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As a military spouse I can tell you this answer is "it's complicated". The basic rule as stated above is 20/20/20. At least a 20 year marriage where 20 years overlapped with his service of at least 20 years. Contact the Veterans Administration for questions, or sometimes your local VFW or Veterans groups will have someone knowledgeable.
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Reply to jkm999
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Found this

"A divorced spouse who never remarried may be eligible for certain VA benefits, primarily including access to healthcare through TRICARE, commissary and exchange privileges, and a portion of the veteran's military retirement pay, if they meet the "20/20/20 rule" which means the marriage lasted at least 20 years, the veteran served at least 20 years, and the marriage overlapped with at least 20 years of the veteran's service; these benefits are outlined under the Uniformed Services Former Spouses' Protection Act"
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Reply to JoAnn29
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Your County should have a VA office where you can talk to someone in person. You will need Dads discharge papers and probably their marriage certificate. It will all have to do with his length of service, his rank and if he was in during wartime and maybe length of marriage. I know two men, Vietnam Vets, who use the local VA hospital as their supplimentary health plan but their wives can't so they have separate plans.
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Reply to JoAnn29
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I don't claim to be an expert, but as a veteran's daughter, I've had cause to learn A LOT about VA. So, yes, a divorced spouse can apply for benefits if they haven't remarried (or, I just learned, even if their subsequent marriage ends).

Call the Veterans Benefits Administration thru VA's main number 1-800-827-1000 to quickly get the info you need. Or search the website VA.gov.
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Reply to ravensdottir
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I don't know that you will find any experts on VA here. Therefore I would check for yourself and help your mom to do this. Not something you can afford to be wrong about. Google "veterans benefits for divorcees".
Good luck. Hope you will share what you learn with others.
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Reply to AlvaDeer
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