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As a disabled veteran or military retiree can I declare a parent or parent-in-law a dependent and make them eligible for any military benefits?
If you’re providing financial support to a parent, parent-in-law, or someone who has acted as your parent (the term for this is "in loco parentis"), it makes sense to figure out what types of benefits can help you with that responsibility. For active duty and military retiree families, it is possible to have your parent/parent-in-law and others declared a secondary dependent, which grants them some of the privileges of being a military dependent.
In order to successfully apply for secondary dependency, you must be able to prove that you provide over one-half of the applicant’s monthly living expenses, and that their income is less than one-half of their monthly living expenses. Application is made through DFAS (Army and Air Force) or through your branch’s Secondary Dependency office (Coast Guard, Marine Corps, and Navy.) You’ll have to submit a DD Form 137-3 (forms and instructions are available at this link) and supporting paperwork to substantiate the dependency. (The Coast Guard form is CG-1758.) A Fm 1172 will also be required for some.
If dependency is awarded, your parent/parent-in-law will be eligible for a Uniformed Services ID card, use of military pharmacy, may obtain primary medical care at a military treatment facility on a space-available basis under the TRICARE Plus program, be eligible for Tricare for Life, etc. You will likely have to reaffirm your parent dependency periodically. To get an ID card and establish eligibility in Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS) for the secondary dependent you will need: completed Fm 1172, DFAS letter of approval, Service member birth certificate and valid photo ID and photo ID and Social Security card of the parent/parent-in-law. We recommend you call the ID card office you plan to use to confirm required documentation prior to your appointment.
You can also seek dependent status for a minor child for whom you have legal custody or guardianship. You must submit the child’s birth certificate, DD Forms 137-7 and 1172, and the original or certified copies of the guardianship or other relevant court documents to DFAS.
The secondary dependency process requires a significant amount of paperwork, but it can help with some of the challenges of supporting a parent. For additional information and points of contact, you may visit the following DFAS websites or call 888-332-7411:
https://www.dfas.mil/militarymembers/SecondaryDependency/SDC/
For establishing Tricare eligibility in DEERS see: Required Documents | TRICARE
For veterans receiving VA benefits, what is a Dependent Parent Benefit? A Veteran whose parent(s) are dependent upon him or her for financial support may be paid additional benefits, which are based on need. The parental relationship must be established, and it must be verified that the parents are financially dependent upon the Veteran to qualify.
What Are the Eligibility Criteria? To qualify, one of the following must be true:
• The Veteran receives compensation with a combined evaluation of at least 30 percent
• The Veteran receives VA educational benefits and is enrolled half time or more
Who Are Eligible Parents? The term “parent” means one of the following:
• A biological mother or father
• An adoptive mother or father
• A person who served as a parent to a Veteran for at least one year prior to his or her entry into active service
The term “dependent parent” means either:
• The parent’s income and net worth meet certain limits, as defined by law
• A parent with substantial income or assets has correspondingly high expenses
Why Is the Dependent Parent Benefit Based on Income and Net Worth? Since the benefit is based on need, VA cannot pay additional benefits for a dependent parent(s) whose countable income is greater than the limit set by law or whose net worth is enough to meet basic needs without help from VA. To determine need, the parent(s) must report their income from all sources, including:
• Gross wages
• Social Security
• Retirement
• Pension
• Insurance
• Interest
• Dividends for the last 12 months
The parent must also report the current value of all assets, including:
• Annuities
• Stocks
• Bonds
• Businesses
• Bank accounts
They do not have to report personal property, such as:
• Home
• Car
• Furniture
• Clothing
Can Parents’ Income Be Reduced? Yes. A portion of medical expenses may be used to reduce the amount of income VA considers when deciding upon eligibility. The dependent parent(s) should report the amount of expenses paid that were not reimbursed by insurance. The following expenses should also be reported:
• Rent
• Home repairs
• Maintenance
• Clothing
• Medical care
• Utilities
• Groceries
• Taxes
• Any other significant expenses
How Much Does VA Pay? Please see the “VA Compensation Rate Tables” at https://www.benefits.va.gov/compensation/rates-index.asp for current rates.
How Do Veterans Apply? Fill out VA Form 21-509, “Statement of Dependency of Parents,” located at https://www.vba.va.gov/pubs/forms/vba-21-509-are.pdf Submit the completed form to your local VA regional office: https://www.benefits.va.gov/benefits/offices.asp A Veteran Service Officer (VSO) can help you to complete and even file the claim for you. Below is a link to locate a VSO near you. If you need more information about the supporting materials VA will need to process your claim, call 800-827-1000.
https://nvf.org/veteran-service-officers/
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