Veterans with certain service-connected disabilities may be eligible for a life insurance program offered through the VA. Service-Disabled Veterans Insurance (S-DVI), or RH Insurance, covers veterans for up to $10,000. A New Orleans veterans benefits attorney can explain how the program works and assist you with applying for them.
Established in 1951, S-DVI is available in the form of several different permanent plans, as well as term insurance. The maximum face amount of these policies is $10,000. Eligible veterans may receive Supplemental S-DVI which can, with some restrictions, provide increased coverage up to $30,000.
There are four basic requirements to qualify for S-DVI. They are:
- You were released from active duty, not under dishonorable conditions, on or after April 25, 1951.
- You were rated for a service-connected disability. Even a 0% rating will qualify you.
- Other than any service-connected conditions, you are in good health.
- You apply no more than two years from the date on which the VA grants your new service-connected disability.
An increase in an existing service-connected disability will not entitle a veteran to this insurance. Disabled veterans who were granted an individual unemployability designation from a previously rated condition also will not qualify. If you have questions about any of these criteria, talk to a New Orleans veterans benefits attorney.
The VA allows veterans to apply for S-DVI using its online application system. Another option is to download VA Form 29-4364, Application for Service-Disabled Veterans Life Insurance. Visit the VA’s forms page to find this. You should also read Pamphlet 29-9, available through the VA site, which provides a description of the available plans. Pamphlet 29-9 also lists premium rates for the S-DVI insurance policies.
Disabled veterans who were given a total disability rating may qualify for premium waivers for basic S-DVI policies. As mentioned above, another option for veterans with total disability is Supplemental S-DVI. Veterans with basic S-DVI and who qualify for the premium waiver can receive this additional coverage, up to $30,000. However, premiums may not be waived for this type of insurance.
An S-DVI policyholder may be eligible for Supplemental S-DVI coverage if he or she:
- Is eligible for the premium waiver
- Is under age 65
- Applies for Supplemental S-DVI within one year of being notified of the grant of premium waiver
Qualified veterans must file VA Form 29-0188, the Application for Supplemental Service-Disabled Veterans (RH) Life Insurance, to apply. They can also send a signed letter requesting the coverage.
Finally, there is a version of S-DVI that provides posthumous life insurance for certain veterans. Known as Gratuitous S-DVI, this coverage is available for veterans who meet all three of the following criteria:
- Qualified for basic S-DVI
- Did not apply for S-DVI because of continued mental incompetence due to a service-connected disability
- Died before the appointment of a guardian, or within two years of such appointment
The VA must receive the application for Gratuitous S-DVI within two years of the date of the veteran’s death. If the person making the claim didn’t timely file due to mental or legal incompetence, he or she still can. The VA will accept the application within one year of the end of incompetency.
Working With You For The Benefits You Deserve
Life insurance benefits are an important part of planning for life after military service, especially for disabled veterans. Service-Disabled Veterans Insurance is one way of meeting this need. If you are considering S-DVI and need assistance with the application process, contact Ascend Disability Lawyers, LLC. We can help with the paperwork, answer eligibility questions, and work to appeal rejected claims. Give us a call today.
