VA Loans: Who Else Can Qualify For One Besides Veterans?
June 28, 2011 
Joe Wallace 
In a recent blog post we discussed applying for VA loan eligibility and how it can be done through the lender. Active duty military, retired and separated military, plus members of the National Guard and Reserve who meet the time in service and/or discharge requirements may all apply for VA loan eligibility. This can be done online, by mail or even with the lender’s help.
But is there anyone else who is qualified to apply for VA home loan benefits? Can surviving spouses of veterans or the children of veterans also apply to use this benefit?
At the time of this writing, current legislation does not permit children of veterans alive or dead to apply for a VA home loan. There have been many changes to VA benefits including allowing spouses of veterans to use the G.I. Bill in some cases, and it’s entirely possible that at one point somewhere down the road the government may decide to explore allowing a veteran’s children this option. But under the current rules it is not permitted.
Surviving spouses of a deceased veteran may apply for a VA home loan under specific circumstances as spelled out in VA regulations. According to VA.gov, “The unmarried surviving spouse of a veteran who died on active duty or as the result of a service-connected disability is eligible for the home loan benefit.” Additionally, the VA allows a spouse to apply for a VA refinancing loan if he or she had a VA loan with the deceased veteran previously. (This is allowed regardless of the cause of the veteran’s death).
At the time of this writing, some spouses may believe they can apply for a VA loan using the “age 57 rule” which states, “…a surviving spouse who remarries on or after attaining age 57, and on or after December 16, 2003, may be eligible for the home loan benefit.”
But it’s important to note that there’s a limitation on that rule for some applicants. “…a surviving spouse who remarried before December 16, 2003, and on or after attaining age 57, must apply no later than December 15, 2004, to establish home loan eligibility. VA must deny applications from surviving spouses who remarried before December 16, 2003 that are received after December 15, 2004.
Surviving spouses who wish to apply for VA loan eligibility should contact the VA Winston-Salem Eligibility Center for more information.
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I am a child of vetran from 1945 to 1962, He was in the Navy and foight in the korean war, My question is, Can his children use his va loan to purchase a home, or go back to School ECT,
Sincerly, Melinda Herrera
Hi Melinda, thanks for your question. A surviving spouse of a military veteran can under some circumstances be allowed to use a VA loan benefit but dependent children are not according to the VA official site FAQ: http://www.benefits.va.gov/homeloans/faqelig.asp
Hope this helps!
Hello
I was wondering how VA loans work. My husband is entitled to a VA loan but has not had an income of his own in the last 2 year.We have filed out taxes jointly. Would I qualify as a co-signer or some thing similar since I am the one who has been the head of household income wise? Or would we have to wait for him to have an income for the next 2 years or so??
The VA is required to verify employment as part of the VA loan process. Your best chance for VA loan approval would come when you apply when your husband is employed once more. The VA does allow spouse income to be counted as long as the spouse is a co-signer on the loan, but the employment issue is an important one, as the VA is required to verify employment and income that is “likely to continue”.