Did you know that some Veterans earn benefits for their dependents? If you are a Veteran with a 30% or higher VA disability rating, you could receive additional compensation for a dependent spouse, child or parent.

The VA defines a Veteran's eligible dependent child as an unmarried biological, adopted, or step-child who is under the age of 18 or between 18-26 and attending school full time. A child will also qualify if they were seriously disabled before the age of 18 and are now incapable of self-support.

A Veteran's parent is an eligible dependent if their income and net worth are below the poverty level.

Veterans can make dependency changes or claims anytime online at www.eBenefits.va.gov. This site also allows you to simply upload any supporting documents to validate your claim, or work with a Veterans Service Organization, which can be found at https://www.va.gov/vso/.

Notify VA immediately if you experience the loss of a dependent through divorce or death. This way, they can adjust your compensation amount and you won't incur a debt.

Benefits you’ve earned for your dependents can provide additional security for you and your loved ones. AAFMAA can help you understand your benefits better so you can make the most of them. To learn more, watch our latest webinar, “VA Dependent Claims - Don’t Miss Out on Benefits.”