Disability payments are made every month to veterans who have sustained injuries in the line of duty. This also includes any illnesses developing because of injuries or any other medical conditions while serving as a member of the armed forces of the United States of America. The compensation is given by the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs (VA).
Understanding Who the USDVA Considers as the Recipient’s Dependents
According to the disability compensation guidelines set forth by the USDVA, a recognized dependent is:
- The serving member’s wife or husband. In addition, the department also considers spouses from same-sex marriages.
- The dependent can also be the servicemember’s parent (only if you are the only one who takes care of their financial needs and if the net worth of your parent is below the stipulated guideline).
- Unmarried children or those below the age of 18 are also recognized as dependents. They can also be an adopted or stepchild. However, the child should be under 18 years of age and must be enrolled in school full-time.
When Are You Eligible to Add a Dependent?
This primarily relies on which phase of filing for your disabilities with the USDVA you are currently in. It is important to mention a qualified dependent when applying for your disability payments as an authentic serviceman. In addition, if a veteran who files for and receives a 30% disability rating, is automatically eligible to receive more compensation in line with the number of their dependents; however, it is important that veterans eligible for an adjustment for dependents notify the USDVA as soon as they are aware of their eligibility, as the USDVA has been known to be slow to update this information.