If you have recently been approved for a 100% VA disability rating, congratulations. This is not only a huge relief but a well-deserved benefit for your service and sacrifice. Now you are likely wondering about retroactive payments and how your spouse fits in. Since you were not found to have a dependent when you were approved, you might be curious to know whether your wife will be included in the back pay or if it will be solely based on yourself. Let us break down everything you need to know about this situation so that you are left with no queries.
Will my VA retroactive pay include my spouse?
The short answer is no, at least not immediately. Since your spouse was not listed as a dependent on the VA website before your approval, your retroactive pay will initially only be based on the single rate. However, that does not mean all hope is lost. Here’s how it works:
- The VA will process your back pay based on your effective date, which in your case is January 2023.
- Since your wife was not listed as a dependent at the time of your claim approval, your retroactive payment will be at the single veteran’s rate.
- Now that you have added your wife as a dependent, the VA will process that separately.
- Once the VA approves your spouse as a dependent, they will issue you a separate back pay check for the difference in payment you should have received as a married veteran versus a single one.
How long will it take for my wife to be approved?
Processing a dependent claim can typically take up to several months, but of course this is variable. Some veterans report approval in just a couple of months, while others are waiting around six months or more. One of the main points is to keep checking your VA portal and have all documents related to your application uploaded to avoid unnecessary delays.
Will I get back pay for my spouse once she is approved?
This is where it gets tricky. Some veterans have successfully received retroactive dependent pay, while others have been denied due to VA time limit restrictions. The VA will not necessarily provide back pay for dependents if the spouse was not added within a short number of years from the time that the claim was initially filed.
- If the VA does approve back pay for your spouse, they will issue a separate check for the difference.
- If they do not approve back pay for your spouse, your payments will simply go up from the date that your dependent claim is approved in the future.
Because there is some inconsistency in the way the VA handles this, it might be a good idea to call them and ask about your specific case.
How far back will my retroactive pay go?
Your retro pay will be effective starting January 2023. Keep in mind:
- The VA does not pay partial months. Your back pay would start on February 1 if your effective date was January 15.
- The VA pays arrears, so your pay for February would be received in March, etc.
How much back pay should I expect?
To estimate your back pay:
- Check the VA compensation rates for a single veteran with a 100% disability.
- Multiply that by the number of months from your effective date until now.
- Once your spouse is added, you will receive additional compensation moving forward, and possibly retroactive dependent pay if the VA approves it.
What should I do next?
Once you have completed the process of adding your spouse as a dependent, the following are the next steps:
- Monitor your VA account: You should be checking the status of the dependent claim very frequently.
- Be patient: The process takes a lot of time for VA to adjudicate dependent claims, but calls can always be made for an update.
- Prepare for additional documentation: The VA may ask you for proof of marriage, so be prepared to send in the marriage certificate if requested.
- Appeal if that is what you will do: If denied dependent back pay for your spouse, you could appeal the decision.
- Consider speaking to a VA representative: A VA claims specialist or Veterans Service Officer (VSO) could explain your options further if you need more clarification.
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