VII.i.1.A
Section summaries · M21-1 Part VII
Establish the relationship before changing the award.
Part VII covers spouses, children, parents, dependency adjustments, and school attendance. Each summary links to the current controlling section.
17 of 17 section summaries shownVII.i.1.B
Verify marital/dependent status
Use acceptable evidence to confirm marriage, child, parent, termination, and dependency facts; resolve conflicting evidence.
Read the captured Part VII source →VII.i.1.C
Adjust awards for dependents
Use the correct event, receipt date, notice, and effective-date rule when adding, removing, or changing a dependent.
Read the captured Part VII source →VII.i.1.D
Rules-Based Processing System
Review automated dependency work for eligibility, data accuracy, exceptions, and any action that still requires manual processing.
Read the captured Part VII source →VII.i.2.A
Validity of marriage
Determine whether the marriage was valid under applicable law and whether any prior marriage was legally terminated.
Read the captured Part VII source →VII.i.2.B
Common-law marriage
Verify that the jurisdiction recognized common-law marriage and that the parties met its factual requirements.
Read the captured Part VII source →VII.i.2.C
Other marriage types
Apply the dedicated rules for deemed-valid, tribal, proxy, same-sex, or other nonstandard marriage questions.
Read the captured Part VII source →VII.i.2.D
Survivor marital relationship
Establish the relationship at death, including duration, cohabitation, separation, and fault questions.
Read the captured Part VII source →VII.i.2.E
Surviving-spouse remarriage
Determine whether remarriage or its termination bars, restores, or changes entitlement under the applicable date rule.
Read the captured Part VII source →VII.i.3.A
Child age and relationship
Confirm age, identity, relationship, marital status, and the benefit-specific definition of child.
Read the captured Part VII source →VII.i.3.B
Biological, adopted, and stepchildren
Apply the evidence and relationship requirements for the particular type of child claimed.
Read the captured Part VII source →VII.i.3.C
Marriage of a child
Determine when marriage affected child status and whether an exception or restoration rule applies.
Read the captured Part VII source →VII.i.3.D
Two Veteran-parents
Coordinate dependency entitlement when both parents are Veterans under the special dual-parent rules.
Read the captured Part VII source →VII.i.4.A
Parental relationship
Establish the claimed parent-child relationship before deciding dependent-parent entitlement.
Read the captured Part VII source →VII.i.4.B
Parental dependency
Develop income, net worth, support, household, and dependency facts under the parent-dependency standard.
Read the captured Part VII source →VII.ii.1.A
School-child entitlement
Confirm age, course, school approval, attendance, dates, and marital status for school-based benefits.
Read the captured Part VII source →VII.ii.1.B