Military veterans with a service-connected disability rating of 10% or more are often eligible to receive VA disability compensation benefits. Veterans may be eligible to receive a higher compensation rate if they are rated at 30% or higher and have one or more dependents, including a spouse, child, or a parent in their care. Veterans with a service-connected disability rating of 20% or lower are not generally eligible for additional payments, except in limited circumstances.
How to Add or Remove a Dependent from your VA Disability Compensation Claim
The status of your dependents is recorded by the VA when they process your initial disability compensation claim, but they are not able to automatically make changes to your dependent’s status. It is up to you to notify the VA when something changes which affects the eligibility of your dependents – this can include both adding or removing one or more dependents from your VA disability compensation benefits. Some reasons for these changes in dependents status include a birth, adoption, or death, marriage or divorce, a child no longer being eligible due to age restrictions, marriage, or other restrictions, adding a parent to your claim, etc.
When these changes occur, you need to contact the VA with this information so they can update your file. Keep in mind this may either increase or decrease your compensation rate, and in some cases, the benefits will be back dated to the effective date. This can result in an overpayment in which the recipient has received more money than they were eligible for, or they could receive a higher one time payment to make up the shortfall. The sooner you notify the VA, the better. It’s also important to note that when adding a child due to a birth or adoption, you need to wait until you have their Social Security Number before filing your claim. So you may need to wait a couple months from the time of birth before you can add your new dependent.
Change Declaration of Status of Dependents for VA Compensation Benefits
There are two ways to change the status of your dependents:
- Paper via VA Form: VA Form 21-686c, Declaration of Status of Dependents, or VA Form 21-674, Request for Approval of School Attendance for dependents over age 18 and attending school, or VA Form 21-509 – Statement of Dependency of Parent(s), and
- Electronically via VONAPP or eBenefits.
1. Paper Forms:
- VA Form 21-686c, Declaration of Status of Dependents. VA Form 21-686c is a two page paper form, which according to the VA, should take approximately 15 minutes to fill out. The form is fairly straight forward, and requests the standard information, such as the veteran’s personal information and VA File number, marriage status, information regarding your unmarried children, including their name, SSN, age, schooling status, etc. Then you simply need to sign the form and mail it in to the VA center which handles your claim. You can download this form here: VA Form 21-686c (pdf).
- VA Form 21-674, Request for Approval of School Attendance. This form is used when your dependent child(ren) are over age 18, and are attending school. Child dependents are ineligible to be claimed past age 18 unless they are attending a qualified school, or they have special needs. You can download this form here: VA Form 21-674 (pdf).
- VA Form 21-509, Statement of Dependency of Parent(s). Use this form if you are a veteran with a service connected disability rating of 30% or higher and you support your parents. Eligible relations include a natural father or mother, a father or mother through adoption, and a foster father or mother (including stepparents who stood in the relationship of parent to the veteran). There are financial restrictions for parents to be eligible. You can download this form here: VA Form 21-509 (pdf).
2. VONAPP / eBenefits. The VA is making an effort to move more features and services online, which is faster and less costly in the long run. That is where Veterans On Line Applications (VONAPP) and eBenefits.va.gov websites come into play. Veterans are now able to use VONAPP or eBenefits to apply for VA compensation, pension, education, vocational rehabilitation and employment, burial benefits, and more. Veterans can also use this online tool to update the status of their dependents, file claims for increases in service-connected disabilities, add disabilities, and more.
Note: the VONAPP option does not appear to be included as of April, 2016. However, the eBenefits website is available.
Questions about submitting online forms:
- Should I file a paper form and via eBenefits / VONAPP? No – choose one or the other. The electronic form may be processed more quickly, provided all the information is complete. Otherwise, there is no difference between the forms, and submitting multiple claims can delay the process.
- How do I sign it? Some forms require veterans to certify the information they entered is accurate – this serves as your signature. VA Form 21-686c is included in this list of forms which can be “electronically” signed.
- How do I follow up with my claim? The VA automatically sends an e-mail when they receive your claim, and another when your claim is downloaded and the claim is being processed. The information includes your name, date of submission, and which regional VA office received your form (including their contact information). You should contact the regional VA center which is processing your claim for more information or updates on the status of your claim.
- More VONAPP Claims FAQs.
- More eBenefits FAQs.
Find more information at the VONAPP Home Page.
Want to learn more about filing your claim online? Check out our tutorials on how to create a VONAPP account and how to file a claim with VONAPP.
I can’t stress enough how important it is to file these changes as soon as they occur. The last thing you want to happen is to receive an overpayment to your VA compensation benefits for several months, only to have the money deducted from future payments.
So my husband left us in 2017 and we have not filed for divorce yet. He has our kids 20% of the time. Should he still me claiming us as dependents?
So I’ve been 80 percent since 2011 when I was medically retired. I never knew about adding a spouse or a child til last month. Behind, I know but that’s done. So last week I added my husband of 10 years and my son who is now 18 months. They have been added under the dependents part of ebenefits but it says they are not on an award. What exactly does that mean? Will I get any benefits for them? Is it just because it takes a couple weeks or are they defintely not being counted towards the award? It’s so confusing. Thank you!
My husband and I have been separated for several months. One day he decoded he no longer wants to be a family and moved across country. He does not pay any child support, nor does he provide the kids with health insurance, and frankly, I don’t want anything from him. However, I know that he has not updated the VA and continues to receive his full 80% that includes compensation for a spouse and our kids. When I contacted the VA, a very rude individual told me to fill out a form that was basically about my income and had nothing to do with the reason I was calling. I do not want any money but I also don’t want this man to abuse the system by collecting funds that he is not entitled to. Any advice? Thank you.
I am a divorced mother of 2 and my ex-husband is getting VA disability benefits. He has remarried and I have VERY good reason to believe he is getting benefits for our 2 children. The problem is he has a drug habit and violent tendencies, so I have full custody of our children and he isn’t even attempting to follow the court order to see his children… so I’m failing to see how I am left to support to beautiful babies on my own while he is paid for it… I am so angry for my children that my first goal is to get him to cease any further compensation, then he can pay back the government. If they allow me to have some of the money that was meant for them, it would really help things at home, but my purpose here is first to stop him. Does anyone… Read more »
My husband and I have been separated since 2015 and will hopefully be divorcing next year (finances have put it off). He has been drawing a married plus 2 stepchildren benefit on his VA Disability this entire time. When our divorce is finalized, will he have to pay that back all the way to our date of separation?
What do I need to do in order to remove myself and my daughter from dependent lists? My ex husband (medically retired) and I been divorced since July 2017. Both of our sons are living full time with me per court order. My ex husband (Veteran) has not update the status and me and my daughter are still on his dependent list. He is still received VA pay for married with 3 kids. 2 of kids are biologically his. Please advice on how to go about changing the status. Thank you
Hi, I just received a 30% rating from the VA. I was married to my ex for just over 10 years. I put her and my children’s names into my dependents section on the VA webpage. On one page it looked like it said if we were married at least 10 years that I may receive dependent pay for her as well as my children. Did I read that correctly or not? It had a status of “spouse not on award” for her and “pending” for my children.
Hello, i need to know who to contact regarding my ex husbands benefits. When he was awarded benefits back in 2013, he had claimed me, our daughter, and my 3 kids from a previous marriage and that is how they calculated the amount. We have been divorced over a year now and he is still claiming me and my 3 kids. How can I fix this?
Hello. I am curious to know if anyone has had the VA 21-674 that they completed on E-benefits kicked back by the VA, because the form is missing the dependent’s school name?
My ex just contacted me asking if he can claim our daughter on his va benefits, we where never married and he walked out on us in 2007 he lives in another state and has not seen her since she was 3 yrs old she is 14 now , he says he is out of work and barely making ends meet and by adding her he would get more money but I’m return she would recieve money also . Can he do this ?
I am divorced from my husband (who is a disabled vet) for 4 years and there is no contact. We have severely disabled children who receive SSDI benefits and this year they cut them off stating that the system states my children are receiving VA benefits. How can I get proof that they are not?
My ex was 100 disabled we married in 2010… we seperated the same year and didnt divorce until 2018, how can i find out if he was collecting benifits for me??
Does the VA notify my ex if I’m claiming my kids as dependents? It asked me for my ex wife’s address because that’s where my kids reside most of the time, and asked if I had previous marriages from my current one.
Hello, I am retired and have a 90% rating. I transferred my GI bill over to my daughter. I did not realize that she was taken off of my award when she turned 18, so I turned in a VA 21-674 to update the information due to her being a full time student. I was denied because they stated that I cannot add her as a dependent on my award because she is using the GI bill. They stated this is double dipping. Is this correct?
I am currently receiving 30% disability from the VA. I am currently separated from my wife, but we are still married. Will being separated affect my compensation? And should I advise the VA that we are separated, but still married. I really want to make sure I’m doing the right thing here.
I retired nov 1, 2016. I’m 100% va disabled. My spouse left march 2018 ( 6 months ago) and filed for divorce over a month ago. She is stalling on proceeding with the divorce. She moved out of state and I have no way of communicating with her besides email. She is going by her maiden name and presents herself as single. Is she entitled to Chapter 35 if we are pending a divorce and separated for 6 months?
I’m am a 90% service connected and due to my mental state I didn’t change dependents when I got divorced in 2004 depression caused my life and the divorce to throw me into deeper depression I remarried in 2010 I just now received notice about the removal of my first wife i am just now sending that info 1 was only 30 % when I got divorced will I be able to make restitution for the overpayments I wasn’t trying to defraud without losing my benefits.
I recently got married and added my husband as a dependent on eBenefits (I have a 40% rating.) Apparently my dependent application was denied, as he is now shown as a dependent not on an award. The claim states that the decision letter was sent a week ago, but we have not received it yet. What could be a possible reason for a dependent not to be added to an award?
I am a veteran rated 100 % permanent and total service connected. I have bad PTSD comorbid with Major Depressive Disorder and a bunch of other things. But 100% for the PTSD / MDD. My wife and I cannot live together right now because of the symptoms of my mental illnesses. So we are thinking of legally separating. My question is (in our state legally separated is still married but living apart): If we legally separate will my wife still be able to keep her ChampVA insurance, Chapter 35 award, and other VA benefits awarded because of my disabilities? Will she still be eligible for DIC when I die (from another Service Connected Disability) ? The VA seems inconsistent to me. ChampVA says only “divorce or annulment” will make a spouse ineligible for ChampVA medical. Yet at least one of the supplemental companies says “legal separation is a bar to… Read more »
Im a veteran and father, never married. I do have 50percent custody but my childs mother claims the child on her w2 and wanting to keep things civil i say ok.
My question is may i still claim my child as a dependent even though her mother claims her on her irs w2?
My question is in regards to being remarried while receiving VA disability payments. I was remarried about four years ago, before my remarriage I was single and unmarried for a period of about a year a a half. When I update my dependent profile and add my new wife will I also be credited for the time I have been married to my new spouse or will they take away the credit for my wife all the way back to the date of my divorce? It makes sense I would owe the money back for the period of time when I was not married after my divorce but I would like to know if I will receive credit for the months after I was remarried to my new wife. I have received conflicting information in regards to this.
I have a dependent update problem/question. I am receiving a 30 percent disability rating. I was married until 2013 and got divorced. I didn’t up date my dependent information with the VA. I was remarried in 2014 and we had a son in 2015. This year the VA sent an update dependent information form which I returned with my new dependents. I received a new rating but at the same time an overpayment letter. I disputed the debt and explained the error of not updating my dependent information. I sent my divorce decree, marriage license, and my son’s birth certificate. The response I received was that the overpayment and the debt is valid. I understand the year gap when I didn’t have a spouse. Everything after that I should have been receiving a different rate with my wife AND son from 2015 to 2018. I didn’t expect any retroactive pay… Read more »
I have what I hope is a simple question, first a quick backstory. While stationed in Korea 1 1/2 years ago I discovered DOD FMR Vol 7A, specifically a single paragraph in chapter 26. The basics, once divorced, even if you have 50% custody of your children but not placement (that word being key), DFAS does not consider them as dependents. With that being said, in DFAS’s eyes I should have been receiving the W/OUT rate for the previous 3 years. Thankfully I read some more and found out I wouldn’t have to pay back $18,000 due to my child support and other financial obligations stated in the divorce decree. Now to the quick question. Is VA the same? Even though I have 50% custody, and in reality support them more than that 50%, will VA not consider them dependents since they are not “placed” with me. Thanks for any… Read more »
I’m trying to be proactive. My son will turn 18 in Oct. I can’t find where I would submit the 21-674 form to update he will still be in high school when he turns 18 and then immediately following will be attending college. Do I have to wait until he actually turns 18 to have an option on the ebenfits page to fill the form out? I have the pdf form I can mail in, but I am not seeing where to fill out the same form through ebenefits so it is processed faster versus having to mail a paper form into VA. Assistance would be greatly appreciated.
My husband receives HUD VASH. he up and left the kids and I over 2months ago. With that being said, being his spouse and what he has done as far as abandoning the kids and I, can the HUD VASH be relinquished to me? Also, he receives VA disability. He is at 90%. Am I entitled to any apportionment from his reward? Please help me in regards to this matter. I’m trying to get answers and I can’t get them
When getting divorced once it is complete do I just need to fill out a dependents up date form amd submit it to get my spouse removed to keep my records perfectly updated?
This questiom has been asked om this board but no one replied to it.
So what paperwork is needed?
Also, I have a daughter that will be a Senior in High School mext year, she is taking her 2 remaining courses and 4 Colleges courses also, will she qualify for the Educational benefits as my son did, BUT my son graduated HS already before he went to College & got this benefit.
Gary
I am a Vet Separated from my Vet Spouse. We live apart but in the same city. We have joint custody of our son. When adding Spouse and son on eBenefits, the online form asked how much I pay in support to my Spouse. He makes over 2 times as much as I do so I listed 0.00. I pay 1/2 of son’s expenses. Can we both claim him for VA as a Dependent? Can I list Spouse also because we are not Divorced?
Question: Referencing the VA form 21-686C 14 (H) which shows a dependent child is seriously disabled. If the veteran fails to document and show that the said child is disabled, how does this affect the amount/or part of the award? Short story; My son is disabled, Autistic/nonverbal, he receives SSI monthly. His father was just awarded 100% disability and he put my son down on this form, but did NOT complete 14 (H). My son is now losing $110.00 monthly of SSI because his father listed him on just 15 A-C. Is this correct? I was never married to him, he does not have visitation, nor has he seen his child in 8 yrs? This seems so unfair to the child. Any help would be VERY much appreciated.
I added my wife and her daughter and they gave my like $7 to my disability now that I got my divorce and took both of them off there taking $50 each how is that I was making less then before I added them.
My bootcamp will be in 6 months, and my wife (for almost 3 years)and i just filed a divorce after a year of separation. Will it affect my shipment date? Do i need to tell VA about it even it has not been finalized yet?
I know a woman that brags about how she and her husband scammed the VA. The woman has children with another man who does not receive benefits so she married a USMC who put her children on his benefits. The woman left the man for another man while still collecting caregiver pay and her children (not his) receive school benefits while. Can i report the for fraud? The USMC stopped her caregiver pay when he discovered her new boyfriend and he doesn’t feel he should be responsible for her kids education when they aren’t his kids. Would he be responsible for the money that has been issued monthly? They haven’t been together in over 6 years before the kids went to college.
am I allowed to add my fiance’ as dependent and my step kids? I’m 70% and I’m barely finding out about adding dependent. ive been divorced and scared to re marry after my ex took everything including my compensation I get. ive been engaged with my partner for 5 years
Hi! I’m a Veteran with 60% disability and I got divorced and remarried . I know taking my ex off will drop it but adding my new wife will it go back to where it was. so basically would it just Change their names.
I am a retired vet with 70% disability and I have a son who is getting ready to graduate college with a bachelors degree this spring. He plans to take a year off school before he returns for his doctrine. I currently receive benefits for him because he is still in school, and I do realize that once he graduates I will have to notify the VA and get him removed as a dependent. My question is, when he returns to school in 2019, can I get him added back on as a dependent, since we will still be supporting him? Thank you.
My soon to be ex husband retired from the military of 20 years the end of 2013. We have been married over 16 years at the time I separated from the martial home the end of 2014. We been living apart for over three years and I filed for divorce the end of last year. I know he has been received money on my behalf since he retired. He now has a live in girlfriend, but I have not received any money for support since our separation. What can I do? Am I entitled to receive monetary ? We will be legally married for 20 years this year. Please help
Ryan I am 100% disabled, I retired in 2014 and I’ve been receiving 100 % Disability Compensation and Pension for the past 3 years. When I began getting paid they got my wife’s name wrong and she’s listed under my dependents on eBenefits as “dependents not on award”. I called the VA about this and they said that her name is correct according to their records but to date I’m still not receiving additional benefit payments for my wife. How can I get her added to my award? What is the easiest way? Would I actually be able to receive back pay for her going back for the past 3 years? It actually was their error not mine. What is the easiest way to get that corrected? When I originally filed my claim I submitted our marriage certificate and all required documents.
My parents are constantly threatening to take away the benefits that have been given to me. I am wondering if they are able to take it away since they already signed the documents or if they gave up the right to take it away when they signed the document in the first place?
Hello,
I found out that my sibling was carrying our mother as his dependent on his VA benefits. He does not take care of her and never has, he was giving her money, but stopped giving it to her 2 years ago. Should he be carrying her as a dependent if he is not taking care of her?
Thanks
Ann
I am on 50% disability VA compensation, and my son was removed by VA has a dependent when he turned 18 back in September. I found out that he can be added back on because he is still in high school. When all is said and done, will we get a kickback from when he was taken off or be just as it was before he was removed?
how to remove a child from chapter 35 benefits who is abusing the money. she is paying for everything except school. my husband has considered deleting her from deers. she has no chances of doing right to the point that people are being paid a small percentage to do her work for school. can he remove her from deers and chapter 35 he is 100 percent disabled. please help us
If divorced from a veteran who is getting 30% of Veterans Disability, do the three children whom are his biological children get compensated? If so what would need to be filed out so those children can get what is legally there’s?
Did they ever ask for proof of divorce?
Todd. Are you telling me that you didn’t notice that your benefits never got reduced? You could’ve checked your dependents in ebenefits at any time.
The most likely scenario is that you were getting overpaid and just “let it roll”.
Don’t take Uncle Sam’s money, he’ll find out and take it back. I hope this can be a lesson to others.
I retired in 2005 from US Navy, when I divorced in Aug 2007 I contacted the VA Benefits office and told them of my divorce. just Friday (12 years later) I was contacted by VA Benefits Office and was told I owe 15,500.00 in back pay because I divorce in 2007 and “I” failed to let VA benefits know. How can they do this to me. VA benefits says their phone records don’t go back that far and they have no proof that I called, I cant afford to pay this back. What are my options, I am sick to my stomach over this, I could use some advice…
I am divorced from a Veteran who currently pays child support through state of Georgia. My child will turn 18 in November and graduate in May of 2018 in which the support will end. However, he will definitely be attending post secondary school. Someone told me that I can file an apportionment claim on behalf of my son if his father will be receiving benefits for him but not living with our son. The money would be allocated directly to my son or me. Is this information correct?
My daughter is turning 23 and still attends college. My husband is retired disabled (but not 100%) and we receive military health care. We were told that she will no longer be covered because she will be 23 and dis-enrolled. I thought that ALL health care companies were required to cover dependent students until age 26.
I recently got married and my husband is 100% disabled from his service and receives appropriate compensation. I have a good job – if he lists me on his VA forms will his compensation go down?
Good Day,
My daughter who turns 23 in November is currently in Grad school. I have a VA rating and receive benefit since she is still attending school. I was told that when she turned 23, that I wouldn’t receive a dependent benefit for her. Can I still receive dependent benefit from the VA on her after the age of 23 if she is still in college?
My husband is 100% and we recently added us to his VA as dependents. We thought us being in DEERS was it but recently found out it was not. My claim shows now under review for about a week now. How long does it taked to have al of us officially added to his award and will they back pay. He received his award letter oct 2015 which by then we had 2 kids together. And legally got married in april 2016 and have my 2 children from previous marriage. Just curious on how long and if they back pay. I know its probably our mistake due to thinking deers was all we needed to do. But just curious. Thank you.
Good morning, I have a question and I am not sure if anyone can give me some information. I have been out the Army since 2016 and was awarded 70% from VA. Just recently my brother (over 21) was a victim of being severely beaten and almost didn’t make it, he had major brain trauma and now has to live the next 6 months with a piece of his skull having to be removed for the duration until his brain swelling is completely gone, he is having to learn how to walk, talk again as well as have to learn to use his memory again. He is still currently in the hospital under rehabilitation. He is from a rural area in Arizona he has no kids and no spouse, I live in Louisiana with my spouse of 7 years and three kids, I was wondering if maybe I can be… Read more »