Are You Receiving Compensation for your Dependents?
Veterans in receipt of VA disability compensation (service connected disabilities) with at least a 30-percent combined rating can receive additional compensation for qualifying dependents. Dependents include legal spouses, dependent children, and even financially dependent parents.
Legal Spouses
VA follows the law of the state where the veteran resides in determining if there is a valid marriage. Generally, the veteran need only produce a valid marriage certificate, along with pertinent information about the spouse (full name, social security number, date of birth, etc.), to confirm a valid marriage. However, VA may request prior divorce or death decrees if the veteran or the spouse had prior marriages.
Dependent Children
There are several important considerations when determining if a child may be considered a dependent for the veteran’s award. First, “child” is defined as:
- Biological child; or
- Legally adopted before the age of 18; or
- A stepchild who entered the veteran’s household before age 18.
Next, a “dependent” child is one who is:
- Unmarried; and
- Under the age of 18; or
- 18 or older and is pursuing a course of instruction at an approved educational institution (most colleges or universities, academies, seminaries, technical institutes, etc.); or
- Prior to the age of 18 became permanently incapable of self-support (generally, where, due to disability, the child would be unable to provide sufficient income for reasonable support).
VA will require the veteran provide evidence confirming that the person is the veteran’s dependent child. This evidence typically involves birth certificates (listing parent’s name and date of birth), and social security numbers. However, depending on the situation above, this evidence might also include verification of enrollment from a school if a child is over 18, evidence of permanent disability, or court documents confirming adoptions.
Dependent Parents
Financially dependent parents may also be added to a veteran’s monthly compensation benefit. VA defines a “parent” as a biological or adoptive mother or father, or as a person “who for a period of not less than 1 year stood in the relationship of a parent to a veteran at any time before his or her entry into active service.”
Financial dependence may be shown either through the income of the parent(s), or if the income exceeds VA’s policy, whether the parent has “sufficient income and/or net worth to provide reasonable maintenance for themselves and for members of their family?”
Generally, if a parent’s income does not exceed $400 per month for a single parent, or $660 per month for parents residing together (including a remarried parent), then the parent(s) will be deemed to be financially dependent. However, if the monthly income of the parent(s) exceed that amount, VA will then make a case-by-case determination regarding whether the parent(s) are able to provide their own reasonable maintenance. Factors that may be relevant to this determination could be the parent(s) access to investments, including real property, cost of out-of-pocket medical expenses, or other necessary expenses such as rent, groceries, taxes, utilities, whether the parent(s) reside with the veteran, or whether the veteran may already be contributing to the parent(s) household for maintenance.
How much are dependent benefits?
Additional compensation will be added to the veteran’s base payment rate. However, the additional amounts are generally commensurate with the increased in combined ratings, the exception being that a second dependent child is a flat-rate increase of $70.00 (2023 rates). For example, the base rate for a single veteran with a 30% disability rating is $508.05 (2023 rates); with a spouse, this rate increases by $60.00, for a total payment of $585.05. Whereas, the base rate for a single veteran with a 100% combined rating is $3,621.98; with a spouse, the total payment rate increases to $3,823.89, a difference of $201.94.
To review the latest VA payment rates, click here.
Is there a deadline to add dependents?
Generally, the best time to add or remove dependents is as soon as possible. When adding a new dependent, if a claim is received within one year of the triggering event, VA will award dependent benefits from the date of the event. For example, following the birth of a new child, you should submit the claim to add the child to your award as soon as you have all the relevant information (birth certificate and social security number). If you file the claim within 1 year of the child’s date of birth, VA will award retroactive dependent compensation from the date of birth.
Likewise, a new marriage should be reported as soon as possible, but if filed within one year, VA will award retroactive dependent benefits for the legal spouse from the date of marriage.
When dependents change, or are no longer considered dependents, such as through death, divorce, or a child reaching the age of majority (and not attending school), you should act immediately to alert VA of the change. Failure to report the change, and ensure VA takes corrective action to remove the dependent from your award, may result in overpayment and cause the veteran to incur a debt to VA.
How do I make changes to my dependents?
Need to add or remove a dependent to your award? You’ll need to complete the VA Form 21-686c or start the process online for a faster processing time. Need to add a dependent parent? You’ll also need to complete and submit VA Form 21P-509. For additional information on dependent benefits, click here to navigate to VA’s website.