a. Ac | > special allowance under 38 U.S.C. 1312(a).            |
| cepting Cl | >                                                       |
| aims for t | > Accept a claim for Dependency and Indemnity           |
| he Special | > Compensation (DIC) on the following forms as a claim  |
|  Allowance | > for special allowance when it is determined that the  |
|            | > benefit is payable:                                   |
|            |                                                         |
|            | -   *VA Form 21-534*, *Application for DIC or Death     |
|            |     Pension by a Surviving Spouse or Child*             |
|            |                                                         |
|            | -   *VA Form 21-535*, *Application for Dependency and   |
|            |     Indemnity Compensation,* or                         |
|            |                                                         |
|            | -   *VA Form 21-4182*, *Application for Dependency and  |
|            |     Indemnity Compensation or Death Pension (Including  |
|            |     Accrued Benefits and Death Compensation Where       |
|            |     Applicable).*                                       |
|            |                                                         |
|            | > ***Reference***: For more information on eligibility  |
|            | > for the special allowance, see M21-1MR, Part IX,      |
|            | > Subpart ii, 1.B.4.                                    |
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Continued on next page

5\. Claims for the Special Allowance Under 38 U.S.C. 1312(a), Continued

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| ##### b.   | > Use the table below to determine how to handle the    |
|  Handling  | > receipt of *VA Form 21-4182*.                         |
| the Receip |                                                         |
| t of VA Fo |                                                         |
| rm 21-4182 |                                                         |
+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+

+----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| When ...                         | Then ...                          |
+----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| you receive *VA Form 21-4182*    | obtain a completed application on |
| from a surviving                 | *VA Form 21-534* or *VA Form      |
|                                  | 21-535* before taking rating      |
| -   spouse                       | action.                           |
|                                  |                                   |
| -   child, or                    |                                   |
|                                  |                                   |
| -   parent                       |                                   |
+----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| you receive *VA Form 2l-4182* or | take rating action, if required,  |
| a specific inquiry regarding     | for the determination of          |
| entitlement under 38 U.S.C.      | entitlement as described in       |
| 1312(a) from a person who        | M21-1MR, Part IX, Subpart ii,     |
|                                  | 1.B.4.b without first obtaining a |
| -   has *no* apparent            | formal application provided there |
|     entitlement to DIC, and      | is no legal bar to the payment of |
|                                  | such allowance.                   |
| -   has *not* filed a formal     |                                   |
|     application for DIC          |                                   |
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