Application for CHAMPVA Benefits – Important Notes and Definitions |
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Eligibility Definitions
Service-connected condition/disability – Refers to a VA determination that a veteran's illness or injury was incurred or aggravated while on active duty in military service and resulted in some degree of disability.
Sponsor – Refers to the veteran upon whom CHAMPVA eligibility for the applicant is based.
Spouse – Refers to a person who is married to or is a widow(er) of an eligible CHAMPVA sponsor. If you are certifying that a person is your spouse for the purpose of VA benefits, your marriage must be recognized by the place where you and/or your spouse resided at the time of marriage, or where you and/or your spouse reside when you file your claim (or at a later date when you become eligible for benefits) (38 U.S.C. 103(c)). Additional guidance on when VA recognizes marriages is available at http://www.va.gov/opa/marriage/. If the spouse remarries prior to age 55, CHAMPVA benefits end on the date of the remarriage. Effective February 4, 2003, if the spouse remarries on or after age 55, CHAMPVA benefits continue. Additionally, in some instances, a remarried surviving spouse whose remarriage is either terminated by death, divorce or annulment is CHAMPVA eligible when supported by a copy of the appropriate documentation (death certificate/divorce decree/annulment certification).
Child – Includes legitimate, adopted, illegitimate, and stepchildren. To be eligible, the child must be unmarried and: 1) under the age of 18; or 2) who, before reaching age 18, became permanently incapable of self-support as rated by a VA regional office; or 3) who, after reaching age 18 and continuing up to age 23, is enrolled in a full-time course of instruction at an approved educational institution---school certification required (see below).
NOTE: Except for stepchildren, the eligibility of children is not affected by divorce or remarriage of the spouse or surviving spouse.
School Certification
In order to extend CHAMPVA benefits to students age 18 to 23, school certification of full-time enrollment must be submitted by the college, vocational or high school, etc. Student status for CHAMPVA purposes is established up to a full school term based on the initial enrollment letter from the accredited education institution, that is, four years (4) for traditional schooling programs, two years (2) for technical schooling programs. School certification for each term or a full year is required for recertification of full time attendance until graduation or age 23. For high schools, this period is the normal beginning and ending school year.
School certification letters should be on school letterhead and include:
•Student's full name
•Student's Social Security number (SSN)
•Exact beginning date and projected graduation date
•Number of semester hours or equivalent (high schools excluded)
•Certification of full-time status
School generated forms are acceptable as long as they provide the above information. While certifications submitted in a foreign language are acceptable, additional time will be required for translation. Certifications may be submitted by mail to the address on the front or by FAX
to 1-303-331-7809.
NOTE: It is important to notify the Chief Business Office Purchased Care of any change in student status such as withdrawal or change from full-time to part-time status. School vacation periods, holidays, and summer breaks (providing the student attends school on a full-time basis both before and after the summer break) are not considered an interruption in full-time attendance and will not create a
break in CHAMPVA eligibility.