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 · 0.1 MB
Companion Toolkit
15 files for Left Standing — Organized by where you are in the journey.
Reflection & Assessment
2 files
Planning & Strategy
10 files
Accrued Benefits Filing Guide
DOCXFile for accrued benefits owed to a veteran at the time of death
10 KB
Benefits Binder Organization
XLSXOrganize every VA document into a structured binder for quick reference
6 KB
DIC Eligibility Pathways
XLSXMap the pathways to Dependency and Indemnity Compensation eligibility
8 KB
DIC Filing Complete Guide
DOCXNavigate Dependency and Indemnity Compensation and survivor VA benefits
11 KB
Education Housing Insurance Guide
DOCXGuide to education, housing, and insurance benefits for surviving families
11 KB
SBP Social Security Benefits Guide
DOCXNavigate Survivor Benefit Plan and Social Security survivor benefits
11 KB
Service Connection After Death Kit
DOCXFile for service connection after a veteran's death for DIC eligibility
11 KB
Action & Implementation
1 file
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 trackers and planners — they include real formulas 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.