The spousal benefit Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) is for a surviving spouse and/or eligible children of a deceased Veteran whose death was as a result of a service-connected condition. It is a tax-free monetary benefit paid to the eligible surviving spouse or child. DIC is a continual monthly benefit paid after the death of the Veteran. A surviving spouse who remarries before age 57 is no longer entitled to continue to receive DIC.