Children of Veterans

Children of Veterans With Mesothelioma

Children of veterans with mesothelioma may need assistance after their loved one has been diagnosed with cancer. Children under 18 who lose a parent to an illness connected to their military service (like diseases related to asbestos exposure) may be entitled to a range of benefits from the VA. Similarly, minor children may qualify for Social Security benefits from eligible workers.

Conversely, adult children of veterans with mesothelioma require other types of financial aid and veteran-related support. Often, adult children become caregivers for parents – even when they don’t live in the same city. In these cases, children of vets may need additional resources like care training or travel assistance.

To honor a veteran after their death, surviving children can apply to the VA for help with end-of-life services. The VA provides programs that assist family members in planning a burial in a VA national cemetery, replacing lost medals, accessing military service records, and more.

VA Support for Children of Veterans

The types of VA benefits children of veterans qualify for typically depend on the veteran’s benefits eligibility and the age of the child. Support for dependent children of vets may include health care coverage, education assistance, and financial compensation. After a parent passes, the VA offers a variety of resources for both minor and adult children.

Keep reading for more information about VA-provided support for children of veterans.

Family Caregivers for Retired Veterans

Adult children who become the caregiver of a veteran receiving disability benefits may qualify for VA assistance. The Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers (PCAFC) is available for certain vets with service-connected disabilities. A veteran can designate up to three family caregivers (one primary and two secondary caregivers).

Children who become a primary family caregiver could qualify for:

• Healthcare coverage
• Monthly compensation payments
• 30 days per year of respite care for vet

Any eligible family caregiver could get:

• Education and caregiver training
• Mental health counseling
• Travel, lodging, and financial assistance when taking vet to treatment

The Program of General Caregiver Support Services (PGCSS) offers support for caregivers and veterans regardless of service-related conditions. Caregivers can receive training at a VA medical center (VAMC) and use some VA home care services.

Compensation for Children of Veterans

Children of veterans may be entitled to VA survivor benefits if the death was caused by a service-related illness or injury. Known as VA Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC), the program provides tax-free monthly payments to surviving children – and spouse, if applicable.

Factors that may limit DIC rates for (or disqualify) surviving children include:

• Age
• Enrollment in VA-approved school program
• Marital status
• Number of dependent children
• Permanent disability occurring before age 18
• Surviving spouse eligibility

Children of some vets may also qualify for Survivors Pension benefits. Pension payments are designated for dependents of wartime veterans. Eligibility for Survivors Pension compensation depends on several similar factors.

Dependents may receive whichever compensation benefit is greater – DIC or Survivors Pension.

Educational Opportunities for Children of Veterans

Depending on their parent’s eligibility, children of veterans may qualify for education assistance and employment training. VA education benefits (Chapter 35) and Personalized Career Planning and Guidance (Chapter 36) programs help children realize their future career goals. Other dependent VA education benefits include the Post-9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33) and the Montgomery GI Bill (Chapter 30).

Dependents whose parent is permanently and totally disabled due to military service may be eligible for the above education assistance as well as some surviving children. Parents can also transfer certain education benefits to children.

Education and career guidance benefits include:

• Assistance planning steps to employment
• Education and training
• Help to decide the best use of VA benefits
• Funding for books and school supplies
• Funding for housing
• Programs to explore career interests and abilities
• Tuition payments

Health Care and Dependent Children

Typically, dependent children qualify for VA health care coverage if their parent qualifies. Biological, stepchildren, and adopted children may be covered by their parent’s TRICARE insurance until the age of 21 (23 if enrolled in college) if they are unmarried.

The VA cost-sharing program, The Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs (CHAMPVA), is available to some current and surviving children of disabled veterans. CHAMPVA health care may also be available to adult children of veterans who become their caregivers.

Veteran Life Insurance Beneficiary

In most cases, the child of a vet is the beneficiary (and not the policyholder) of a VA life insurance plan. Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance (SGLI), Veterans Group Life Insurance (VGLI), and Service-Disabled Veterans Life Insurance (S-DVI) plans are offered by the VA to veterans. Dependent children may be covered by the VA’s Family Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance (FSGLI).

Veteran Memorial Items and Burial

One of the primary missions of the VA is to continue honoring veterans after they’ve passed. Surviving children can apply to the VA for several end-of-life services, such as help planning and paying for burial in a VA cemetery, memorial items for graves, and bereavement counseling.

Adult children of vets can also use the VA website to:

• Find national, state, and tribal government veterans’ cemeteries
• Order replacement awards, decorations, and medals
• Request military records
• Search historical military records
• Schedule a burial
• View the VA national cemetery daily burial schedule

Other Benefits for Children of Veterans

Children of veterans could qualify for other benefits based on their parent’s age or physical disability.

Health Insurance

Most children under 26 years old are still covered by their parents’ health insurance, due to the Affordable Care Act. However, certain benefits (like Medicare) are only available on an individual basis. Consequently, Medicare is not offered to dependents. They must apply on their own.

In the event of a parent’s death, children may qualify for Medicaid or Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) health coverage.

Social Security

Children of vets with mesothelioma may be able to receive a portion of their parent’s Social Security benefits. Benefits of parents who are disabled, retired, or deceased help unmarried children under 18 (in most cases) finish high school and pay for everyday necessities. Stepchildren, grandchildren, step-grandchildren, and adopted children may also qualify for Social Security compensation.

About 4.2 million children received monthly Social Security benefits in 2017 because of a parent’s disability, retirement, or death.

Legal Compensation and Support

If a parent’s death is caused by asbestos exposure, their children or another family member may receive legal compensation. Pursuing a legal case does not mean children are suing the VA or the military. Instead, lawsuits are filed against the company (or companies) responsible.

The statute of limitations for each state determines the amount of time available to file a case. In states like California, you have as little as one year to file.

Speak with a mesothelioma attorney as soon as possible to explore options including:

• Asbestos trust fund claims
• Personal injury lawsuits
• Workers’ compensation
• Wrongful death lawsuits