Va New Website

[broncovet]

Instead of going to the new VA website where everything is hard to find, try this link. It has both the CFR and M21 Regs, plus lots more.

http://www.warms.vba.va.gov/tocindex.htm

Edited March 14, 2010 by broncovet

[carlie]

the VA Disability Benefits Summary (from 0% to 100%)?

bob,

This is borrowed from elsewhere and I do not know

how updated it is.

carlie

ADDITIONAL BENEFITS AVAILABLE FOR SERVICE CONNECTED DISABLED VETERANS

EVALUATION BENEFITS

0% To 20%

•Certification of Eligibility for home loan guaranty.

•Home loan guaranty fee exemption.

VA Priority medical treatment card.

•Vocational Rehabilitation and Counseling under title

38 USC Chapter 31 (must be at least 10%)

•Service Disabled Veterans insurance (Maximum of $10,000 coverage) must file within 2 years from date of new

service connection.

10 point Civil Service Preference (10 points added to Civil Service test score).

Clothing allowances for veterans who use or wear a prosthetic or orthopedic appliance (artificial limb, braces, or wheelchair) or use prescribed medications for skin condition, which tend to wear, tear or soil clothing.

•Temporary total evaluation (100%) based on hospitalization for a service connected disability in excess of

21 days; or surgical treatment for a service connected disability necessitating at least 1 month of convalescence or immobilization by cast, without surgery of more major joints.

30% In addition to the above:

•Additional allowances for dependent(s) [spouse, child(ren), step child(ren), helpless child(ren), full-time students between the ages 18 to 23, and parent(s)]

•Additional allowances for a spouse who is a patient in a nursing home or helpless or blind or so nearly helpless or blind as to require the aid and attendance of another person.

40% In addition to the above:

•Automobile grant and/or special adaptive equipment for an automobile provided there is loss or permanent loss of use of one or both feet, loss or permanent loss of one or both hands or permanent impaired vision of both eyes with central visual acuity of 20/200 or less in better eye.

•Special adaptive equipment may also be applied for if there is ankylosis of one or both knees or one or both hips.

50% In addition to the above:

•VA Medical outpatient treatment for any condition except dental.

•Preventive health care services.

•Hospital care and medical services in non-VA facilities under an authorized fee basis agreement.

60% In addition to the above:

•Increased compensation (100%) based on individual Unemployability (applies to veterans who are unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment due to service connected disability)

100% In addition to the above:

•Dental treatment.

•Department of Defense Commissary privileges.

•Veteran’s employment preference for spouse.

•Waiver of National Service Life Insurance premiums.

•National Service Life insurance total disability income provisions.

•Specially adapted housing for veterans who have loss or permanent loss of use of both lower extremities or the loss or blindness in both eyes having light perception only plus loss or permanent loss of one lower extremity or the loss or permanent loss of use of one lower extremity with loss or permanent loss of use of one upper extremity or the loss or permanent loss of use of one extremity together with an organic disease which affects the function of balance and propulsion as to preclude locomotion without the aid of braces, crutches, canes or wheelchair.

•Special home adaptation Grant (for veterans who don’t qualify for Specially Adapted Housing) may be applied for if the veteran is permanently and totally disabled due to blindness in both eyes with visual acuity or 5/200 or less or loss of or permanent loss of use of both hands.

100% (Permanent and Total) in addition to the above:

•Civilian Health and Medical Program for dependents and survivors (ChampVA)

•Survivors and dependents education assistance

[Quint7]

Carlie, I always thought that at 0% you still had to pay a VA funding fee. I bought three houses while at 0% and had to pay the fee all three times. If I could get that money back that would be pretty sweet.

I have a DRO next month to try to get an EED that would go back before my first house. If I can retrieve that money no matter what....... so long car payment!

[carlie]

Quint,

As I said I do not know how updated this list is.

Here's the most I can find to speak on the VA Funding Fee.

Maybe more people will chime in.

carlie

http://www.warms.vba.va.gov/admin26/pamphl...am26_7/ch08.doc

8. The VA Funding Fee

Change Date

July 20, 2007, Change 5

· Subsection b has been changed to add servicemembers who have received a VA pre-rating decision prior to discharge.

· Subsection c has been changed to remove the reference to the veteran’s award letter. This document is no longer accepted as proof of funding fee exemption.

· Subsections d and h have been changed to add notes for clarification purposes.

a. The Lender’s Role

The lender must:

· verify the status of any veteran who may be exempt from paying the funding fee

· determine the amount of funding fee owed by any non-exempt borrower

· collect the appropriate fee from all non-exempt borrowers at loan closing

· electronically remit the funds to VA in a timely manner through the Funding Fee Payment System (FFPS)

· print proof of payment of the funding fee, and

· submit proof that the funding fee has been paid or that the veteran is exempt from paying the funding fee to VA with the closed loan package.

Note: The funding fee may be paid from loan proceeds or cash from borrower.

b. Who is Exempt from Paying the Funding Fee?

The following persons are exempt from paying the funding fee:

· Veterans receiving VA compensation for service-connected disabilities.

· Veterans who would be entitled to receive compensation for service-connected disabilities if they did not receive retirement pay.

· Veterans who are rated by VA as eligible to receive compensation as a result of pre-discharge disability examination and rating.

· Surviving spouses of veterans who died in service or from service-connected disabilities (whether or not such surviving spouses are veterans with their own entitlement and whether or not they are using their own entitlement on the loan).

Continued on next page

8. The VA Funding Fee, Continued

c. How to Verify Exempt Status

The lender must verify exempt status by obtaining one of the following:

· a properly completed and signed VA Form 26-8937, Verification of VA Benefits, indicating the borrower’s exempt status

· for a veteran who elected service retirement pay instead of VA compensation, a copy of the original VA notification of disability rating and documentation of the veteran’s service retirement income, or

· indications on the Certificate of Eligibility that the borrower is entitled as an unmarried surviving spouse.

Consult VA if the borrower’s status is unclear after reviewing the appropriate documents, or if conflicting information is found.

d. Loan Submissions Involving Exempt Borrowers

Submit a copy of the documentation used to verify exempt status with the closing package.

Exception: The lender does not have to submit the documentation if:

· the borrower is an eligible surviving spouse, or

· the documentation had been previously provided to VA with the loan application as verification of the veteran’s income.

Note: A lender who believes that a service member may be exempt from payment of the funding fee based on a pre-discharge exam should contact the VA Regional Loan Center (RLC) of jurisdiction for assistance confirming the exempt status.

Continued on next page

8. The VA Funding Fee, Continued

e. If Exempt Status Cannot be Determined

If the veteran’s exempt status cannot be verified prior to loan closing, the funding fee must be remitted as if the borrower was not exempt.

Indicate in the closing package that the veteran claims exempt status. VA will determine the borrower’s status and refund the funding fee if appropriate.

Reference: Refer to the heading “Refunding Overpayments to the Veteran” in this section.

If the veteran has a pending disability compensation claim at the time of loan closing, the funding fee must be remitted as if the borrower was not exempt.

Advise the veteran to contact the VA RLC to request a refund if it is later determined that the veteran is entitled to compensation retroactively to a date prior to loan closing.

Reference: Refer to the heading “Refunding Overpayments to the Veteran” in this section.

f. How to Calculate the Funding Fee

For all loans except IRRRLs, apply the appropriate percentage (from the funding fee tables) to the loan amount.

If the funding fee is to be paid from loan proceeds, apply the percentage to the loan amount without the funding fee amount added to it.

For IRRRLs, calculate the funding fee by completing VA Form 26-8923, Interest Rate Reduction Refinancing Loan Worksheet.

Reference: For joint loans, see “Calculation of the Funding Fee” in section 1 of chapter 7.

Continued on next page

8. The VA Funding Fee, Continued

g. How to Use the Funding Fee Tables

The lender must find the appropriate percentage in the tables using the following parameters:

· Is the veteran eligible for VA loan benefits through service in the regular military or the Reserves/National Guard? Examine the Certificate of Eligibility (COE). For Reserves/National Guard, the COE bears the notation, “RESERVES/NATIONAL GUARD - INCREASED FUNDING FEE,” and is buff-colored rather than green.

· Is the veteran a subsequent user of VA home loan benefits or obtaining his or her first VA loan? Examine the COE. An entitlement code of “5” indicates subsequent use, as does a loan number entered in the “Loan Number” column.

· What type of loan is the veteran obtaining? The funding fee varies depending upon whether the loan is a purchase or construction loan, an IRRRL, or a cash-out refinancing loan.

· Is the veteran making a downpayment of at least 5 or 10 percent?

- Calculate what percentage of the sales price of the property the veteran is remitting as a downpayment.

- The down payment may come from the veteran’s own resources or borrowed funds. Except, if the purchase price exceeds the reasonable value of the property, the difference between the purchase price and the reasonable value must be paid by the veteran in cash without borrowing.

· For construction loans only, equity in the secured property counts as a downpayment for calculating the funding fee.

Continued on next page

8. The VA Funding Fee, Continued

h. Funding Fee Tables

Purchase And Construction Loans

Note: The funding fee for ALL subsequent use loans closed on or after October 1, 2006, and before October 1, 2007, is 3.35 percent. This applies to all purchase loans where no downpayment of 5 percent or more is made as well as cash-out refinances where the fee would have been 3.3 percent. Effective October 1, 2007, the subsequent use fee reverts back to 3.3 percent.

Type of Veteran

Down Payment

Percentage for First Time Use

Percentage for Subsequent Use

Regular Military

None

5% or more (up to 10%)

10% or more

2.15%

1.50%

1.25%

3.3% *

1.50%

1.25%

Reserves/

National Guard

None

5% or more (up to 10%)

10% or more

2.4%

1.75%

1.5%

3.3% *

1.75%

1.5%

Cash-Out Refinancing Loans

Type of Veteran

Percentage for First Time Use

Percentage for Subsequent Use

Regular Military

2.15%

3.3% *

Reserves/National Guard

2.4%

3.3% *

*The higher subsequent use fee does not apply to these types of loans if the veteran’s only prior use of entitlement was for a manufactured home loan.

Type of Loan

Percentage for Either Type of Veteran Whether First Time or Subsequent Use

Interest Rate Reduction Refinancing Loans

.50%

Manufactured Home Loans (NOT permanently affixed)

1.00%

Loan Assumptions

.50%

Continued on next page

8. The VA Funding Fee, Continued

i. How and When to Remit the Funding Fee to VA

Lenders must remit the VA funding fee via the FFPS within 15 calendar days of loan closing.

Lenders paying the fee more than 15 days after loan closing will automatically be assessed a 4 percent late fee. Fees paid more than 30 days late will automatically be assessed an interest charge in addition to the late fee.

j. Refunding Overpayments to the Veteran

A refund is appropriate if:

· an exempt veteran paid a funding fee, or

· a miscalculation of the fee caused an overpayment.

Using the VA FFPS, lenders can make appropriate corrections that may result in refunds being due.

If the veteran was overcharged, the following applies:

· A veteran who paid cash for the funding fee receives a cash refund for the amount of the overpayment.

· In the case of a veteran who paid the funding fee out of loan proceeds, the lender must apply the overpayment against the loan balance. Submit evidence to VA that the refund was applied to the loan’s principal balance.

[broncovet]

I found it helpfull when you use this site:

http://www.warms.vba.va.gov/tocindex.htm

Use it as an INDEX, kind of like we used to do with a book. Then, keep clicking on the links until you specifically get to what you are looking for. This works with both CFR's, M21's and some other stuff like Voc Rehab.

This "site map" is far superior to finding stuff than trying to find it on the www.va.gov website.

I think the VA hides this sitemap on the homepage of their website because they dont want Veterans to be informed of the regulations, or know where to find them. They would rather we be ignorant so it is easier for them to take advantage of Veterans.

[Vync]

Sweeeet

[Bravo6]

Thanks Broncovet! Great site and great find!