Under what circumstances is DIC paid directly to a child?

The payment of Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) directly to a child occurs when the child is not in the custody of the surviving spouse. This situation arises to ensure that the child receives the benefits directly if the surviving spouse is deemed unable or is unfit to manage the funds on behalf of the child. The DIC program aims to support children of service members who have died due to service-related conditions, and direct payments help ensure that children can access these funds independently to meet their needs.

While there are other circumstances under which benefits may be managed or distributed, the primary condition that allows for direct payments to the child is indeed the lack of custody by the surviving spouse. This provision is in place to look out for the welfare of the child to ensure that support reaches them without potential delays or misuse due to custody issues.