Navigating the benefits the spouse of a veteran can receive after their partner passes can be challenging.

Fitzpatrick Seraphin, a Veteran Service Manager for Hillsborough County Veteran Community Services, said many spouses of veterans are unsure what steps to take after a loved one dies. He said about 60% of the spouses who come to see him do not know what they may qualify for.

Seraphin said financial assistance is one of the most common topics he discusses with spouses, especially older spouses who may need additional support at home.

“When you’re talking about the elderly spouses of those veterans, a lot of times they need aid at home,” Seraphin said.

Bach Pent said a life in the United States was not part of her plan while she was growing up in Vietnam. That changed after she met Joseph, a U.S. military member who later became her husband.

Pent and Joseph married and had a daughter in Florida. They spent more than 40 years together before Joseph died in 2014.

Pent said she felt isolated after his death, with her daughter living in California.

“She has a family, and I live in Brandon,” Pent said. “I don’t want to bother her because she was really sad he passed away. So am I. We were both separate.”

Seraphin said what a spouse may qualify for can vary based on several factors, including the veteran’s service dates and condition. Seraphin said any spouse of a veteran should speak with a veterans service officer to learn what benefits may be available.

“We hear the stories all the time,” Seraphin said. “I’ve waited 20, 40 years before I submitted this claim, not knowing that I qualified this whole time.”

Pent said that after Joseph died, she began receiving $1,000 a month from the VA. She said the money helped her move forward.

“That money helped me a lot because at that time I said, if you want to live, you have to do something,” Pent said.

Seraphin said not everyone who meets with a veterans service officer will qualify for benefits, but he encourages spouses to check, no matter how many years have passed since their partner died.