General Rules For VA Eligibility

VA Eligibility Rules

A veteran is eligible for VA home loan benefits if he or she has served on active duty and was discharged with:
90 days or more during wartime, OR 181 continuous days or more during peacetime to 09/08/80.
2 Year Requirement: A greater length of service is required for a Veteran who: enlisted after September 7, 1980, OR was an officer AND began service after October 16, 1981.
These Veterans must have completed either: at least 24 continuous Months, OR the full period ordered to active duty, (not less than 90 days during wartime, or 181 days during peacetime)
Period		Dates			Time Required

WW II		9/16/40 -	7/25/47		90 days
Post-WW II		7/26/47 -	6/26/50		181 days
Korean Conflict		6/27/50 -	1/31/55		90 days
Post-Korean Conflict		2/01/55 -	8/04/64		181 days
Vietnam Era		8/05/64 -	5/07/75		90 days
Post-Vietnam Era		5/08/75 -	9/07/80		181 days
Persian Gulf War		8/02/90 -	present		2 years,or the full period called to active duty (at least 90 days).

Reserves/National Gaurd

The veteran must complete a total of 6 years in the Select Reserves or National Guard with an honorable discharge and not be otherwise eligible. Members may also be eligible with less than 6 years if they were called to active duty for at least 90 days during the Persian Gulf Era.

Active Duty Service Personnel

A member of the military who is currently serving on active duty is eligible after having served on continuous active duty for at least 181 days ( 90 days during the Gulf War period) unless discharged or separated from a previous qualifying period of active duty service.

All Others

Eligibility may be established for certain other individuals, such as the Unmarried Surviving Spouse of a veteran who died while in service or from a service connected disability, Merchant Marines, Public Health Service, WAC’S and other World War II Services, and Officers of the Coast and Geodetic Survey.

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