Moving and Your VA Benefits

What it is

Moving is part of military life, and it does not stop when you leave the service. The good news is that most VA benefits are national. Your disability pay, pension and GI Bill do not stop when you cross a state line. But a move can change some amounts, slow down a claim, or leave gaps in care if you do not plan.

Step 1: Update your address the right way

Changing your address in your VA.gov profile updates your records for:

• VA health care (prescriptions, appointment reminders and letters)
• Disability compensation and pension
• Education benefits
• Claims and appeals
• Veteran Readiness and Employment

Some programs keep their own records, and you must contact them yourself:

• VA home loans: call the VA loan line.
• VGLI: update through Prudential (OSGLI).
• VALife and older VA policies: contact the VA Insurance Center.
• SGLI or FSGLI (still serving): update in milConnect.
• CHAMPVA and the Foreign Medical Program: call or write to them directly.

Also update your direct deposit if you change banks.

Step 2: Move your health care

You do not need to re-enroll. You do need to change your preferred VA facility. Call the enrollment office at the VA medical center near your new home. Ask for a new primary care team, and ask your old team to send referrals. Refill prescriptions a few weeks before moving, because VA mails most medicines. If the new VA cannot see you in time, ask about community care.

Step 3: Keep your claim moving

A pending claim or appeal is not tied to your local office, so it keeps moving after you relocate. But VA may need to schedule a C&P exam near your new home. Update your address and phone number right away so you do not miss an exam letter. Missing an exam is one of the most common reasons claims get denied.

Step 4: Think through your home loan

• Keeping your old home? You can rent it out and still use your remaining entitlement to buy at your new location, as long as you plan to live in the new home.
• Selling? Selling and paying off the loan restores your entitlement for the next purchase.
• Letting a buyer assume your loan? Your entitlement stays with that loan unless the buyer is a veteran who swaps in their own entitlement.
• Behind on payments because of the move? Call your servicer and ask about VA's new Partial Claim Program.

Step 5: Check what changes with location

• GI Bill housing allowance is based on your school's ZIP code.
• Caregiver stipends are based on local pay rates.
• State benefits, like property tax breaks and retirement pay taxes, are completely different in each state.
• VR&E and caregiver cases need to be transferred to the new regional office or medical center.

Moving overseas

Disability compensation and pension can be paid overseas. VA health care generally does not cover care abroad, but the Foreign Medical Program may pay for care of service-connected conditions. Education benefits can be used at approved foreign schools.

Common mistakes

• Updating the address with one VA office and assuming all of them have it.
• Not refilling medicines before moving day.
• Missing a C&P exam letter sent to your old address.
• Forgetting to file for state property tax exemptions after buying in a new state.

Related benefits

Read our guides on VA health care, the VA home loan, state veteran benefits, and filing your claim.