Who Is Eligible for a VA Home Loan?

Veterans and active duty military members can apply for a VA home loan. The loan is available for both purchase and refinance.

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Introduction

The Department of Veterans Affairs provides a home loan guaranty benefit and other housing-related programs to help eligible service members, Veterans, reservists, and certain unmarried surviving spouses purchase, build, improve, or refinance a home.

For the purposes of the VA home loan program, “veteran” includes certain unmarried surviving spouses. Specifically, veterans who pass away while on active duty or as a result of a service-connected disability are considered eligible for the VA home loan guaranty.

In order to receive VA benefits, you must have been honorably discharged from active military service. Service members who were discharged under less than honorable conditions are generally not eligible for VA benefits, though there are some exceptions. For example, veterans who were discharged due to medical reasons may still be eligible for certain benefits.

Other eligibility factors for the VA home loan program include length of service requirements and the type of discharge you received. For example, active duty service members who served for at least 90 consecutive days during wartime or 181 days during peacetime generally qualify for VA benefits. Reservists and National Guard members may also be eligible if they served for at least six years.

Basic Eligibility Requirements

In order to qualify for a VA home loan, you must be a veteran, active duty service member, or National Guard member. You must also have served for a minimum of 90 days during wartime or 181 days during peacetime. If you are a reservist, you must have completed at least six years of service. You must also have a satisfactory credit history and a stable income.

The Veteran Must Have Served on Active Duty

The first step is to determine if you are eligible for a VA home loan. Veterans who have served on active duty and were honorably discharged are eligible. If you are a reservist or National Guard member, you must have completed six years of service to be eligible, and you must have been called to active duty by a president or Congress for at least 90 days.

The Veteran Must Have a Minimum Amount of Time on Active Duty

The veteran must have served a minimum amount of time on active duty to be eligible for the VA home loan program. The required service varies depending on when and where the veteran served, but generally, it is at least 90 days of active duty during wartime or 181 consecutive days of active duty during peacetime.

The Veteran Must Have a Discharge That Is Other Than Dishonorable

honorable discharge from active service in the Armed Forces of the United States.

Service-Connected Disabilities

If you have a service-connected disability, you may be eligible for a VA home loan. A service-connected disability is a disability that was caused or aggravated by your time in the military. To be eligible, you must have a disability rating from the VA or be receiving disability benefits from the VA.

The Veteran Must Have a Service-Connected Disability

The veteran must have a service-connected disability as determined by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). The disability doesn’t have to be related to combat or injury sustained during active duty, but it must have been caused or aggravated by active military service.

The Disability Must Be Rated at 10 Percent or More

To be eligible for a VA home loan, the disability must be rated at 10 percent or more. The disability can be either service-connected (caused by a disease or injury that occurred during active military service) or non-service-connected (caused by a disease or injury that occurred after active military service).

The Veteran Must Have Been Discharged Within a Certain Time Period

In order to be eligible for a VA home loan, the Veteran must have been discharged from active military service within a certain time period. For World War II Veterans, this time period is December 31, 1946. For Veterans of the Korean War, it is December 31, 1956. For Veterans of the Vietnam Era, it is May 7, 1975. For Veterans of the Gulf War, it is December 31, 1992. These dates may be extended in certain cases.

Unremarried Widows and Widowers of Veterans

If you are the unremarried widow or widower of a veteran who died on active duty or as a result of a service-connected disability, you may be eligible to apply for a VA home loan. You will need to provide a copy of your marriage certificate, your spouse’s death certificate, and proof of your eligibility to the VA.

The Veteran Must Have Died on Active Duty or as a Result of a Service-Connected Disability

In order to qualify for a VA loan, the veteran must have died while on active duty or as a result of a service-connected disability. If the veteran was dishonorably discharged, they will not be eligible for a VA loan.

Veterans Who Have Not Remarried After a Divorce From a Spouse Who Died on Active Duty or as a Result of a Service-Connected Disability

If you are a veteran who has not remarried after a divorce from a spouse who died on active duty or as the result of a service-connected disability, you may be eligible for a VA home loan.

The Veteran Must Have Been Married to the Service Member at the Time of Death

In order to meet the criteria for this type of loan, the veteran must have been married to the service member at the time of death. The divorce cannot have occurred before the death of the service member.

The Veteran Must Have Not Remarried After the Death of the Service Member

In order to qualify for a VA home loan, the Veteran must have not remarried after the death of the service member. If the Veteran has remarried, they will not be eligible for the loan.