Follow the steps below to apply to add or remove a dependent.
- Prepare When you apply, be sure to have these on hand: Social Security numbers for you and your dependents Your current and previous marriage details, such as places and dates. ...
- Apply Complete this dependents form and upload additional information if needed. ...
- VA Review We process applications in the order we receive them. ...
Full Answer
How to add or remove a dependent from VA compensation?
You can add a dependent if:
- You get married
- You have or adopt a child
- Your child is between 18 and 23 years old and enrolled in school full time
- We determine that your child, who is at least 18 years old, became permanently disabled before turning 18
- You become the caregiver for a parent whose income and net worth is below a certain amount
Does the military pay more for dependents?
The military does not pay people more money because they have dependents. There is no increase in pay for getting married, or for having children. Base pay is base pay, period. What are the benefits of a military dependent?
What benefits are you eligible for as a disabled veteran?
- No cost health care and prescription medications
- Travel allowance for scheduled appointments for care at a VA medical facility or VA authorized health care facility
- Waiver of VA funding fee for home loan
- 10 point Veteran preference in federal hiring
- Direct hire authority
- Vocational Rehabilitation & Employment
What benefits are you eligible for as a veteran?
You may be able to get VA disability benefits for conditions such as:
- Chronic (long-lasting) back pain resulting in a current diagnosed back disability
- Breathing problems resulting from a current lung condition or lung disease
- Severe hearing loss
- Scar tissue
- Loss of range of motion (problems moving your body)
- Ulcers
- Cancers caused by contact with toxic chemicals or other dangers
How do I add a dependent to the VA?
How do I add a dependent to my benefits?Get VA Form 21-674 to download.You'll need to fill out and submit a Statement of Dependency of Parent(s) (VA Form 21P-509) by mail. Get VA Form 21P-509 to download.You can work with an accredited Veterans Service Officer (VSO).
How long does it take to add dependents to VA benefits?
Submitting an electronic dependency claim through eBenefits allows VA to make a decision on your claim in as little as 48 hours. Simply log into eBenefits and click “Add or Remove Dependent” under the Apply section.
What VA form do I add to dependents?
Use VA Form 21-686c to submit a claim for additional benefits for a dependent, or to request to remove a dependent from your benefits.
Do you get back pay for adding dependents VA?
If it has been longer than a year since your marriage and/or birth of your child, VA may only pay you back to the date you submitted your dependency claim or, in some cases, only up to one year before you submitted your dependency claim.
Does VA verify dependents?
Completion of VA Form 21-0538 and VA Form 21-0537 by beneficiaries allows the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to verify the following approximately once every eight years: status of the dependents of all Veterans in receipt of additional compensation for a spouse and/or child(ren), and.
How much does the VA pay for a dependent child?
Under current VA disability pay rates, a veteran with a 30% rating will receive $24.00 for each additional child under age 18. Those VA disability pay rates increase $8.00 for each 10% increase in disability rating. At 100%, it increases slightly more than $8.00.
Can you add dependents to VA health insurance?
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.
Do dependents of veterans get benefits?
VA Dependent Benefits provide income, education, and medical support for the spouse and dependent children of some service-connected disabled veterans. Additionally, the parents of a veteran may be eligible for income support.
How much does a spouse add to VA disability?
Financial Benefits The additional payments are added to other disability compensation the veteran is awarded, which include: $150 a month for a spouse with no children.
Is my wife eligible for 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.
How far back will the VA pay back pay?
within 3 monthsThe VA usually issues the back pay check within 3 months after the claim is finalized.
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.
How to check VA disability benefits?
You can easily check on the details of your VA disability benefits through the eBenefits system. Simply log into your eBenefits account and check Dependents under the My Profile section. If you see your dependents listed, that means you should already be receiving military dependent benefits on their behalf.
How old do you have to be to get dependent benefits?
For any eligible child living in your household that you take financial responsibility for, you can receive dependent benefits – as long as that child is under 18 years old. This includes any biological children you may have, along with any children you adopt.
What percentage of disability is considered a VA disability?
If you are approved for VA disability compensation with at least a 30% disability rating, you will be able to add eligible dependents to your benefit claim, which means that you also are eligible for a higher disability payment.
How long can a full time student receive VA disability?
Your Child is a Full-Time Student Between the Ages of 18 and 23. Once any unmarried children in your household turn 18, you can continue to receive additional VA disability compensation for them if they are enrolled as a full-time student in an institution of higher education. These VA benefits can continue until the unmarried child turns 23. 4.
When does a child become disabled?
Your child becomes permanently disabled before age 18. You become responsible for a dependent parent whose income falls below a certain threshold. For VA disability benefit purposes, a spouse, a child, or a parent in some circumstances can be considered a dependent. If you are qualified for VA disability pay with at least a 30% VA disability ...
When can a child become permanently disabled?
Your Child Becomes Permanently Disabled Before Age 18. No matter the child’s age, you also can continue to collect VA disability compensation if the eligible child became permanently disabled before turning 18. You will need to submit appropriate medical documentation to that effect in order to be approved. 5.
Do you need to submit medical documentation for dependents?
Depending on the circumstances leading to your adding dependents, you’ll need to also submit the appropriate forms and backup documentation. For example, if you’re adding a disabled child as a dependent, you’ll need to submit all appropriate medical documentation to support this dependency claim.
How to Add a Dependent to Your VA Disability Benefits
If you are applying for additional disability compensation because you have a qualifying child or spouse, you can submit the required form through the VA benefits website. Depending on your situation, you might have to send in additional forms and evidence with your application.
Eligibility Rules to Add a Dependent to Your VA Disability Compensation
If you are not eligible for VA disability benefits, you cannot apply for additional compensation for a dependent.
Who is a Dependent for Purposes of VA Disability Benefits
The VA can approve the addition of a dependent to your disability benefits if the person falls into one of these categories:
When to Add a Dependent to Your Benefits
The VA allows you to add a dependent at logical points in the process. By way of example, if you are just now filing your initial claim for VA disability compensation, you can go ahead and include your dependent in the claim.
How long do you have to wait to add a dependent to your VA?
So you may need to wait a couple months from the time of birth before you can add your new dependent.
How to change dependent status?
There are two ways to change the status of your dependents: 1 Paper via VA Form: VA Form 21-686c, Declaration of Status of Dependents, or VA Form 21-674, Request for Approval of School Attendance for dependents over age 18 and attending school, or VA Form 21-509 – Statement of Dependency of Parent (s), and 2 Electronically via VONAPP or eBenefits.
What is the VA disability rate?
Military veterans with a service-connected disability rating of 10% or more are often eligible to receive VA disability compensation benefits. Veterans may be eligible to receive a higher compensation rate if they are rated at 30% or higher and have one or more dependents, including a spouse, child, or a parent in their care.
How long does it take to fill out a VA form?
VA Form 21-686c, Declaration of Status of Dependents. VA Form 21-686c is a two page paper form, which according to the VA, should take approximately 15 minutes to fill out. The form is fairly straight forward, and requests the standard information, such as the veteran’s personal information and VA File number, marriage status, information regarding your unmarried children, including their name, SSN, age, schooling status, etc. Then you simply need to sign the form and mail it in to the VA center which handles your claim. You can download this form here: VA Form 21-686c (pdf).
When to use VA Form 21-674?
This form is used when your dependent child (ren) are over age 18, and are attending school. Child dependents are ineligible to be claimed past age 18 unless they are attending a qualified school, or they have special needs. You can download this form here: VA Form 21-674 (pdf).
Does the VA send an e-mail?
The VA automatically sends an e-mail when they receive your claim, and another when your claim is downloaded and the claim is being processed. The information includes your name, date of submission, and which regional VA office received your form (including their contact information).
Can veterans use VONAPP?
Veterans are now able to use VONAPP or eBenefits to apply for VA compensation, pension, education, vocational rehabilitation and employment, burial benefits, and more. Veterans can also use this online tool to update the status of their dependents, file claims for increases in service-connected disabilities, add disabilities, and more.
When will VA add dependents?
April 18, 2018. Veterans who were discharged under other than Dishonorable conditions and rated at least 30% disabled by the VA may add eligible dependents to their VA benefits, increasing their monthly disability payments in addition to allowing eligible dependents access to certain VA programs.
How old do you have to be to add a child to the VA?
To add a child under the age of 18 or a spouse to your benefit rate, VA Form 21-686c: Declaration of Status of Dependents must be completed and submitted to the VA.
What is a parent in the military?
Parents (biological, step, adopted, foster, etc.) are defined as those who, for at least one year, “stood in the relationship of a parent to a veteran at any time before his or her entry into active service.”.
5 Conditions For Adding A Dependent to Your VA Disability Benefits
How Do I Add A dependent?
- Of course, the best and easiest time to add a dependent to your VA disability benefits is when you’re first completing your benefit application. At that time, you can submit a VA claim for added compensation for a dependent simultaneously with your original VA disability benefit claim. As long as your disability rating is at least 30%, the VA autom...
Frequently Asked Questions
- To help you with the process, we’ve outlined a few of the most commonly asked questions about adding dependents to your VA disability benefits.
Adding A Dependent
- Adding dependents to your VA disability compensation can help make managing the financial aspects of caring for a dependent much easier. If you believe you qualify for dependent benefits, make sure to visit with a VSO or a qualified veterans disability attorney. Either one can help walk through the merits of your claim and guide you through what often is a complex and laborious pr…