If you haven’t submitted a claim for disability compensation yet, you can add your dependent(s) as part of the claim application process. If VA rates your disability at 30% or higher, your dependent(s) will automatically be factored into your award.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 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 long does it take to add dependents to VA disability?
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.
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.
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.
How much extra is a dependent for VA disability?
Those VA disability pay rates increase $8.00 for each 10% increase in disability rating. At 100%, it increases slightly more than $8.00. For dependent children over age 18 but enrolled in school, the VA disability pay rates include an additional $79.00.
Do dependents of veterans get benefits?
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 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.
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.
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.
Can a grown child of a Veteran get benefits?
Survivors Pension. Children of wartime Veterans may also qualify for a monthly pension. If you are single and under the age of 18, you may be eligible to get this financial aid every month. You may also qualify if you are between 19 and 23 years old and enrolled in a VA-approved school.
How much is 90 VA disability pay with dependents?
Depending on the type of qualifying dependent(s), veterans rated as 90 percent disabled began receiving the following monthly compensation amounts: Veteran and Spouse – $2,044.19 (if spouse requires aid and attendance, add $144.86) Veteran, Spouse, and Parent – $2,170.82. Veteran, Spouse, and Parents – $2,297.44.
How much does the VA pay for a dependent parent?
How Much Is the VA Dependent Parent Benefit? The benefit amount you'll receive for eligible dependents varies based on your parent's income and your VA disability rating. For a rating of 30% to 60%, one dependent parent, and no spouse or children, you can get a total of between $476.69 and $1214.68 per month.
What benefits do dependents get from the VA?
Importantly, eligible dependents will also have access to certain VA programs and benefits, such as employee services, VA health care, life insurance, education and training services, and VA memorial benefits.
What age can you be dependent on your spouse?
Qualifying dependents include the following: A spouse. Unmarried children (including biological children, step children, and adopted children) who are under the age of 18; between the ages of 18 and 23 and attending school full-time; or were seriously disabled prior to reaching age 18.
What happens if a dependent child gets married?
If a dependent child gets married, the veteran is required to report the name of the child and the date of the marriage as he or she will no longer qualify as a dependent. The married child will then be removed from the veteran’s VA benefits.
How many pages are there in the VA form 21-686c?
VA Form 21-686c, Declaration of Status of Dependents. VA Form 21-686c is a 12-page form that veterans use to add a spouse or child under the age of 18 to their VA benefits. However, the first six pages are simply providing instructions on how to complete the form.
What is section VI of VA?
Section VI – Veteran/Claimant Reporting Death of a Dependent. If a dependent spouse passes away, veterans must notify VA by completing this section. Here, the veteran will have to provide the name of the spouse, the date of death, and the place of death in order to remove him or her from their VA benefits.
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.”.
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.
