Thank you for the question.
Mr. Chair, a surviving spouse would have eligibility in two circumstances. In a situation where a member or a veteran dies from a service-related illness, the surviving spouse would be eligible for this benefit at the same amount that the veteran would have been eligible to receive, in other words, at 70%. However, in the case where a member or a veteran dies not from service-related disease or disability and would be eligible for the retirement income security benefit, the survivor in those circumstances would be eligible for the benefit calculated at the rate of 50% of the amount that the veteran would have been eligible for.
Again, there are two circumstances. One is where the survivor is eligible in her own right because her spouse died of a service-related disability and she would be eligible for this benefit at 70%, the same basis as the veteran would be. If, however, the veteran, who would otherwise have been eligible for the benefit, passes away due to non service-related issues, then in those circumstances, the spouse would be eligible at 50% of the amount the veteran would have been entitled to receive.