VA Home Loans for Surviving Spouses
Eligibility, remarriage rules, the right form and the funding fee, explained step by step.
Surviving spouses of service members and veterans can qualify for the VA home loan benefit in their own right. That means the same advantages many veterans use, including no down payment in most cases and no private mortgage insurance. Whether you qualify depends on how your spouse died or their status, and in some cases on when and whether you remarried.
Who may qualify
According to the VA, you may be able to get a Certificate of Eligibility (COE) as a surviving spouse if at least one of these describes your spouse:
- They are missing in action or a prisoner of war.
- They died in service or from a service-connected disability.
- They were totally disabled and then died, even if the disability was not the cause of death.
The VA also notes that surviving spouses who are eligible for or receiving certain types of Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) may qualify.
The remarriage rules
In general, a surviving spouse whose spouse died in service or from a service-connected disability qualifies if they have not remarried, or if they remarried on or after age 57 or on or after December 16, 2003. The VA notes that people who remarried before December 16, 2003 and on or after their 57th birthday had to apply by December 15, 2004. These rules have details, so check the VA page linked below for your exact situation.
Which form to use
| Your situation | What to submit |
|---|---|
| You receive DIC | VA Form 26-1817, Request for Determination of Loan Guaranty Eligibility (Unmarried Surviving Spouses), plus your spouse's DD214 if available |
| You do not receive DIC | VA Form 21P-534EZ (the application for DIC and survivors benefits), plus your spouse's DD214 if available, your marriage license and the death certificate |
| You are also a veteran yourself | The VA suggests applying as a veteran first, with VA Form 26-1880 or online |
The VA's Buyer's Guide also recommends asking your lender first. Most lenders can use the VA's online system, Web LGY, which can issue a COE in seconds when the VA already has enough information in its records.
The funding fee
The VA lists receiving DIC as a surviving spouse as one of the reasons you do not have to pay the VA funding fee. On a $300,000 loan with no down payment, the first-use fee would be 2.15%, or $6,450, so the exemption can save thousands. See how much with the funding fee calculator and read more in our funding fee exemption guide.
Documents and where to find them
| Document | Where to get it |
|---|---|
| Your spouse's DD214 | Family records, or a request to the National Archives (National Personnel Records Center). Next of kin of a deceased veteran can request it |
| Marriage certificate | The vital records office in the county or state where you married |
| Death certificate | The vital records office in the state where your spouse died, or the funeral home |
| DIC award letter, if you receive DIC | Your VA.gov account or VA correspondence |
| VA Form 26-1817 or 21P-534EZ | VA.gov forms pages, depending on whether you receive DIC |
If you cannot find the DD214, do not let it stop you. Start the request with the VA or your lender and order the records at the same time.
Practical tips for families
- You can use the benefit more than once. The eligibility is yours, so you can buy again later, subject to entitlement.
- Look for lenders who have closed surviving spouse loans. Ask directly how many they have done. Experience matters when the COE needs manual review.
- Budget for the full monthly cost. Use the affordability calculator with the funding fee set to exempt if you receive DIC.
Next steps
- Gather your spouse's DD214, your marriage license and, if needed, the death certificate.
- Ask a VA-approved lender to request your COE, or apply using the form that fits your situation.
- Estimate your payment with the VA loan payment calculator, setting the funding fee to exempt if it applies to you.
Frequently asked questions
Can a surviving spouse get a VA home loan?
Yes, if they meet the VA's surviving spouse rules, such as the veteran dying in service or from a service-connected disability, or being missing in action or a prisoner of war.
Does a surviving spouse pay the VA funding fee?
Not if they receive Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) as the surviving spouse of a veteran. The VA lists this as a funding fee exemption.
What form does a surviving spouse use?
VA Form 26-1817 if you receive DIC. If you do not, you apply with VA Form 21P-534EZ along with supporting documents.
Can I qualify if I remarried?
Possibly. Remarriage on or after age 57, or on or after December 16, 2003, generally does not end eligibility, but the rules have exceptions. Check with the VA.
Can my lender get my Certificate of Eligibility for me?
Often yes. Most lenders have access to the VA's Web LGY system, although not every case can be processed that way.
Sources
- VA.gov: COE for surviving spouses
- VA.gov: eligibility requirements
- VA.gov: funding fee exemptions
- VA Home Loan Guaranty Buyer's Guide (PDF)
This page is educational and is not legal, tax or financial advice. Rules and rates can change, so confirm the details with the VA and your lender.