Many veterans treat dependent pay as automatic, assuming VA knows about the marriage or the new baby. It does not until you tell it: the higher rate starts at a 30 percent combined rating, and under 38 CFR 3.401 filing within one year of the event pays from the event itself, while filing later usually pays only from the claim date. The difference is months of back pay.
Dependent pay: an often-overlooked benefit
If your combined rating is 30 percent or higher, VA pays you more each month for a qualifying spouse, child, or dependent parent. The extra amount is added to your monthly compensation. Many veterans never add their dependents, or add them late, and lose months of the higher rate. This article explains who counts and how to claim them.
Who counts as a dependent
VA recognizes:
- A spouse.
- An unmarried child under 18.
- An unmarried child age 18 to 23 who is in school full time.
- A child of any age who became permanently incapable of self support before turning 18, often called a helpless child.
- A dependent parent whose income and net worth are below the limit.
The extra compensation for dependents starts only at a combined rating of 30 percent. Below that, the rate is the same whether or not you have dependents. The additional amounts come from 38 USC 1115.
How to add a dependent
The main form is VA Form 21-686c, Application Request to Add and Remove Dependents. You can also add dependents online on VA.gov. For a child age 18 to 23 in school, add VA Form 21-674 to certify school attendance, and recertify when VA asks.
Have the supporting documents ready: a marriage certificate for a spouse, birth certificates or adoption records for children, and, for a parent, an income and net worth statement.
Timing and your effective date
The date you are paid from depends on when you file. Under 38 CFR 3.401, if you submit the dependency claim within one year of the event, such as a marriage or a birth, VA generally pays the higher rate from the date of that event. File later than a year, and the date usually moves to when VA received your claim. The lesson is to add dependents promptly.
If you are not yet rated at 30 percent but expect to be, you can still file the dependency information so it is ready when your rating supports the extra pay.
When a dependent changes
Tell VA when a dependent situation changes, such as a divorce, a child turning 18 and leaving school, or a child marrying. The same Form 21-686c removes a dependent. Reporting changes on time prevents an overpayment that VA would later recover.
This is educational. It is not legal advice. A VA accredited representative can help you add or remove dependents and assemble the proof.
Sources
- 38 USC 1115 (additional compensation for dependents)
- 38 CFR 3.401 (effective dates for dependents)
- VA Form 21-686c (add or remove dependents)
- VA Form 21-674 (school attendance for a child 18 to 23)
Before and after you add a dependent, ask
- Is the combined rating 30 percent or higher, the floor where dependent pay begins under 38 USC 1115?
- Was VA Form 21-686c filed within one year of the marriage, birth, or adoption, so payment reaches back to the event under 38 CFR 3.401?
- For a child 18 to 23 in school, has VA Form 21-674 been filed, with recertification whenever VA asks?
- Are the proof documents ready: marriage certificate, birth or adoption records, and for a dependent parent an income and net worth statement?
- When a dependent status ends (a divorce, a child leaving school or marrying), was VA told promptly? Waiting creates an overpayment VA will later recover.
Related on this site
- Monthly compensation calculator
- Chapter 35 DEA and VR&E (Ch. 31)
- Intent to File: Lock In Your Effective Date Before You Are Ready
Common questions
When does VA pay extra for dependents?
Only at a combined rating of 30 percent or higher. Below that, the monthly rate is the same with or without dependents. The additional amounts come from 38 USC 1115 and are added directly to your monthly compensation.
Who counts as a dependent?
A spouse; an unmarried child under 18; an unmarried child age 18 to 23 in school full time; a child of any age who became permanently incapable of self support before turning 18, often called a helpless child; and a dependent parent whose income and net worth are below the limit.
What form adds or removes a dependent?
VA Form 21-686c handles both adding and removing, and you can also do it online at VA.gov. A child age 18 to 23 in school also needs VA Form 21-674 to certify attendance. Keep the marriage certificate, birth certificates, or adoption records ready as proof.
What effective date will the higher rate carry?
Under 38 CFR 3.401, filing within one year of the event, such as a marriage or a birth, generally pays the higher rate from the date of the event. Filing later usually moves the start date to when VA received the claim, so adding dependents promptly protects months of higher pay.