For Military Homebuyers: Can a Surviving Spouse Get a VA Loan?
If you’ve lost a veteran spouse and are considering buying a home, you might be wondering: can a surviving spouse get a VA loan? The answer is yes. A surviving spouse must simply meet certain criteria to qualify for the loan. Use this helpful guide to understand how eligibility works in this case.
Determining Whether You’re Considered a Spouse
For the VA to recognize a marriage, it must have been “recognized under the law of the place where at least one of the parties resided when they were married or when the claimant became eligible for benefits.”
Additionally, same-sex spouses who might have been denied previously are encouraged to contact the VA, as they now recognize “all same-sex marriages without regard to a veteran’s current or previous state of residence.”
Determining Eligibility for a VA Home Loan
A surviving spouse is a delineation given to spouses of military members who meet certain criteria. At least one of these must be true for the veteran:
- Be missing in action
- Be a prisoner of war (POW)
- Have died while an active service member or from a disability connected to service, and the surviving spouse did not remarry
- Have died while an active service member or from a disability connected to service, and the surviving spouse did not remarry before turning 57 or before Dec. 16, 2003
- Have died and the surviving spouse remarried but divorced the next spouse, or the next spouse died, as well – *cannot be remarried except for bullet point above*
- Have died after being recognized as totally disabled but did not die as a result of that disability (in some situations)
If any of these criteria are met, the surviving spouse can qualify for a VA loan.
Obtaining a VA Home Loan as a Surviving Spouse
VA loans are not obtained through the VA but through a qualified lender, like National Home Loans. To demonstrate to that lender that you are a surviving spouse, you have to receive a certificate of eligibility from the Department of Veterans Affairs. This official government document shows lenders you are eligible for a VA home loan. While you can fill out an application through the VA and receive your COE directly, you can also ask your lender to take care of obtaining the COE for you and work with the VA on your behalf. You must be in receipt of the DIC Benefit (Dependency & Indemnity Compensation).
Once your lender has your COE, you can begin the mortgage process in earnest. It should be noted that simply receiving a COE does not guarantee a lender will approve you for a home loan. Many of the same factors that go into determining an applicant’s creditworthiness for a traditional home loan apply for a VA home loan.
Working With National Home Loans To Get Your VA Loan
Your loved one may have been the one who signed up, but as the spouse of a veteran, you have served your country, too. If you’re an eligible surviving spouse, National Home Loans can help you get a VA loan and make your dreams of a place to call your own come true.
Ensure a seamless, stress-free experience by working with a lender who understands the VA home loan process. With National Home Loans, you’ll be closing on your dream home in no time. Get started today!
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