VA home loan programs for surviving spouses 
To get a VA - backed home loan as the surviving spouse of a Veteran , you ll need a Certificate of Eligibility COE to show your lender that you qualify for this benefit. Find out if you can get a COE. Keep in mind that you ll also need to meet your lender s credit and income requirements to get a loan. 

Can I get a COE? 
You may be able to get a COE if you re the spouse of a Veteran , and at least one of the descriptions below is true for them. At least one of these must be true. The Veteran : Is missing in action , or Is a Prisoner of War POW , or Died while in service or from a service - connected disability and you didn t remarry, or Died while in service or from a service - connected disability and you didn t remarry before you were 57 years old or before December 16 , 2003, or Had been totally disabled and then died , but their disability may not have been the cause of death in certain situations Note: A surviving spouse who remarried before December 16 , 2003, and on or after their 57th birthday, must have applied no later than December 15 , 2004, to establish home loan eligibility. We ll have to deny applications we received after December 15 , 2004, from surviving spouses who remarried before December 16 , 2003. 

How do I apply for a COE? 
This depends on whether or not you re receiving Dependency & Indemnity Compensation DIC. 

If you re receiving DIC benefits 
You ll need to fill out a Request for Determination of Loan Guaranty Eligibility Unmarried Surviving Spouses VA Form 26 - 1817. Download VA Form 26 - 1817 You ll also need the Veteran s DD214 or other separation papers if available. Get military service records online Submit the form and discharge or separation papers to : Your lender for processing online , or that serves your stateFind a VA regional loan center The VA regional loan center 

If you re not receiving DIC benefits 
You ll first need to fill out an Application for DIC, Survivors Pension a

user: Hi. I would like to know about the VA home loan programs for surviving spouses

assistant: To get a VA - backed home loan as the surviving spouse of a Veteran, you'll need a Certificate of Eligibility COE to show your lender that you qualify for this benefit 

user: How do I know if I'm eligible?

assistant: [4] Find out if you can get a COE .s   [5] Keep in mind that you ll also need to meet your lender s credit and income requirements to get a loan.

user: ok, how can I get a COE?

assistant: [7] You may be able to get a COE if you re the spouse of a Veteran , [8] and at least one of the descriptions below is true for them .
   [9] At least one of these must be true .r   [10] The Veteran :
     [11] Is missing in action 

user: no

assistant: The Veteran : Is a Prisoner of War POW?

user: Yes

assistant: If you re the spouse of a Veteran that is a Prisoner of War POW, Then you are able to get a COE

user: what do I have to do?

assistant: Note:   [20] A surviving spouse who remarried before December 16 , 2003 , and on or after their 57th birthday , must have applied no later than December 15 , 2004 , to establish home loan eligibility .   [21] We ll have to deny applications we received after December 15 , 2004 , from surviving spouses who remarried before December 16 , 2003 .

user: How do I apply for a COE if I'm not receiving DIC benefits?

assistant: [35] You ll first need to fill out an Application for DIC , Survivors Pension and/or Accrued Benefits VA Form 21P-534EZ .s   [36] Download VA Form 21P-534EZs
   [37] You ll also need :
     [38] The Veteran s DD214 or other separation papers if available , [39] and
     [40] A copy of your marriage license , [41] and
   [42] The Veteran s death certificate
   [43] Get military service records online
   [44] Submit the form and documents to the VA pension management center that serves your state .   [45] Find a VA pension management center