Chris Andaya
At The Veteran Lending Team, we believe in serving our fellow veterans by helping them navigate the complexities of the VA loan process. In this article, we want to clarify the VA loan eligibility requirements for surviving spouses.
Who Qualifies as a Surviving Spouse for a VA Loan?
Surviving spouses who meet the following criteria may be eligible for a VA home loan:
Unremarried Spouses of Veterans Who Died During Service or From a Service-Connected Cause:
Surviving unremarried spouses of Veterans who died while in active, reserve, or national guard service, or from a service-connected cause, may be eligible for the VA loan benefit.
Surviving unremarried spouses of Veterans 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.
Remarried Spouses of Veterans Who Died on Active Duty or From Service-Connected Causes:
Remarried spouses of Veterans who died on active duty or from service-connected causes may also be eligible for the VA loan benefit if they remarried on or after December 16, 2003, after attaining age 57.
Surviving remarried spouses 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.
Spouses of Servicemembers Listed as Missing in Action (MIA) or Prisoners of War (POW):
Spouses of Servicemembers officially listed as MIA or who are currently POW for more than 90 days may be eligible to use the VA loan benefit. The benefit is restricted to a one-time use only and is available for as long as the Servicemember remains in that status.
It’s important to note that the VA’s definition of spouses includes same-sex couples, and the VA applies the same standards for all married couples for VA loan guaranties, regardless of the sex of the spouses.
Contact Us for VA Loan Eligibility Questions
If you have any questions about your VA loan eligibility as a surviving spouse, the Veteran Mortgage Team is here to help. Our VA-approved loan specialists can guide you through the process and help you determine if you qualify for a VA home loan. Contact us today by calling 833-VET-LNDR.
