Can My Spouse Use My VA Loan Without Me?

Can Your Spouse Use Your VA Loan Without You?

Published October 27, 2023

9,787 Views

Written by VALoans.com Staff Editorial Team

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) offers significant home loan benefits to eligible Veterans, allowing them to secure mortgages with favorable terms and conditions. However, a common question is whether a spouse can use a VA loan without the Veteran.

In most cases, military spouses cannot use your VA loan without you.

When a Spouse Can Use a VA Loan

In general, military spouses are not independently eligible for a VA loan. The primary requirement for a VA loan is that the borrower must be a qualified Veteran. However, there are some unique situations when military spouses may qualify for a VA loan:

Veteran of spouse is classified as a Prisoner of War (POW)
Veteran of spouse is classified as Missing In Action (MIA)
The Veteran passed away in service or from a service-related disability and the surviving spouse has not remarried

How can my spouse use my VA loan?

While your non-veteran spouse may not be able to qualify for a VA loan independently, there are alternative ways they can benefit from your VA-backed mortgage:

1. Spouses as Co-Signers or Co-Borrowers

Your spouse can serve as a co-signer or co-borrower on your VA loan application. Both of you will be responsible for the loan, and your spouse’s income and creditworthiness can be considered along with yours. This could potentially increase your chances of approval or more favorable rates while also allowing your spouse to receive the benefits of a VA loan.

However, including your spouse in the VA loan qualification process may have an adverse effect if their financial situation is not up to your lender’s standards. It’s important to thoroughly evaluate your spouse’s credit, income and overall financial health when considering them as a co-borrower or co-signer on your VA loan.

2. Joint VA Loans With Non-Veteran Spouses

Another possibility is to apply for a joint VA loan, which allows both the Veteran and non-Veteran spouse to be on the loan application and share the benefits of a VA-backed mortgage. This option is also available to Veterans with unmarried partners or other non-spouse individuals.

3. VA Loan Assumption

Some VA loans are assumable, meaning that another qualified borrower, including your spouse, can assume responsibility for the loan under certain conditions. However, this requires approval from your mortgage lender and adherence to specific VA guidelines.

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Other Military Spouse Benefits

While military spouses are generally not eligible for a VA home loan on their own, they have access to many other benefits as a token of appreciation for their sacrifices and support to the military community.

Some of these benefits include:

Tricare health insurance: Military spouses often have access to Tricare, a comprehensive health insurance program providing coverage and medical care to military families.
Family Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance (FSGLI): Military spouses can also benefit from FSGLI, a life insurance program that provides coverage to service members' families.
Transferred educational benefits: Veterans may transfer educational benefits through the GI Bill to their spouse or other dependents.
Military spouse scholarships: Numerous organizations offer scholarships specifically for military spouses to help them pursue higher education or career advancement.
Military discounts: Many businesses extend military discounts to spouses as a show of appreciation.

While your spouse may not be able to use your VA loan without you, there are still ways they can benefit from supporting you in your military service. If you’re looking to apply for a VA loan with your non-Veteran spouse, connect with a VA lender today to discuss which option is right for you.