VA Loan Benefit For Eligible Surviving Spouses
VA Loan Eligibility
The VA loan was designed to make homeownership possible for qualifying Veterans, Servicemembers, and eligible surviving spouses. In this article, we want to clarify what the VA means by “eligible surviving spouses.”
It’s important to note that the VA’s definition of spouses includes same-sex couples. The VA will apply the same standards for all married couples for VA loan guaranties, regardless of the sex of the spouses.
Surviving spouses who already receive Dependency and Indemnity Compensation or VA pension do not qualify for the VA home loan benefit.
VA Loan Eligible Surviving Spouses
A surviving spouse eligible for a VA loan is anyone who meets one of the following criteria:
VA Loan Benefit for Surviving Unremarried Spouse
You may be eligible to use the VA loan benefit if you are a surviving unremarried spouse of a Veteran who died while in active, reserve, or national guard service, or from a service-connected cause.
You also may be eligible to use the VA loan benefit if you are a surviving unremarried spouse of a Veteran whose death was not service-connected are also eligible for the VA loan benefit if the deceased Veteran was one of the following:
- Rated totally disabled (100% rated) for a period of 10 or more years immediately preceding death.
- Rated totally disabled for not less than 5 years from the date of discharge or release from active duty to the date of death.
- A former POW who died after September 30, 1999, and was rated totally disabled for a period of not less than 1 year immediately preceding death.
A remarried surviving spouse whose marriage is void or annulled by a court may still be eligible for the VA loan benefit as an “unremarried spouse” in the former mentioned eligibility criteria.
VA Loan Benefit for Spouse of Missing in Action (MIA) or Prisoner of War (POW) Servicemember
You may be eligible to use the VA loan benefit if you are a spouse of a Servicemember officially listed as missing in action (MIA), or who is currently a prisoner of war (POW) for more than 90 days. Spouses of Servicemembers who are MIA or POW status are eligible to use the VA loan benefit for as long as the Servicemember is in that status. For spouses of MIA or POW Servicemembers, the VA loan benefit is restricted to a one-time use only.
VA Loan Benefit for Remarried Spouse of a Veteran
You may be eligible to use the VA loan benefit if you are a remarried spouse of a Veteran who dies on active duty or from service-connected causes, who remarries on or after December 16, 2003, after attaining age 57.
A surviving remarried spouse who remarried before December 16, 2003, and after reaching age 57 must have applied for the VA loan benefit no later than December 15, 2004. The VA is required to deny applications received after December 15, 2004, from surviving spouses who remarried earlier than December 16, 2003.
Check Your VA Loan Eligibility
Do you have questions about your VA loan eligibility? Our VA-approved loan specialists can help you! Feel free to ask your questions by calling 1 (888) 232-1428 or emailing info@veteransloans.com. VeteransLoans.com is a VA-approved mortgage lender that specializes in VA loans and also offers conventional and FHA loans.