I talk to many service members and Veterans about their VA home loan benefits, and one thing comes up repeatedly: people leave money on the table without realizing it. Sometimes thousands of dollars. Often it traces back to one thing they never got around to doing: filing for a VA disability rating.
If you served, you earned benefits that can shape your finances for decades. A disability rating is one of the most overlooked. And with Congress now weighing a bill that would raise the funding fee on certain VA refinance loans, understanding your rating has real dollars attached to it right now.
Additional Tax Savings for Florida Veterans
Florida’s legislature has passed multiple laws that benefit veterans with a disability rating. There are multiple property tax relief statutes ranging from a $5,000 reduction to the assessed value of a home to 100% tax relief. At age 65, the property tax benefits for veterans with a disability rating increase significantly. Many states also publish an annual veterans’ benefits guide, such as Florida.
A Rating Does More Than Send a Monthly Check
Plenty of Veterans think of a disability rating as a compensation check and nothing else. It’s more than that.
A qualifying VA disability rating can eliminate the VA funding fee on eligible home loans. On a purchase, that fee typically runs as a percentage of your loan amount. On a mid-sized Tampa Bay mortgage, the exemption can mean keeping several thousand dollars in your pocket instead of financing it into the loan. That’s money that stays with your family.
And if you ever refinance down the road, that exemption keeps working for you. While a non-exempt Veteran might see the IRRRL fee increase under the proposed bill, an exempt Veteran avoids it entirely. Over the course of a lifetime of homeownership, that’s not a one-time discount; it’s a recurring advantage.
The savings don’t stop at the closing table, either. Florida and many other states offer additional benefits to Veterans with a service-connected disability: property tax relief, reduced vehicle registration fees, education assistance, healthcare programs, and more. Depending on your rating, some of these can be substantial on their own. When you add it all up over the years you own a home, the number gets big.
You Might Qualify Even If You Think You Won’t
The biggest myth I run into is that disability compensation is only for Veterans with catastrophic, visible injuries. That’s just not how it works.
A lot of service-connected conditions can qualify things that a career in uniform quietly leaves behind:
- Hearing loss and tinnitus
- Back, knee, and shoulder conditions
- Sleep disorders and migraines
- Respiratory issues
- Anxiety and PTSD
Thousands of Veterans never file because they’ve convinced themselves they won’t be approved. Then they find out they were eligible for benefits they earned years ago. If any of the above sounds familiar, don’t count yourself out before you’ve asked.
How to Get Started
If you’ve never filed a claim, a good first step is to talk with an accredited Veterans Service Officer (VSO) or another qualified representative who can walk you through your military and medical history. They do this work at no cost, and they know how to build a claim.
Been denied before? It can still be worth another look. Medical evidence changes, VA regulations change, and a case that didn’t go through years ago might land differently today. Filing doesn’t guarantee approval, but a surprising number of Veterans discover they qualify for something they assumed was off the table.
We’re Here to Help You Use What You’ve Earned
At My Easy Mortgage, we take it personally to help Veterans get every benefit they’ve earned. Whether you’re buying your first home, considering a refinance, or just mapping out what’s possible, your VA home loan benefit is one of the strongest tools available, and understanding how your disability status affects it can change the math in your favor.
Whether you are a first-time buyer or a veteran exploring your options, My Easy Mortgage, a reputable mortgage broker located at 2405 Creel Lane, STE 102, Wesley Chapel, FL 33544, and 16703 Early Riser Ave, Suite 266, Land O’Lakes, FL 34638, has a team of experienced professionals who can guide you through the process. Contact them at (813) 513-9846 to discuss your mortgage needs.
