Across the country, millions of veterans and active-duty service members are eligible to participate in the VA Loan Guaranty Program. VA loans are primarily used for buying or building single-family homes. But these flexible loans can also help veterans improve their current living conditions or save more money each month through refinancing. Talk to one of our VA loan experts today.

What is a VA loan?

A VA loan is perhaps the most powerful and flexible lending option on the market today. Rather than issue loans, the VA instead pledges to repay about a quarter of every loan it guarantees in the unlikely event the borrower defaults. That guarantee gives VA-approved lenders greater protection when lending to military borrowers and often leads to highly competitive rates and terms for qualified veterans.

Despite the broad eligibility requirements, fewer than 10 percent of the nation's nearly 25 million veterans have taken advantage of the home loan benefits earned by their service. Some veterans believe they're ineligible, while others are unsure of how to take action.

Who's Eligible for a VA-Backed Loan?

• Veterans
• Active duty personnel
• Reservists/National Guard members
• Some surviving spouses

Military Service Requirements for VA Loan Eligibility:

Note: Applications involving other than honorable discharges will usually require further development by VA. This is necessary to determine if the service was under other than dishonorable conditions.

Wartime - Service During:

• WWII: 9/16/1940 to 7/25/1947
• Korean: 6/27/1950 to 1/31/1955
• Vietnam: 8/5/1964 to 5/7/1975

You must have at least 90 days on active duty and been discharged under other than dishonorable conditions. If you served less than 90 days, you may be eligible if discharged for a service connected disability.

Peacetime - Service during periods:

• 7/26/1947 to 6/26/1950
• 2/1/1955 to 8/4/1964
• 5/8/1975 to 9/7/1980 (Enlisted)
• 5/8/1975 to 10/16/1981 (Officer)

You must have served at least 181 days of continuous active duty and been discharged under other than dishonorable conditions. If you served less than 181 days, you may be eligible if discharged for a service connected disability.

Service after 9/7/1980 (enlisted) or 10/16/1981 (officer)

If you were separated from service which began after these dates, you must have:

• Completed 24 months of continuous active duty or the full period (at least 181 days) for which you were ordered or called to active duty and been discharged under conditions other than dishonorable, or
• Completed at least 181 days of active duty and been discharged under the specific authority of 10 USC 1173 (Hardship), or 10 USC 1171 (Early Out), or have been determined to have a compensable service-connected disability;
• Been discharged with less than 181 days of service for a service-connected disability. Individuals may also be eligible if they were released from active duty due to an involuntary reduction in force, certain medical conditions, or, in some instances for the convenience of the Government.

Gulf War - Service during period 8/2/1990 to date yet to be determined

If you served on active duty during the Gulf War, you must have:

• Completed 24 months of continuous active duty or the full period (at least 90 days) for which you were called or ordered to active duty, and been discharged under conditions other than dishonorable, or
• Completed at least 90 days of active duty and been discharged under the specific authority of 10 USC 1173 (Hardship), or 10 USC 1173 (Early Out), or have been determined to have a compensable service-connected disability, or
• Been discharged with less than 90 days of service for a service-connected disability. Individuals may also be eligible if they were released from active duty due to an involuntary reduction in force, certain medical conditions, or, in some instances, for the convenience of the Government.

Active Duty Service Personnel

If you are now on regular duty (not active duty for training), you are eligible after having served 181 days (90 days during the Gulf War) unless discharged or separated from a previous qualifying period of active duty service.

Selected Reserves or National Guard

If you are not otherwise eligible and you have completed a total of 6 years in the Selected Reserves or National Guard (member of an active unit, attended required weekend drills and 2-week active duty for training) and

• Were discharged with an honorable discharge, or
• Were placed on the retired list, or
• Were transferred to the Standby Reserve or an element of the Ready Reserve other than the Selected Reserve after service characterized as honorable service, or
• Continue to serve in the Selected Reserves

Individuals who completed less than 6 years may be eligible if discharged for a service-connected disability.

You May also be determined eligible if you:

• Are an unremarried spouse of a veteran who died while in service or from a service connected disability, or
• Are a spouse of a serviceperson missing in action or a prisoner of war

Note: Also, 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. However, 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 6, 2003 that are received after December 15, 2004.

Eligibility may also be established for:

• Certain United States citizens who served in the armed forces of a government allied with the United States in WW II.
• Individuals with service as members in certain organizations, such as Public Health Service officers, cadets at the United States Military, Air Force, or Coast Guard Academy, midshipmen at the United States Naval Academy, officers of National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration, merchant seaman with WW II service, and others.

Once determined eligible, we will collect the needed information from you in order to apply for your Certificate of Eligibility direct through our lenders in accordance with your eligibility status.

What Evidence Will I Need to Get the Certificate?

Evidence Needed for the Certificate of Eligibility

If you are...	You should submit...
Veteran (Includes a member or former member of the National Guard or Reserves who was once activated for Federal Service)	DD Form 214; We are required to have a copy showing the character of service (item 24) and the narrative reason for separation (item 28).
Active duty service member	A current statement of service signed by (or by the direction of): the adjutant, personnel office, or commander of the unit or higher headquarters showing: Your full name Social Security Number Date of birth Entry date on active duty The duration of any lost time The name of the command providing the information
Serving now in the Selected Reserve or the National Guard and have never been activated for federal service	Statement of service signed by (or by the direction of): the adjutant, personnel officer or commander of your unit or higher headquarters showing: Your full name Social Security Number Date of birth Entry date on duty The total number of creditable years of service The duration of any lost time
A discharged member of the National Guard who has never been activated for federal service	Either: NGB Form 22, Report of Separation and Record of Service, for each period of National Guard service OR NGB Form 23, Retirement Points Accounting, and proof of the character of service
A discharged member of the Selected Reserve who has never been activated for federal service	Copy of your latest annual retirement points statement and evidence of honorable service
The surviving spouse of a service member who died on active duty	If you're already receiving Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC), you don't need to send any documents. If you don't receive DIC, please send us A copy of the DD Form 1300 (Report of Casualty) from the military A copy of your marriage certificate It would be a good idea to add a simple signed statement saying that you would like to apply for DIC. If you qualify for the home loan benefit, you probably qualify for monthly payments under DIC. Put the service member's Social Security number on all documents.
The surviving spouse of a veteran who died as a result of military service	If you're already receiving Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC), send us a copy of your award letter. (Generally, you will already have a record on file at a VA regional benefits office.) If you don't receive Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC), please send us A copy of the veteran's DD Form 214 A copy of the veteran's death certificate A copy of your marriage certificate We recommend that you add a simple signed statement saying that you would like to apply for DIC. If you qualify for the home loan benefit, you probably qualify for monthly payments under DIC. Put the veteran's Social Security number on all documents.

VA Frequently Asked Questions