VA Disability Benefits Hack: How to Add a Parent as a Dependent and Maximize Your Benefits (Step-by-Step Guide)

It can be beneficial to add a parent as a dependent to VA disability benefits and entitle one to extra cash; it is crucial to know how. Unfortunately, if you are in the process of looking after a parent whose income and net worth are less than the VA, then you might be able to add them in. 

Who Can Be Considered A Dependent Parent?

As a precondition, your parent has to fulfill specific financial conditions provided by the VA. They should not have income or assets that exceed a certain threshold, which would make them dependent on you for care.

This could be a case of a biological or an adoptive parent or even a parent.

Step 1: Verify Eligibility

Before you can add your parent, you must meet these criteria:

• Be entitled to receive VA disability compensation.
• Sustain a combined Disability Sustain a combined Disability Rating of 30% or above Rating of 30% or above.

You can get a higher monthly benefit rate when you have a dependent parent.

Step 2: Gather The Required Documents

The first of those is the Statement of Dependency of Parent(s) (VA Form 21P-509). You will also need to be prepared for some paperwork to prove your parent’s financial status, income, net worth, and their dependence upon your financial support.

Step 3: Submit Your Claim

Filing your claim can be done through mail:

Complete VA Form 21P-509.

Mail it to:

Department of the Veterans Affairs

Evidence Intake Center

Step 4: Expedite The Process

Papers can also be submitted, but filing them online is quicker. However, parents can not be added via VA’s eBenefits portal; thus, mail is needed for such dependent types.

Why File Online If Possible?

In the online system, claims take a shorter time to be processed than paper claims, which may take up to 48 hours. If filing for other dependents such as a spouse or child, eBenefits can only guarantee that all the papers are in order.

Need Help?

Veterans Service Officers who have been accredited by the VA are very important since they provide key information. They can help you fill in the claims, explain something to you if you have a question, or even submit the claim on your behalf.