Can I keep my spouse's VA disability payment after death?

Details

• Under 38 CFR § 3.500(g), the veteran's compensation or pension is discontinued as of the last day of the prior month.
• A payment that continues into the month of death, or afterward, is often recovered from the account unless VA characterizes it differently.
• A surviving spouse may separately be entitled to a benefit for the month of death under 38 U.S.C. § 5310 and 38 CFR § 3.20(c) — this is a distinct, limited benefit, not a continuation of the veteran's rate.
• Do not assume a deposit belongs to you simply because it landed in a joint account; confirm with VA how the payment was characterized before spending it.
• If VA later determines a payment was an overpayment, it can seek repayment from the estate or the account holder.