Veterans with a combined disability rating of 30% or higher from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) are eligible to receive additional tax-free compensation based on the type and number of dependents they have.
VA disability benefits are available to eligible veterans with service-connected conditions. The VA assigns veterans a combined disability rating between 0% and 100% depending on the severity of their combined disabilities. This rating then determines what additional benefits a veteran may be eligible for, as well as the amount of tax-free compensation received each month from the Veteran Benefits Administration.
Learn more about disability ratings here.
Sometimes veterans with combined disability ratings of 30% or higher are unaware that they can receive additional compensation based on dependents. Whatever the case may be, it’s good to be informed about who is eligible to be added as a dependent and how to add or confirm dependents listed on your disability benefits.
Who is eligible to be added as dependents?
Eligible dependents include:
- A spouse (including same-sex spouses and common-law marriages)
- A parent whom you are directly caring for and whose income and net worth are below the limit set by law
- An unmarried child (including an adopted child or stepchild) who:
- Is under 18 years old, or
- Is between 18 and 23 years old and enrolled in school full time, or
- Became permanently incapable of self-support before turning 18.
It’s important to note that children are automatically removed as dependents when they turn 18 years old (even if they are actively attending high school) unless the VA is notified of children who are enrolled in school full time. Dependent children who get married or who are between 18 and 23 years old and enroll in school less than full time, or any dependent who is lost due to circumstances like death or divorce, must be reported to the VA to avoid overpayment of benefits and debt.
Also, keep in mind that veterans cannot receive additional compensation for dependents receiving education benefits under Chapter 35: Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance (DEA).
How can I add dependents to my VA disability benefit?
The VA accepts claims for additional disability compensation either online or by mail.
Online
To file a claim online, you’ll need access to VA.gov. Currently, this can be achieved by creating an account with either Login.gov – the official government account provider that provides online access to the VA as well as other government benefits and services – or ID.me – a non-government account provider. There are circumstances in which one or the other is more advantageous, but both require identification verification. For more information on how to create a VA.gov account, visit this site.
After signing into your VA.gov account, visit www.va.gov/view-change-dependents/add-remove-form-21-686c/introduction to begin the process. The website will instruct you on what you need to gather before you start (e.g., full names, Social Security numbers, marriage details, etc.) and prompt you through the necessary form to add (or remove) a dependent.
Note: The VA encourages veterans to file their claims online. The date claims are started online is considered the date the VA receives the claim, meaning, if eligible, compensation will be back paid to the claim start date.
The appropriate forms can be downloaded from VA.gov and mailed to the VA.
- For a spouse or a child, you will need to complete an Application Request to Add and/or Remove Dependents (VA Form 21-686c).
- For an unmarried child between 18 and 23 years old who is attending school full time, a Request for Approval of School Attendance (VA Form 21-674) and a School Attendance Report (VA Form 21-74b) are required.
- For dependent parents, complete a Statement of Dependency of Parent(s) (VA Form 21P-509).
Mail completed forms to:
Department of Veterans Affairs
Evidence Intake Center
P.O. Box 4444
Janesville, WI 53547-4444
Note: Once completed, these forms can also be uploaded via QuickSubmit Benefits Upload Service, a VA provided method of electronically submitting PDFs to the VA.
How can I view my dependents currently on my VA disability benefit?
The VA recommends using their online tool to view your dependents. Log in to VA.gov and visit www.va.gov/view-change-dependents/view to see a list of dependents the VA has on file for you. Alternatively, you can call the VA Benefits Customer Service line at 800-827-1000, Monday through Friday between 8 a.m. and 7 p.m. ET.
How much am I entitled to?
Your monthly entitlement depends on your combined disability rating and the number and type of your eligible dependents.
For example, a veteran with a 30% combined disability rating and no dependents is currently eligible to receive $537.42 a month. That same veteran with a spouse is eligible to receive $601.42. Each dependent child under 18 years old increases the amount by $31.00. If the veteran is married and has two children under the age of 18 years old, they could receive $663.42 a month as a disability benefit. These rates increase with a veteran’s increased disability rate.
Remember, only veterans with a combined disability rating of at least 30% are eligible to receive disability compensation for dependents. This compensation is paid to the veteran, not to the dependents. You can view current veteran disability compensation rates here.
Navy Mutual is an accredited Veterans Service Organization, and our VSO representatives are able to help servicemembers and veterans file disability claims. If you need assistance, our team can be reached at 888-298-4442. We never charge for VSO services.
Navy Mutual Aid Association’s Department of Education and Veteran Services does not endorse or favor any commercial financial product or service or promote the services of any specific financial institution. Further, Navy Mutual Aid Association and its accredited VSO Representatives do not charge or accept a fee or gratuity for representation services rendered to claimants before the Department of Veterans Affairs. 38 C.F.R. §14.628.