Eligibility
VA home loans for surviving spouses
Short answer
A surviving spouse can use the VA home loan benefit if the veteran died in service or from a service-connected disability, is missing in action or a prisoner of war, or in some cases was totally disabled before death. Remarrying before age 57 generally ends eligibility. Spouses who receive Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) apply with VA Form 26-1817 and do not pay the funding fee.
Who qualifies
VA says a surviving spouse can get a Certificate of Eligibility if at least one of these is true:
- The veteran is missing in action or being held as a prisoner of war.
- The veteran died in service or from a service-connected disability, and you did not remarry.
- The veteran died in service or from a service-connected disability, and you did not remarry before age 57 or before December 16, 2003.
- The veteran was totally disabled before death, in certain situations, even if the disability did not cause the death.
How to apply
| Your situation | Form | Send it with |
|---|---|---|
| You receive DIC | VA Form 26-1817 | The veteran’s DD214, to your lender or VA regional loan center |
| You do not receive DIC | VA Form 21P-534EZ | Marriage license, death certificate and DD214, mailed to VA’s Pension Intake Center |
What it costs
Surviving spouses who receive DIC are exempt from the VA funding fee, which is 2.15% of the loan on a typical first-use, zero-down purchase. Everything else works like any VA loan: no down payment with full entitlement, no monthly mortgage insurance, and the same lender credit and income review. See the funding fee chart.
Illinois help for surviving spouses
In Cook County, an unmarried surviving spouse of a veteran who received the Veterans with Disabilities property tax exemption can keep receiving it. Illinois and Cook County veteran benefits.
Common questions
Can a surviving spouse get a VA loan?
Yes, if the veteran died in service or from a service-connected disability, is MIA or a POW, or in some cases was totally disabled before death, and the spouse meets the remarriage rules.
Do surviving spouses pay the VA funding fee?
No, not if they receive Dependency and Indemnity Compensation.
Does remarrying end VA home loan eligibility?
Remarrying before age 57 generally ends eligibility. Remarrying at 57 or older does not.
Sources
What will your VA funding fee be?
Enter a price and down payment to see the 2026 fee, or check whether you are exempt.
An independent guide. Not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, and not a lender. General information, not legal, tax or financial advice.