Spouses & family
For the families who made the move too
Veteran spouses, children and military-connected family have their own group.
The veteran gets the benefits letter. The spouse usually figures out the schools, the groceries and the visa office.
OCONUS Spouses & Family is a separate group where families share what works: international schools, homeschooling, making friends, and the benefits that cover dependents abroad, like CHAMPVA.
- Life Abroad: housing, shopping, language and friends
- Kids & Schools: international schools, homeschooling, childcare
- Benefits for Families: dependent benefits, CHAMPVA, survivor benefits
Benefits that follow families abroad
- CHAMPVA works overseas for eligible spouses and children of permanently and totally disabled veterans. How it works.
- TRICARE Overseas covers military retiree families.
- Survivors can receive DIC and other VA benefits abroad. Keep a copy of the DD-214 and marriage certificate where your family can find them.
- Burial planning matters more overseas. Read burial benefits abroad.
Foreign spouses
Many vets abroad are married to a local spouse. Keep marriage records apostilled and add your spouse as a dependent with VA. Ask in the family group how others handled U.S. visas, dependent ID cards and survivor benefits.
