Survivors and Dependents Educational Assistance Program

• Spouses can get assistance paying for correspondence courses through the Survivors and Dependents Educational Assistance Program. Remedial and refresher courses are also, at times, paid for. The program is managed through the Veterans Affairs. Widows' deceased military spouses must have had a permanent or total disability that was due to military service. Additionally, widows must apply for the benefits within 20 years of their spouse's death.
  
  

Social Security Survivors Benefits

• Widows of disabled veterans can start collecting Social Security benefits when they turn 60 years old. If they are disabled themselves, they can start collecting the benefits after they turn 50. Additionally, if widows are caring for dependent children who are younger than 16 years of age, they can receive Social Security benefits at any time. The amount of benefits they receive depends on how many years their deceased spouse served in the military and worked at civilian jobs and the amount of gross wages they earned during their work career.
  
  

Home Loans

• Guaranteed home loans made through private financial institutions are available to widows of disabled veterans who died while serving the country. Loans cover the costs of purchasing a new home, repairing or remodeling a home. Widows can also use the loans to get refinance a home. Although there is no deadline on when widows can apply for the loans, in order to be eligible for assistance, spouses cannot have remarried.
  
  

Bereavement Counseling

• Local Veterans Affairs offices provide free bereavement counseling to widows of disabled veterans. Some of the counseling is provided by other retired or disabled military members. Dependents and parents of deceased disabled veterans can also receive the counseling at no cost. Disabled military members can have served in any branch of the military to qualify their widows, parents and children to receive the counseling.
  
  

Burial Benefits

• Surviving spouses of disabled veterans receive headstones and grave markers for their deceased spouses through burial benefits. Headstones and markers are available for deceased disabled veterans who are buried in-state, national or military cemeteries. If veterans are cremated, their spouses can receive niche or memorial markers upon request. Furthermore, surviving spouses can receive presidential memorial certificates if the deceased military veterans were honorably discharged from the military. Certificates are signed by the president of the United States. There is no charge for the markers or certificates.