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.
Todd Soper says
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…
Ryan Guina says
Hello Todd, Sorry to hear about this situation. I recommend speaking with a Veterans Benefits Counselor or someone who has specific experience with these types of claims situations. It’s possible the VA will put you on a repayment plan or withhold a portion of future payments in order to resolve this debt. You can contact the VA directly to see if this is possible to set up, or contact a Veterans Service Organization to get assistance (DAV, AMVETS, VFW, etc.).
I wish you the best, and thank you for your service!
Patrick says
Any Update? I have a similar situation.
Rob Shibley says
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.
Dianna A says
Did they ever ask for proof of divorce?
Giacinia Huertas says
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?
Ryan Guina says
Hello Giacinia, The disability compensation is awarded to the veteran, not the family member(s). It is intended for the veteran to use the additional money to support the family members, but it is not awarded directly to the family members. So the money does not legally belong to the children, it legally belongs to the veteran.
That said, the veteran must continue to legally support the children or continue to have a great enough percentage of legal custody to continue receiving benefits for these children on his VA disability claim. If the veteran no longer supports the children or does not have custody, then they should no longer be legally allowed to claim the children as dependents on their disability claim. I do not have the specific details regarding custody or percentage of support – the VA doesn’t make this easy to find on their website.
I recommend speaking with the veteran to discuss this topic. If that is not possible due to the of the divorce, then I recommend running it through your lawyer and resolving the issue through legal means. I hope this is helpful in understanding how the benefit works.
Joy says
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
Ryan Guina says
Hello Joy, Thank you for contacting me. This is outside my area of expertise. I recommend contacting the VA or a Veterans Service Organization to help you with this. They should be able to give you more information on your options. I wish you all the best.
Rebecca says
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?
Ryan Guina says
Hello Rebecca, I am unsure if the compensation will be backdated. You will need to contact the VA for verification. You will also need to update your claim each year if your son continues his education and attends college. I wish you the best, and thank you for your service!
Steve Smith says
Hi Rebecca,
Not sure if you resolved this problem yet but I had a similar situation with my daughter when she finished her 4 years of college. I can’t remember the exact dates, I believe it was the month of May but when she first started college we put on the VA form that she would be graduating 4 years from that date she started. When May approached on her 4th year VA stopped the extra dependent money that was coming in my VA check because this is the date we told them that she would graduate. After I called the VA and told them that my daughter had extended her education and was still in college they had me fill out another form to show that she was still enrolled. After they verified it they did start the benefit again and they back paid me also.
Wish you success with this!
Ann Bailey says
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
Kalina says
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?
Ryan Guina says
Hello Kalina, Thank you for contacting me. I’m not sure which benefits you are referring to. The only benefit I am aware of that transfers is the Post-9/11 GI Bill. If that is the benefit you are referring to, then yes, the benefit can be moved between beneficiaries at any time. The benefit belongs to the military member, and he or she has the ability to change the beneficiary at his or her discretion. If you are not referring to the Post-9/11 GI Bill then I’m not sure the answer to your question without additional information. I wish you the best.
John says
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.
Ryan Guina says
Hello John, Thank you for contacting me. The VA will normally award back pay when they are responsible for a clerical error, so it sounds like you may have a good case for being awarded back pay. As for getting pay initiated in the first place, I would call the VA customer service line and ask a representative to open a customer support ticket for you. Try to get some form of information verifying the case has been opened, such as a support ticket or confirmation number, or the VA customer service employee’s name and email address or some other way of contacting them.
If that doesn’t work, then you can try contacting a Veterans Service Organization such as the DAV, AMVETS, VFW, or similar organization to see if they have any benefits counselors who can assist you.
nicole says
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 Guina says
Hello Nicole, Thank you for your comment. This is a topic you should take up with a lawyer that specializes in military divorce. It is very likely you would be eligible for a percentage of your husband’s pension, though the VA disability compensation is normally protected by law. That said, I am not a lawyer, and I cannot go into the details because each state has different divorce rules. You would be best to hire a lawyer as soon as possible. I wish you and your family the best.
Maggie says
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.
Ryan Guina says
Hello Maggie, The cut off is age 23. So he would qualify if he was still age 23 of younger. I wish you the best, and thank you for your service!
Julian says
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.
jet says
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
Ryan Guina says
Hello Jet, Thank you for your question. the VA only allows members to claim a dependent if they are a legal dependent, including spouse or children who are legal dependents. The VA can provide more information regarding which dependents are eligible and which forms or certificates (such as marriage certificate, adoption certificate, etc.) are needed to be able to add the dependents to your claim. I wish you the best, and thank you for your service!
Jennifer Baldwin says
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.
Ryan Guina says
Hello Jennifer, Thank you for contacting me. This is outside the scope of my knowledge. I’m sure there is a way to report this with the VA, but I am not certain of the process. I would call the VA helpline and ask how to report fraud. They should be able to route you to the correct office or provide the number.
As for the Marine, I can’t say how he would fare. The VA would most likely do an investigation and determine results from there.
I wish you the best.
Lance says
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?
Ryan Guina says
Hello Lance, I’m sorry for this situation, and I hope everything is resolved smoothly. I don’t know if this will impact your shipment date. I suggest working with your lawyer to try and smooth things along and have everything finalized before your shipment date. If all the legal issues are resolved before your ship out date, it shouldn’t impact your ability to leave on time.
But I would work with your recruiter if things won’t be resolved by then. You may not be able to ship out if you have pending legal actions.
As for the VA – I do not believe you need to coordinate with them before anything has been legally finalized. You should contact them once you have everything finalized. That said, you can contact the VA to verify this, or find out exactly what you need to do to avoid any complications.
I wish you the best with this situation and the best with your military career.
Erik says
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.
Denise says
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.
Ryan Guina says
Hello Denise, Thank you for your question. I am not an expert in this situation, so you may wish to consult with someone who has more experience with this. That said, if your son’s father does not have visitation rights, he may or may not be legally allowed to claim him on the VA disability compensation form. I encourage you to research this by contacting the VA to determine who is legally allowed to claim your son. You will also need to contact the Social Security Administration and explain the situation to them. If you run into road blocks, you may need to hire a lawyer or legal representative to help you straighten this out. I wish you and your family the best.
Joan says
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?
Ryan Guina says
Joan, if you pay 1/2 of your son’s expenses, then you need to claim that, regardless of how much you in on comparison to your spouse. You should also claim your spouse and your child for as long as they qualify as dependents. The answer is yes, you can both claim your son as a dependent, so long as you are both providing for him and your disability rating is at least 30%. You should claim your spouse until you are officially divorced, at which time you should notify the VA in writing. I wish you the best, and thank you for your service!
Gary says
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