VA Loan Eligibility for Surviving Spouses

It's absolutely possible for surviving military spouses to meet the eligibility requirements needed for a VA loan.

Spouses who may be eligible must fall into one of the below categories. If you are unsure if you meet the VA's eligibility requirements, VAMortgageCenter can connect you with a home loan specialist to determine eligibility.

• The unmarried surviving spouse of a Veteran, who died as a result of military service or service-related causes, or
• The surviving spouse of a Veteran who died on active duty or service-related causes and remarried on or after age 57 and on or after December 16, 2003, or
• The spouse of a service member missing in action, or
• The spouse of a service member who is a POW.

Surviving spouses of Veterans whose death was not service-related causes may also be eligible if they meet certain conditions. These conditions include:

• The Veteran was 100% disabled for ten years or more immediately preceding their death, or
• The Veteran was 100% disabled for five or more years following separation from service, or
• The Veteran was a former POW who died after September 30, 1999, and was rated 100% disabled for not less than one year immediately preceding death.

Verifying VA Loan Eligibility as a Surviving Spouse

As with most VA loan transactions, eligibility is verified through obtaining a valid Certificate of Eligibility (COE). A COE tells lenders you are eligible for the VA loan program.

To obtain a COE as a military spouse, you must be receiving Dependency & Indemnity Compensation and have a copy of the Veterans DD214 (or valid separation papers).

You can request your COE through the VA or, in most cases, let your lender obtain it for you. If you are not receiving Dependency & Indemnity Compensation, you must first apply.