Spouses of veterans may also be able to use VA benefits if they meet certain VA requirements. These added benefits may include substance abuse treatment through the TRICARE program, which provides comprehensive healthcare coverage for people with special needs. 1
Are spouses covered by VA?
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) offers many benefits to veterans and their dependents (e.g., children, spouses) for physical and mental healthcare. 1 As the spouse of a veteran, you may be able to use VA benefits to access insurance coverage for rehab and therapy related to addiction. 1
Does VA healthcare cover spouse?
The Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs (CHAMPVA), is a health care benefits program that provides coverage to the spouse or widow (er) and to the dependent children of a qualifying Veteran or Servicemember who: has dependents who are not eligible for Department of Defense TRICARE benefits.
Are VA benefits available to spouses?
VA extends certain benefits to spouses of U.S. Veterans or active service members under two circumstances. A living dependent of a living Veteran or active service member. A surviving spouse of a deceased Veteran of U.S. military services. However, the marriage must still be valid in either of the above-mentioned scenarios.
Do spouses of deceased veterans get benefits?
The United States Department of Veterans’ Affairs (VA) offers certain benefits to spouses, minor children and other legal dependents, family caregivers, and survivors of veterans who have passed away. Examples of family benefits include health insurance, life insurance, and educational benefits.
Is my wife covered under my VA health care?
If you're the spouse, surviving spouse, dependent child, or family caregiver of a Veteran or service member, you may qualify for health care benefits. In certain cases, you may also qualify for health care benefits due to a disability related to your Veteran's service.
Can spouses of Veterans go to the VA?
Qualifying spouses, surviving spouses, and dependents of veterans or currently serving military members may be eligible for one or more important VA benefits. These benefit areas will have varying requirements, application time frames, and benefit duration.
Can my wife receive my VA disability benefits?
No, a veteran's disability compensation payments are not continued for a surviving spouse after death. However, survivors may be entitled to a different type of benefit called Dependency and Indemnity Compensation.
How do I add my spouse to my VA benefits?
If you can't, or don't want to file online, you can file a claim for additional disability compensation by mail using these forms: For a spouse or a child under 18 years of age, you'll need to fill out an Application Request to Add and/or Remove Dependents (VA Form 21-686c).
What benefits does a wife of a veteran receive?
As the spouse or dependent child of a Veteran or service member, you may qualify for certain benefits, like health care, life insurance, or money to help pay for school or training.
How much does the VA pay for a spouse?
The basic monthly rate of DIC is $1,340 for an eligible surviving spouse. The rate is increased for each dependent child, and also if the surviving spouse is housebound or in need of aid and attendance. VA also adds a transitional benefit of $332 to the surviving spouse's monthly DIC if there are children under age 18.
What is the VA 10 year rule?
The VA disability 10-year rule states that the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) cannot eliminate a disability rating that has been in place for at least 10 years unless there is evidence of fraud. This 10-year period is calculated from the effective date of VA's original grant for service connection.
Will I lose my VA benefits if I get married?
A: Once VA has recognized a marriage for the purpose of one VA benefit or service, it will usually recognize it for other benefits or services unless there is a factual change in marital status, such as divorce or separation.
What is the VA 55 year rule?
What is the VA 55-year-old rule? Veterans who receive VA disability benefits for service-connected conditions are exempt from periodic future examinations once they turn 55 years old. This includes veterans who will be 55 by the date of a future examination, according to the VA Adjudication Procedures Manual.
How long does it take to add spouse to VA benefits?
If you've already submitted your claim and have received a 30% or higher disability rating, the fastest way to add a dependent is online through eBenefits (www.ebenefits.va.gov). Submitting an electronic dependency claim through eBenefits allows VA to make a decision on your claim in as little as 48 hours.
How much does the VA pay per dependent?
Breaking Down VA Disability Pay Rates for Each Family SituationDependent Status30%50%Veteran with Two Parents and Child$528.15$1,042.41Add for Each Additional Child Under Age 18$24.00$41.00Each Additional Schoolchild Over Age 18 (see footnote a)$79.00$133.00Additional for A/A spouse (see footnote b)$46.00$76.005 more rows
What is the maximum VA disability benefit?
Veterans with a service-related disability and an "other than dishonorable" discharge can qualify for a monthly tax-free VA Disability Compensation benefit ranging from $133 to over $3,400 every month.
Why do military spouses get VA benefits?
Therefore, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs offers VA benefits for spouses to express gratitude and help balance the hardships that can be faced.
What is myCAA for military spouses?
MyCAA – An education benefit or financing program for military spouses by the Department of Defense. There are numerous non-profit scholarships for spouses eligible for VA benefits such as Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA), National Military Family Association (NMFA) etc. Other VA benefits for spouses may include:
What is DIC benefit?
The DIC program by the Department of Veterans Affairs provides monthly benefits to the surviving spouses of deceased Veterans. The idea is to compensate you for the economic loss caused by the death of the Veteran due to their service-connected disability or death of a service member during their service period.
What is VA claims insider?
VA Claims insider is an education-based coaching/consulting company. We’re here for disabled veterans exploring eligibility for increased VA disability benefits and who wish to learn more about that process. We also connect veteran s with independent medical professionals in our referral network for medical examinations, disability evaluations, and credible Independent Medical Opinions & Nexus Statements (Medical Nexus Letters) for a wide range of disability conditions.
What is the military spouse preference program?
The Department of Defense Military Spouse Preference Program or MSP assists military spouses in securing the desired employment. Under this program, as a spouse, you will get preferential treatment for employment in placements positions open for a civilian in the Department of Defense (DOD).
How long does it take to convert a spouse's life insurance to an individual?
As military spouses who are eligible for VA benefits for spouses, you may be able to convert your spousal insurance coverage (FSGLI) into an individual plan with a private insurance provider within 120 days of the Veteran’s end of military services.
How long do you have to pay for a VA test?
Once VA categorizes you under spouses eligible for VA benefits, you have up to ten years for your eligibility date to apply for dependent benefits.
What Is the VA?
The US Department of Veterans Affairs, commonly referred to as the VA, is part of the executive branch of the US government. Their responsibility is to provide medical benefits to veterans from the US military and active service members.
How Do VA Medical Benefits Work for Spouses?
VA health benefits, specifically medical benefits, are available to veterans, of course. They are also available under certain circumstances to dependents of living veterans. This would include their spouse.
Understanding VA Ratings and Why It Matters
As the VA treats veterans, they have ratings they use to identify the illness and disability. The rating is significant because it assigns a percentage to the veteran’s disability.
What Does Surviving Spouse Mean?
If a veteran is deceased, a spouse can still qualify for some VA medical benefits. The VA uses the term surviving spouse. The VA has some requirements for the surviving spouse to qualify for benefits. These include:
VA Health Care Services
The VA offers comprehensive medical services to veterans and their qualifying spouses and dependents. Some of these benefits include:
VA Healthcare Benefits
The VA has several different health care programs available. Let’s take a closer look at these programs.
Where Could You Get Help Applying for VA Benefits?
The truth is there is an abundance of resources available for both qualifying veterans and their qualifying spouses. Yet, it can feel a little overwhelming getting to those services.
Who qualifies for health care benefits?
Health care for spouses, dependents, and family caregivers. If you’re the spouse, surviving spouse, dependent child, or family caregiver of a Veteran or service member, you may qualify for health care benefits.
Can a Korean vet get disability for Spina Bifida?
The Spina Bifida Health Care Benefits Program. If you’re the biological child of a Korean or Vietnam War Veteran and you’ve been diagnosed with spina bifida, you may qualify for disability benefits, including health care benefits. Find out if you qualify and how to apply.
What Benefits Do Spouses of Veterans Receive?
The VA serves more than 360,000 beneficiaries and provides VA benefits for spouses through its healthcare programs and other services for family members and dependents. Veteran spouse benefits depend on certain eligibility requirements.
Veterans Spouse Benefits Eligibility
Getting married is considered to be a Qualifying Life Event (QLE), meaning spouses are eligible for VA benefits immediately upon getting married. Spouses must apply for VA coverage within 90 days of the date of marriage. As for health insurance, spouses will qualify for either TRICARE or CHAMPVA.
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When are spouses eligible for VA benefits?
June 24, 2019. Spouses of disabled veterans may be eligible for VA benefits, such as disability compensation, health care, education and training, employee services, insurance coverage, and survivors’ benefits.
How long does a spouse of a disabled veteran receive DEA?
Remedial, deficiency, and refresher training is also available in some cases. Through this program, spouses of disabled veterans may receive up to 45 months of education benefits if they began using DEA prior to August 1, 2018.
What is VA caregiver assistance?
VA also offers the Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers Program (Caregiver Assistance Program). The Caregivers Assistance Program began in 2011, but is currently being expanded under the VA Mission Act . This program was implemented in an effort to provide benefits to caregivers (i.e., spouses or dependents who end up leaving jobs to care for a veteran full-time due to the extent or nature of their disability). Caregivers are provided monthly compensation, medical training, and healthcare benefits. To be eligible for the Caregivers Assistance Program, the veteran must have suffered a serious injury that impacts their activities of daily living. Examples of serious injuries may include traumatic brain injury (TBI), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), or the loss of a limb. Up until this point, the Caregivers Assistance Program has only applied to veterans who served on active duty on or after September 11, 2001 (i.e., post-9/11 veterans).
How long before death do you have to be on active duty to qualify for DIC?
“For at least one year before death if the veteran was a former prisoner of war who died after September 30, 1999.”.
How long can a veteran receive TDIU?
The veteran, prior to death, was totally disabled and receiving, or eligible to receive, compensation for a totally disabling condition (including recipients of TDIU benefits) for a period of 8 consecutive years; or. The surviving spouse has dependent children under the age of 18; or.
When did VA caregiver benefits start?
VA reports that caregiver benefits will first become available to veterans who were injured on or before May 7, 1975, with further expansion to include veterans injured between 1975 and 2001 occurring two years later. However, there have been significant delays and difficulties with the rollout of this expansion.
Does the VA cover spouses of totally disabled veterans?
CHAMPVA for Spouses of Totally Disabled Veterans. VA will also provide health care insurance coverage for the spouses of certain totally disabled (whether rated 100 percent or receiving TDIU benefits) veterans under the Civilian Health and Medical Program, or CHAMPVA. In order for spouses to be eligible, the disabled veteran must meet one ...
When is a spouse eligible for burial in a national cemetery?
The surviving spouse of an eligible Veteran who had a subsequent remarriage to a non-Veteran and whose death occurred on or after January 1, 2000, is eligible for burial in a national cemetery, based on his or her marriage to the eligible Veteran.
Does the VA accept spouse?
VA will generally accept a claimant’s statement that he or she is married, but may investigate further if an assertion appears unreliable.
Does the VA recognize same sex marriage?
A: VA recognizes a Veteran’s marriage if the marriage was recognized under the law of the place where at least one of the parties resided when they were married or when the claimant became eligible for benefits. VA now recognizes all same-sex marriages without regard to a Veteran’s current or previous state of residence.
Can a same sex spouse be enrolled in VA?
A: For Veterans who are not currently enrolled in VA health care, it is possible that recognition of a same-sex spouse and inclusion of spousal income could either render the Veteran eligible to enroll or preclude the Veteran from being eligible to enroll.