I'm applying for Survivor's Pension after Spouse passed in December. Any information about the process or hints greatly appreciated. TIA.

Pronker, I know nothing about this, but found this on the VA site:

"Should I submit an intent to file form?
You may want to submit anintent to file form before you apply for VA Survivors Pension benefits. This can give you the time you need to gather your evidence while avoiding a later potential start date (also called an effective date). When you notify us of your intent to file, you may be able to get retroactive payments (payments that start at a point in the past).
Find out how to submit an intent to file form"

Here is the full link:

https://www.va.gov/pension/survivors-pension/

The meeting went well and I'm awaiting a decision. I'm assuming this will take a few weeks or perhaps months. It's good to have waited for the meeting and help from the officer; he needed to consult his boss three times during filling out the forms. Good to hear was that the VA will supply aid/attendance to me in future should I require it. I'm snail mailing away for a copy of Spouse's divorce decree.

Thanks to appealing to my US Congressman, the burial allowance check came through Oct. 27th. I cannot thank him enough because start to finish, it took only one month for this after my initial request. What a thrill when the VA rep said "I'm Joe Blow from the US Treasury and we're calling due to a Congressional inquiry"!

As for the pension, that doesn't look workable. If I discontinue renting to folks and acquiring money, my income will qualify for a pension but this app, of course, would take some months or even a year to process, if then, "and you're not /guaranteed/ a pension" says the rep, so I'm giving it a bye. What would be the income stream in that year of waiting?

I remain astounded at the Congressman's office's speediness!

Thanks for the swift reply. It's not daunting at all now that I contacted First Wife and received the date and place of their marriage and her maiden name, so I'm considering waiting maybe a day to look over everything and send it. The 28th seems too far out, but the VSO is very busy, with only 2 officers to consult with.

I remember I had to give info on Moms first marriage, I had to actually go to Vital Statistics in my State to get a copy of the marriage license. Mom was married to Dad for 55 yrs. Her first marriage didn't last a year and they divorced. Which means, she was not entitled to any VA benefits thru him anyway. He received no pension because he only served during WWII.

Pronker, do you need their divorce papers? Are those in
your late husband's files?

I have my divorce decree. But not my marriage certificate from my first marriage. My Mom had neither her marriage certificate from first marriage or her divorce decree. I had to go to the State to get Moms first marriage certificate. They were only together 1 yr. Mom was married 55yrs to my Dad.

People need to realize how important ex marriage info can be. TG my Dad kept ALL his military paperwork. He had things the VA rep said he had never saw people had kept. Everything was in the envelope he received it in.

Is that your county office of VA appointment date ….?

Good luck Pronker!

You do realize to get Aid and Attendance you need to prove that your medical is more than your monthly income. I wanted it to help offset Moms care in an AL. She was turned down for something about 13k. I didn't follow thru because she was going on Medicaid at that point. Send everything to the Government certified mail. Don't need to do a return proof of delivery. You get a tracking# when u certify.