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MEDICAL MEDICAL MEDICAL MEDICAL MEDICAL MEDICAL MEDICAL C-435 Division of Welfare and Supportive Services GENERAL ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS Medical Assistance Manual DOCUMENTATION OF VETERAN STATUS 14 Mar 01 MTL 14/01 Individuals may qualify for certain benefits if they are a spouse, surviving spouse, or dependent child of a veteran and meet the appropriate criteria. Individuals claiming this status must show the same documentation as the veteran or active duty member. If the documentation is not available, they should be referred to the local VA regional office for verification of veteran status. Note: The VA will not verify the relationship, so relationship must be established using regular verification procedures for this requirement. Definition of a Spouse of a Veteran - The individual must be currently married to the veteran. Definition of a Surviving Spouse of a Veteran - a. Must not have remarried; and b. Was married to the veteran or active-duty personnel within fifteen years after the termination of the period of service in which the injury or disease causing the death of the veteran was incurred or aggravated; and c. Was married to the veteran or active-duty personnel for one year or more; or a child was born of the relationship between the surviving spouse and the veteran or active-duty personnel, either during or before the marriage. Definition of a Dependent Child of a Veteran - a. Must be unmarried; and b. Must meet program criteria under which benefits are being applied for to be considered as a dependent child. C-435.1 Verification of Veteran Status C-435.1.1 Discharged Members A discharge certificate, DD-214 or equivalent, which meets the following criteria, is acceptable verification without further inquiry, unless the certificate appears to be altered or is otherwise irregular: a. It must show active duty in either the United States Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps or Coast Guard; and b. It must show “Honorable” discharge (“Under Honorable Conditions” is not acceptable); and c. The individual must meet a minimum active duty requirement of two years or more in one of the branches listed above, unless their certificate shows an enlistment date prior to September 7, 1980 (there is no minimum active duty requirement for these individuals).