Welfare Info

Veterans Life Insurance Policy Loans and Cash Surrenders

Policyholders who have permanent plans of insurance under one of the programs listed below may borrow up to 94 percent of the cash value of the policy after it has been in force for one year or surrender the policy for its cash value....

What is Veterans Life Insurance Policy Loans and Cash Surrenders?

Policyholders who have permanent plans of insurance under one of the programs listed below may borrow up to 94 percent of the cash value of the policy after it has been in force for one year or surrender the policy for its cash value.

Program Requirements

In order to qualify for a loan or cash surrender, you must have a permanent plan issued under one of the following programs:

United States Government Life Insurance (USGLI) - USGLI was generally issued to Veterans of World War I. This program has been closed to new applicants since 1951.

National Service Life Insurance (NSLI) - NSLI was generally issued to Veterans of World War II. This program has been closed to new applicants since 1951.

Veterans' Special Life Insurance (VSLI) - VSLI was generally issued to Korean War-era veterans. This program has been closed to new applicants since 1957.

Service Disabled Veterans Insurance (S-DVI) - S-DVI is issued to qualifying Veterans who separated from service on or after April 25, 1951, with service-connected disabilities. This program is still open to new issues.

Veterans Reopened Insurance (VRI) - VRI was generally issued to World War II and Korean veterans with service-connected or serious non-service connected disabilities. This program was open only for one year, from May 1965 to May, 1966, and is closed to new applicants.

A loan or cash surrender may be obtained in two ways:

  1. After a whole life or endowment plan has been in force for one year on a premium-paying basis or is paid-up.
  2. On paid-up additional insurance attached to either permanent plans or term plans.


Policyholders may borrow up to 94 percent of the cash value of the policy .

Loans are granted in any amount up to 94 percent of the policy's reserve value, minus any existing indebtedness against the policy, plus interest.

Application Details

What is the application process for Veterans Life Insurance Policy Loans and Cash Surrenders?

To apply for a policy loan online please visit the VA Life Insurance homepage.

You can apply for the cash value by submitting:

You can apply for a loan by submitting: