Left Standing
The Military Survivor Benefits Guide
Your Toolkit Includes
Editable guides, templates, trackers, and calculators designed to be used alongside the book. Each file mirrors a concept or chapter from the guide -- download what you need, fill it in, and turn what you have been through into what comes next.
Left Standing
FWD Assist Publishing
Built by Joshua Christopherson. VA disability claims educator. Air Force and Air National Guard disabled veteran with hands-on VSO experience.
Get the one-page survivor benefits application checklist.
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About This Topic
A comprehensive guide to VA and military survivor benefits for spouses, children, and dependents of veterans who have died. Covers Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC), Survivors Pension, the Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP), CHAMPVA healthcare, accrued benefits, and special DIC eligibility for veterans who died from service-connected conditions.
What the Book Covers
Key topics and takeaways from Left Standing:
Who This Is For
- Surviving spouses of veterans
- Children and dependents of deceased veterans
- Families navigating VA survivor benefits for the first time
- Anyone helping a military family after a veteran's death
Download the Entire Toolkit
All 15 files in one zip · 143 KB
Companion Toolkit
15 files for Left Standing -- Organized by where you are in the journey.
Ch 2: DIC
2 files
Ch 3: Establishing Service Connection After Death
1 file
Ch 4: Accrued Benefits and Substitute Claimant
1 file
Ch 5: Survivors' Pension (A&A/Housebound)
2 files
Ch 6: CHAMPVA and Healthcare
1 file
Ch 7: Education, Home Loan, Life Insurance
1 file
Ch 8: SBP, Caregiver, State, Financial Planning
2 files
Ch 9: Burial, State Programs, Parents' DIC
1 file
Ch 10: Protecting What You Earned
1 file
General / whole book
3 files
Benefits Binder Organization
XLSXOrganize every VA document into a structured binder for quick reference
6 KB
How to Use This Toolkit
Every file is yours to keep. The Word documents (.docx) are your guides, journals, and planning tools. Open them and make them your own. The spreadsheets (.xlsx) are your journals, reflection tools, and planners. They include guided prompts and structured layouts to help you stay on track. Save them to your computer and update them as your situation changes.
Disclaimer: FWD Assist HQ and FWD Assist Publishing provide educational resources only. Nothing on this page constitutes legal advice, medical advice, or accredited representation. Always consult with an accredited VA attorney, claims agent, or Veterans Service Officer for personalized guidance.