If your spouse is a veteran rated 100% disabled by the VA, you may be eligible for a wide range of life-changing benefits. These benefits exist to honor your family’s sacrifice and help you enjoy greater stability and support. Understanding what’s available to you is the first step toward making the most of these opportunities and securing your future.
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Healthcare Through CHAMPVA
One of the most critical benefits for spouses of veterans with a 100% VA disability rating is healthcare coverage through the Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs (CHAMPVA). If your spouse is rated 100% permanently and totally disabled due to a service-connected condition, you likely qualify.
CHAMPVA is available for those who are not eligible for Tricare. It helps cover the cost of necessary medical services and supplies, including doctor visits, hospital stays, mental health care, hospice care, family planning and maternity care, and prescriptions. This coverage becomes especially valuable if you don’t have access to employer-provided insurance or if you’re nearing retirement and need consistent, affordable care. In many cases, you can have CHAMPVA in addition to Medicare, and it can cover costs not covered by Medicare.
To apply for CHAMPVA, you’ll need to complete VA Form 10-10d 1 along with proof of the veteran’s status and marriage documentation. While qualifying for CHAMPVA might feel like jumping through a lot of hoops, this could be your ticket to long-term peace of mind regarding your health.
Reduced Cost Dental Insurance Through VADIP
If your spouse’s disability qualifies you for CHAMPVA, it may also qualify you for the VA Dental Insurance Program (VADIP). This benefit allows spouses to purchase dental insurance at a reduced rate. It can be a highly affordable way to access dental benefits like diagnostic services, preventive dental care, restorative services (like root canals), and dental surgeries.
Education Benefits Through DEA
As a spouse of a 100% disabled veteran, you can also access education benefits through the Dependents’ Educational Assistance (DEA) program, formally known as Chapter 35. This program helps you return to school, start a degree, complete certifications, or pursue vocational training. Whether you’re starting fresh or reskilling for a second career, DEA can provide up to 36 or 45 months of education benefits (depending on when your school or training started). The benefits can cover your tuition or other school-related expenses.
Imagine being able to pursue a nursing degree, a business certification, or even attend trade school without the financial burden. DEA helps you open doors and step toward greater financial freedom.
Commissary and Exchange Privileges
You may also qualify for commissary and exchange shopping privileges on military bases. This access allows you to purchase groceries and other household items, often at a discounted rate. These savings can add up quickly, especially when you’re living on a fixed income and budgeting with limited resources. You’ll need to obtain a Veteran Health Identification Card (VHIC) or other qualifying identification, but once you’re in, you’ll enjoy benefits similar to those of active-duty families.
Counseling and Mental Health Support
Emotional well-being is just as important as financial or physical health. Fortunately, many VA centers and local agencies offer free or low-cost counseling services for spouses. If you’ve spent years supporting a loved one through their physical or psychological struggles, you may carry unseen emotional weight. Whether you’re managing caregiver burnout or navigating grief after a loss, mental health support can help you find balance again.
Programs such as the VA Caregiver Support Program and Vet Centers provide individual counseling, group therapy, and peer support—all geared toward helping you feel seen and supported.
Career Resources and Job Training
If you’re reentering the workforce or looking to advance your career, the VA offers career counseling and job placement support for spouses. You might be surprised at how much help is available through programs such as the Military Spouse Employment Partnership or the VA’s Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VR&E) support.
You’ll gain access to resume workshops, interview preparation, and even referrals to employers who are specifically looking to hire veterans’ family members. These programs don’t just hand you resources; they actively work to match you with opportunities.
Travel and Recreation Discounts
Another lesser-known benefit involves recreation and travel. Many private organizations and state agencies offer discounted access to parks, resorts, or even amusement parks for spouses of disabled veterans. Additionally, you may be eligible for space-available military flights, which could make visiting family or traveling for pleasure more affordable.
This aspect of your benefits might not be essential, but it certainly contributes to a fuller quality of life, especially if you’ve been unable to prioritize vacations due to medical or caregiving demands.
DIC Death Benefit
If your spouse is 100% disabled and passes away due to a service-connected condition, their disability payments will end, leaving you in a potential financial lurch. Fortunately, you may be eligible for Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) to help fill this void. DIC is a tax-free monthly benefit that provides continued financial support, helping you cover essential expenses after their death.
You may also be eligible for burial benefits, which could help defray burial costs and could include a plot or interment in a VA cemetery.
How to Apply and Stay Informed
Most of these benefits don’t come to you automatically; you’ll need to apply for them. Start by gathering your spouse’s VA rating decision letter, marriage certificate, and identification details. Most applications—whether for CHAMPVA, DEA, or DIC—require proof of the veteran’s disability rating and your legal relationship.
Use VA.gov or visit your nearest VA regional office to get your paperwork in order. You may also consider reaching out to a Veterans Service Officer (VSO), who can guide you through applications and ensure you don’t miss out on any benefits.
Don’t assume that benefits stay the same over time. As legislation and policies change, some benefits can end while new ones begin. Bookmark VA resources, subscribe to email updates, and check in with your local VA office regularly to ensure you don’t miss anything.
How Does My Spouse Apply for a VA Disability Rating Increase?
Too many veterans are underrated for their condition. If your spouse falls into this category, they may be living with a lower rating even though they are technically eligible for an increase to 100%. As a result, you’re deprived of benefits, too.
Fortunately, it’s not necessarily as hard as you may think to get a VA rating increase to 100%. A good VA claims assistance provider can help you gather the right evidence, word your claim in the best way, and get the right supporting documentation to put your VA claim on the path to approval—even if your spouse doesn’t have in-service medical documentation to support their claim. There are other ways to establish a connection between your spouse’s condition and their medical service and show the VA just how much their service-induced health problems are affecting their quality of life.
Get All the Help You’ve Earned
Spouses of 100% disabled veterans shoulder a unique responsibility and make countless sacrifices alongside their partners. The benefits we’ve described were created in recognition of that sacrifice, so don’t leave them on the table.
From healthcare and education to financial assistance and emotional support, your eligibility opens the door to greater freedom and security. You’ve served your country as a supportive spouse. Now let your country empower you to continue growing, developing, and contributing.
1 https://www.va.gov/find-forms/about-form-10-10d/