VA Loans Are Not Just for Veterans
VA home loan eligibility can be earned in each of our country’s uniformed services as long as the VA’s service requirements are met. But, the benefit is not just for Veterans. Maybe you’re not sure if your service earned you VA home loan benefits. What about surviving spouses? Or perhaps you’re curious about whether our newest branch of the military, Space Force service can earn the perk. Are you a National Guard member who was called up for pandemic response? Home loan benefits may be extended for you. Here you’ll see who’s eligible and the variables for VA eligibility.
Generally, Veterans and servicemembers of U.S. military branches, Reservists, National Guard members, commissioned officers of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), officers of the Public Health Services (PHS), Military Academy Cadets, and certain surviving spouses may be eligible for VA home loan benefits. Let’s examine the service requirements of each group to see who’s eligible—maybe it’s you! And if it is, we’ll let you know how to get the ball rolling on obtaining your Certificate of Eligibility.
Active-Duty Armed Forces Members
Those serving in the Navy, Army, Air Force, Coast Guard, Space Force, or Marines can establish eligibility for a VA home loan after as few as 90 days of continuous active duty. If you have not completed the minimum service requirements due to early discharge for a reason other than a dishonorable discharge, there’s still a chance to enjoy VA loan benefits.
To get started, those separated from the military should use their DD214 paper to establish eligibility. If you’re still active, you’ll need a statement of service with your full name, social security number, date of birth, the date you entered duty, durations of any lost time, and the name of the command. The statement will need your commander’s signature. An adjutant’s or personnel officer’s signature will work, too.
National Guard and Reserve Members
Those serving or who have served in the National Guard or Reserve may be eligible for home loan benefits. Generally, six years in the Guard or Reserve is required for eligibility. Attending weekend drills and annual service are also general requirements. Plus, one of the following must be true:
- You were discharged honorably.
- You were placed on the retired list.
- You transferred to the Standby Reserve or part of the Ready Reserve, other than the Selected Reserve, after service was characterized as honorable.
- You’re a member of the National Guard and served 90 days of active duty with at least 30 consecutive days.
What if you are still serving in the Selected Reserve? Great! You may be eligible.
If you’ve served less than six creditable years, don’t worry. You may be eligible if you were discharged for a service-connected disability or a hardship.
Current or former activated Guard and Reserve members will need a copy of their DD214 or other discharge documents to establish VA eligibility. Current members who’ve never been activated will need a statement of service with their full name, social security number, date of birth, entry date, total creditable years of service, duration of any time lost, and name of command. The statement also needs the signature of your commander, adjutant, or personnel officer. Are you a discharged Guard member but never activated? Use your NGB Form 22 for each period of service and your NGB Form 23 and proof of character of service. And, finally, discharged Reservists, who have never been activated can use a copy of their latest annual retirement points and proof of honorable service.
Surviving Spouses
More surviving spouses are eligible for VA home loan benefits thanks to law updates. You may be eligible for home loan benefits if at least one of these is true:
- Your spouse passed away while in service to the country.
- Your spouse passed away due to a service-connected disability.
Further, you may be eligible if:
- Your spouse had been totally disabled and then died, but their disability may not have been the cause of death (in certain situations)
- Your spouse is a prisoner of war or missing in action (POW/MIA).
To meet VA eligibility requirements, generally, surviving spouses must not remarry, but there is an exception:
- If you remarried on or after your 57th birthday, or before December 16, 2003, you must have applied for eligibility no later than December 15, 2004 in order to be eligible.
Unfortunately, if you remarried before December 16, 2003, and on or after you turned 57, you would need to have applied for benefits no later than December 15, 2004. Otherwise, the VA cannot consider your application for eligibility.
Eligible spouses receiving Dependency & Indemnity Compensation (DIC) will need to submit VA Form 26-1817. You’ll also need your spouse’s DD214 discharge document, or other separation papers, if available. If you are not receiving DIC benefits, you’ll need to fill out VA Form 21P-534EZ. You’ll also need your spouse’s DD214 discharge document, if available, a copy of your marriage license, and the Veteran’s death certificate.
Officers of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
Did you know that commissioned officers of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) can earn home loan benefits, too? The NOAA Corps is counted as one of the eight uniformed services that have VA benefits. To obtain their COE, officers of this service use NOAA Form 56-16 a form unique to this group.
Do you think you’re eligible for a VA loan? Check today.
The United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps (PHSCC)
Similar to NOAA officers, commissioned officers of the Public Health Service (PHS) can also earn VA eligibility for home loan benefits. To establish eligibility, PHS officers must use PHS Form 1867, Statement of Service—Verification of Status of Commissioned Officers of the U.S. Public Health Service.
Military Academy Cadets and Midshipmen
Cadets at the U.S. Air Force Academy Preparatory School, U.S. Military Academy Preparatory School, U.S. Naval Academy Preparatory School, and midshipmen at the U.S. Naval Academy may also be eligible to use their VA home loan benefits.
For military academy cadets who go on active duty immediately following graduation, time spent at the Academy is counted toward their active-duty service.
Merchant Seamen and U.S. Citizens of Allied Forces of WWII
Finally, merchant seamen and certain U.S. citizens who served in the armed forces of a U.S. ally during World War II may also be eligible for VA home loan benefits.
Armed forces of countries allied with the U.S. in World War II include:
- United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
- Australia
- New Zealand
- Canada
- India
- Republic of South Africa
- China
- France
For a Veteran who served with an allied military branch to be eligible for VA loan benefits, he or she must apply for eligibility using VA Form 26-1880 and all of the following must be true and verified:
- Veteran served 90 days or more, any part of which was during World War II, or a duty-related injury or disability caused the Veteran to serve less than 90 days, and
- Veteran’s service took place when the ally and the U.S. were at war with the common enemy, and
- When the Veteran entered active service, he or she was an American citizen, and
- Veteran resides in the U.S. when applying for eligibility, and
- Veteran has not applied for or received a similar benefit from the allied government of the force(s) on which he or she served.
VA loan eligibility depends on your service, and details of your service can be unique. Even if you think you may or may not be eligible, it’s good to double-check and know for sure. For help with your VA loan eligibility, get in touch with someone on our team.
