Surviving Spouse VA Home Loan

If you or your spouse are Veterans, or Active Servicemen, you might qualify for a 100%, no down payment mortgage loan that is insured by the Veteran’s Administration.  There are three sets of VA loan eligibility categories, all of which differ based on circumstances including the dates of service and what type of military service is on record.  These are important details, because if you are the Surviving Spouse of a Veteran, you might qualify for this mortgage loan program.  The Surviving Spouse VA Home Loan is not guaranteed however, and there might be some “hoops” we will gladly help you get through!

VA loan eligibility criteria for surviving spouses of Veterans who died as a result of military service. Eligible surviving spouses may only apply for a VA loan certificate of eligibility by mail, using VA Form 26-1817. Those who can’t print the form or find a copy may call 1-888-244-6711 to request a paper copy of the form. 

The Surviving Spouse VA Home Loan is obviously in place to serve those families who are in a terrible position.  Remember that you this benefit is available for as long as YOU live, under the following stipulations:

• You can use the Surviving Spouse VA Home Loan to purchase property if you have never remarried.
• You can use the Surviving Spouse VA Home Loan to purchase property if you have been remarried and are now divorced from that marriage.
• You can use the Surviving Spouse VA Home Loan to purchase property if you have been remarried and your marriage has ended due to the death of a spouse

The Veteran’s Administration understands that this is a difficult time, and unlike some things that can take forever with the VA – they’ve actually made this process as simple as possible.   When we’ve spoken to them, they’ve been very helpful to answer questions.  Surviving spouses of Veterans who died while in military service don’t need to submit any additional documentation apart from VA Form 26-1817– if the spouse is receiving Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC).

Those who don’t yet receive this benefit must submit the following paperwork along with VA form 26-1817:

• A copy (no originals) of the DD Form 1300 (Report of Casualty)
• A copy of the marriage certificate
• A signed statement saying the surviving spouse would like to apply for Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC)

The Department of Veterans Affairs official state states, “If you qualify for the home loan benefit, you probably qualify for monthly payments under DIC.”  Our underwriters count this DIC income in qualifying you for the Surviving Spouse VA Home Loan.  All we need is evidence that you’ve received at least one payment prior to closing – so we can process your mortgage loan application while we are waiting for the DIC Income paperwork to be processed by the VA.

For surviving spouses of military members who died after military service ended, the VA requires:

• A copy (no originals) of the veteran’s DD Form 214 (discharge papers)
• A copy of the veteran’s death certificate
• A copy of the marriage certificate

The VA official site also adds, “If your veteran spouse died after service, VA must determine that the death was due to a service-connected disability.”  Congress recently made a change, regarding Disabled Vets, and the benefits for their Surviving Spouse, allowing additional benefits.

The process for reviewing this non service related application can take quite a while.  We’ve known it to take up to three months for the VA to process the VA Disability paperwork, but if the decision has already been made that it was a service-connected death, it zips right through.

Surviving spouses in North Carolina should mail VA form 26-1817 and any supporting documentation required by the VA to:

VA Loan Eligibility Center
PO Box 20729
Winston-Salem, NC 27120

As a reminder, we’ve found that if you write the veteran’s Social Security number on the top of all documents, it speeds the process up some.  VA Mortgage loans are a huge Benefit for Veterans, and The Surviving Spouse VA Home Loan is a benefit that was earned.  These loans are much better (read cheaper) than FHA loans, they don’t have any monthly mortgage insurance, and the qualifying credit requirements are pretty flexible.

If you are a surviving spouse, and believe you might qualify for a Surviving Spouse VA Home Loan – please call Steve and Eleanor Thorne, 919-649-5058.  We do a TON of VA Home loans, we know the VA Loan guidelines, and we have the LOWEST VA Home LOAN RATES… and we appreciate your family’s sacrifice.  We want to help!