#### § 161.11 Benefits For National Guard and Reserve members of the uniformed services.

This section describes the benefits for National Guard and Reserve members of the uniformed services and their eligible dependents. Benefits for members of the Retired Reserve and their eligible dependents are described in [§ 161.13](/on/2024-09-16/title-32/section-161.13). Benefits for surviving dependents of deceased National Guard and Reserve members are described in [§ 161.17](/on/2024-09-16/title-32/section-161.17).

(a) *National Guard and Reserve members.* National Guard and Reserve members are eligible for benefits based on being ordered to periods of active duty or full-time National Guard duty or active status in the SelRes, including Ready Reserve and Standby Reserve and participation in the Reserve Officer Training Corps.

Table 3 to Subpart C of Part 161—Benefits for National Guard and Reserve Members Not on Active Duty Greater Than 30 Days

| | CHC | DC | C | MWR | E |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Member (Self) | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes. |

Table 4 to Subpart C of Part 161—Benefits for National Guard and Reserve Members on Active Duty for Periods Greater Than 30 Days

| | CHC | DC | C | MWR | E |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Member (Self) | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes. |
| | | | | | |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| **Notes:** | | | | | |
| 1. This includes reported periods of early identification of Service members in support of a contingency operation in accordance with DoD Instruction 7730.54, “Reserve Components Common Personnel Data System (RCCPDS)” (available at *<http://www.dtic.mil/whs/directives/corres/pdf/773054p.pdf>*). | | | | | |

(b) *Dependents of National Guard or Reserve members.* Dependents of National Guard or Reserve members are eligible for benefits as shown in Table 5 to this subpart.

Table 5 to Subpart C of Part 161—Benefits for Dependents of National Guard or Reserve Members

| | CHC | DC | C | MWR | E |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Spouse | 1 | 1 | Yes | Yes | Yes. |
| Children, Unmarried, Under 21 Years: | | | | | |
| Legitimate, adopted, stepchild, illegitimate child of record of female member, or illegitimate child of male member whose paternity has been judicially determined or voluntarily acknowledged | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2. |
| Ward | 1, 4 | 1, 4 | 4 | 4 | 4. |
| Pre-adoptive Child | 1, 5 | 1, 5 | 2, 5 | 2, 5 | 2, 5. |
| Foster Child | No | No | 2 | 2 | 2. |
| Children, Unmarried, 21 Years and Over | 1, 6 | 1, 6 | 7 | 7 | 7. |
| Parent, Parent-in-Law, Stepparent, or Parent by Adoption | No | 1, 3 | 3 | 3 | 3. |
| | | | | | |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| **Notes:** | | | | | |
| 1. Yes, if the sponsor is on active duty greater than 30 days. When the order to active duty period is greater than 30 days the eligibility for CHC and DC for eligible dependents begins on the same day the sponsor becomes eligible for active duty benefits. | | | | | |
| 2. Yes, if dependent on an authorized sponsor for over 50 percent of the child's support. | | | | | |
| 3. Yes, if dependent on an authorized sponsor for over 50 percent support of the parent's support and residing in the sponsor's household. | | | | | |
| 4. Yes, if, for determination of dependency made on or after July 1, 1994, placed in the legal custody of the member as a result of a court of competent jurisdiction in the United States (or possession of the United States) for a period of at least 12 consecutive months; and: | | | | | |
| a. Is dependent on the member for over 50 percent support. | | | | | |
| b. Resides with the member unless separated by the necessity of uniformed service or to receive institutional care as a result of a disability or incapacitation or under such other circumstances as the administering Secretary may, by regulation, prescribe. | | | | | |
| 5. Yes, if, for determinations of dependency made on or after October 5, 1994, placed in the home of the member by a placement agency (recognized by the Secretary of Defense) or by another source authorized by State or local law to provide adoption placement, in anticipation of the legal adoption by the member. | | | | | |
| 6. Yes, if the child: | | | | | |
| a. Has not attained the age of 23, is enrolled in a full-time course of study at an institution of higher learning approved by the administering Secretary, and is dependent on the member for over 50 percent of the child's support; or | | | | | |
| b. Is incapable of self-support because of a mental or physical incapacity that existed before age 21, or occurred before the age of 23 while a full-time student while a dependent of a member and is dependent on the member for over 50 percent of the child's support. | | | | | |
| 7. Yes, if the child: | | | | | |
| a. Has not attained the age of 23, is enrolled in a full-time course of study at an institution of higher learning approved by the administering Secretary, and is dependent on the member for over 50 percent of the child's support; or | | | | | |
| b. Is incapable of self-support because of a mental or physical incapacity and is dependent on the member for over 50 percent of the child's support. | | | | | |

[[81 FR 74879](https://www.federalregister.gov/citation/81-FR-74879), Oct. 27, 2016, as amended at [89 FR 11180](https://www.federalregister.gov/citation/89-FR-11180), Feb. 14, 2024]