Have you ever wondered what makes you eligible for va banefits or not? Are you wondering am I eligible for additional VA disability compensation for one or more of my dependents?
Well, you may be eligible for additional disability compensation for a qualified spouse, child, and/or parent if you meet both of these requirements.
Both of these must be true:
You're eligible for VA disability compensation, and
You have a combined disability rating of at least 30%
Adding a dependent may make you eligible to receive a higher compensation payment (also called a benefit rate).
Who Is A Dependant?
A dependent is:
A spouse (Note: We recognize same-sex and common-law marriages)
A parent, if you’re directly caring for them and their income and net worth are below a certain amount
An unmarried child (including an adopted child or stepchild) who meets one of the eligibility requirements listed below
To be considered a dependent, one of these must be true of an unmarried child:
They're under 18 years old, or
They're between the ages of 18 and 23 years old and enrolled in school full time, or
They became permanently disabled before they turned 18
When should I Add a dependant to my benefits?
This depends on where you're in the process of filing for disability compensation.
If you haven’t yet filed a claim for disability compensation
You can file a claim for additional compensation for a dependent at the same time as you file your original claim for disability compensation.
If you receive a combined disability rating of at least 30%, we’ll automatically consider your eligibility for additional compensation for your dependent.
If you have one or more dependents, but you didn’t claim them when you originally filed for disability compensation
If you have a combined disability rating of at least 30%, you can file a claim for additional disability compensation now.
If something changes in your family status after you received a combined disability rating of at least 30%
You can file a claim for additional disability compensation whenever you add a dependent.
You can add a dependent if:
You get married
You have or adopt a child
Your child is between 18 and 23 years old and enrolled in school full time
We determine that your child, who's at least 18 years old, became permanently disabled before turning 18
You become the caregiver for a parent whose income and net worth is below a certain amount
For more information CLICK HERE or call 1-800-827-1000 and press option 3 to add a dependant to your benefits.
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