U.S. Army photo by Elizabeth Fraser/Arlington National Cemetery

In May, the Department of Veterans Affairs announced it is streamlining the process of obtaining VA benefits and services for survivors and dependents of deceased veterans and service members.

The new three-pronged approach seeks to eliminate barriers to VA benefits by relocating the VA’s Office of Survivors Assistance from the Veterans Benefits Administration to the Office of the VA Secretary, creating a survivor outreach team, and undergoing an enhancement process to increase automation that will expedite and improve the survivors’ claims experience.

If you’re a survivor or dependent of a deceased veteran or service member and need assistance obtaining VA benefits or services, please contact your nearest DAV service office at benefitsquestions.org.