Eligibility Frequently Asked
Questions
Questions about who is eligible for a
VA loan and reuse of eligibility for another VA
loan.
Q: How do I apply for a VA guaranteed loan?
A: You can apply for a VA loan with any mortgage
lender that participates in the VA home loan
program. At some point, you will need to get a
Certificate of Eligibility from VA to prove to the
lender that you are eligible for a VA loan.
Q: How do I get a Certificate of Eligibility?
A: Complete a
VA Form 26-1880,
Request for a Certificate of
Eligibility: You can apply for a Certificate
of Eligibility by submitting a completed
VA Form 26-1880, Request For A Certificate of Eligibility
For Home Loan Benefits, to the
Winston-Salem
Eligibility Center, along with proof of military
service. In some cases it may be possible for VA to
establish eligibility without your proof of service.
However, to avoid any possible delays, it's best to
provide such evidence.
Q: Can my lender get my Certificate of Eligibility
for me?
A: Yes, it's called ACE (automated certificate of
eligibility). Most lenders have access to the ACE
(automated certificate of eligibility) system. This
Internet based application can establish eligibility
and issue an online Certificate of Eligibility in a
matter of seconds. Not all cases can be processed
through ACE - only those for which VA has sufficient
data in our records. However, veterans are
encouraged to ask their lenders about this method of
obtaining a certificate.
Q: What is acceptable proof of military service?
A: If you are still serving on regular active duty,
you must include an original statement of service
signed by, or by direction of, the adjutant,
personnel officer, or commander of your unit or
higher headquarters which identifies you and your
social security number, and provides your date of
entry on your current active duty period and the
duration of any time lost.
If you were discharged from regular active duty
after January 1, 1950, a copy of DD Form 214,
Certificate of Release or Discharge From Active Duty
should be included with your VA Form 26-1880. If you
were discharged after October 1, 1979, DD Form 214
copy 4 should be included. A PHOTOCOPY OF DD214
WILL SUFFICE.....DO NOT SUBMIT AN ORIGINAL DOCUMENT.
If you are still serving on regular active duty, you
must include an original statement of service signed
by, or by direction of, the adjutant, personnel
officer, or commander of your unit or higher
headquarters which shows your date of entry on your
current active duty period and the duration of any
time lost.
If you were discharged from the Selected Reserves or
the National Guard, you must include copies of
adequate documentation of at least 6 years of
honorable service. If you were discharged from the
Army or Air Force National Guard, you may submit NGB
Form 22, Report of Separation and Record of Service,
or NGB Form 23, Retirement Points Accounting, or
it’s equivalent. If you were discharged from the
Selected Reserve, you may submit a copy of your
latest annual points statement and evidence of
honorable service. Unfortunately, there is no single
form used by the Reserves or National Guard similar
to the DD Form 214. It is your responsibility to
furnish adequate documentation of at least 6 years
of honorable service.
If you are still serving in the Selected Reserves or
the National Guard, you must include an original
statement of service signed by, or by the direction
of, the adjutant, personnel officer, or commander of
your unit or higher headquarters showing the length
of time that you have been a member of the Selected
Reserves. Again, at least 6 years of honorable
service must be documented.
Q: How can I obtain proof of military service?
A:
Standard Form 180, Request Pertaining to Military
Records, is used to apply for proof of military
service regardless of whether you served on regular
active duty or in the selected reserves. This
request form is NOT processed by VA. Rather,
Standard Form 180 is completed and mailed to the
appropriate custodian of military service records.
Instructions are provided on the reverse of the form
to assist in determining the correct forwarding
address.
Q: I have already obtained one VA loan. Can I get
another one?
A: Yes, your eligibility is reusable depending on
the circumstances. Normally, if you have paid off
your prior VA loan and disposed of the property, you
can have your used eligibility restored for
additional use. Also, on a one-time only basis, you
may have your eligibility restored if your prior VA
loan has been paid in full but you still own the
property. In either case, to obtain restoration of
eligibility, the veteran must send VA a completed
VA Form 26-1880 to our
Winston-Salem
Eligibility Center. To prevent delays in processing, it is also
advisable to include evidence that the prior loan
has been paid in full and, if applicable, the
property disposed of. This evidence can be in the
form of a paid-in-full statement from the former
lender, or a copy of the HUD-1 settlement statement
completed in connection with a sale of the property
or refinance of the prior loan.
Q: I sold the property I obtained with my prior VA
loan on an assumption. Can I get my eligibility
restored to use for a new loan?
A: In this case the veteran’s eligibility can be
restored only if the qualified assumer is also an
eligible veteran who is willing to substitute his or
her available eligibility for that of the original
veteran. Otherwise, the original veteran cannot have
eligibility restored until the assumer has paid off
the VA loan.
Q: My prior VA loan was assumed, the assumer
defaulted on the loan, and VA paid a claim to the
lender. VA said it wasn’t my fault and waived the
debt. Now I need a new VA loan but I am told that my
used eligibility can not be restored. Why?
Or,
Q: My prior loan was foreclosed on, or I gave a deed
in lieu of foreclosure, or the VA paid a compromise
(partial) claim. Although I was released from
liability on the loan and/or the debt was waived, I
am told that I cannot have my used eligibility
restored. Why?
A: In either case, although the veteran’s debt was
waived by VA, the Government still suffered a loss
on the loan. The law does not permit the used
portion of the veteran’s eligibility to be restored
until the loss has been repaid in full.
Q: Only a portion of my eligibility is available at
this time because my prior loan has not been paid in
full even though I don’t own the property anymore.
Can I still obtain a VA guaranteed home loan?
A: Yes, depending on the circumstances. If a veteran
has already used a portion of his or her eligibility
and the used portion cannot yet be restored, any
partial remaining eligibility would be available for
use. The veteran would have to discuss with a lender
whether the remaining balance would be sufficient
for the loan amount sought and whether any down
payment would be required.
Q: Is the surviving spouse of a deceased veteran
eligible for the home loan benefit?
A: The unmarried surviving spouse of a
veteran who died on active duty or as the result of
a service-connected disability is eligible for the
home loan benefit. If you wish to make application
for the home loan benefit as a surviving spouse,
contact our
Winston-Salem
Eligibility Center. In
addition, a surviving spouse who obtained a VA home
loan with the veteran prior to his or her death
(regardless of the cause of death), may obtain a VA
guaranteed interest rate reduction refinance loan.
For more information, contact our
Winston-Salem
Eligibility Center.
[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 16, 2003 that are received after
December 15, 2004.]
Q: Are the children of a living or deceased veteran
eligible for the home loan benefit?
A: No, the children of an eligible veteran are not
eligible for the home loan benefit.
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