How To Qualify For Armed Forces Retirement Homes

If you, your parent or sibling is a military veteran entering retirement, you may wonder how to qualify for Armed Forces Retirement Homes (AFRH). Veterans of the United States armed forces–airmen, Marines, sailors, and soldiers–can reside in AFRH facilities if they meet certain eligibility requirements.

Currently, the federal government has two AFRH campuses–one in Washington, D.C., and the other in Gulfport, Mississippi. The facilities are considered model retirement centers that rival similar facilities across the United States.

Veterans who meet AFRH eligibility requirements have no expensive registration fees to pay, and the monthly user fees are affordable. To determine eligibility, veterans should visit the AFRH website and click on the “New Resident” tab in the navigation menu bar. Here is an overview of the requirements.

1. Active Duty Service. Veterans can qualify for Armed Forces Retirement Homes if their active duty military service includes at least fifty percent enlisted, warrant officer, or light duty officer service. They must also meet a few additional requirements.
2. Age And Service. Only veterans who are at least sixty years old are eligible to apply for AFRH residency. In addition to the age requirement, veterans must have twenty or more years of active duty service in one of America’s military branches.
3. Service Related Disability. Veterans who cannot earn a living due to a service-related injury, disease, or disability also qualify for AFRH retirement facilities. Veterans who received hostile fire pay or served in a war theater anywhere in the world also qualify.
4. Women and Married Couples. Female veterans who served in the military prior to 1948, and who meet all other AFRH eligibility requirements, can also apply for residency. Married couples are welcome to apply, but both partners must meet the eligibility requirements in their own right.
5. Drugs, Alcohol, and Criminal Activity. Veterans who apply for Armed Forces Retirement Homes must be free of drugs, alcohol, and psychological problems. If they have ever been convicted of a felony offense, they are ineligible for AFRH residency.
6. Independent Living. All veterans must prove they can live independently at the time of admission. They must be capable of taking care of personal needs and keeping appointments. If they require health or medical care after moving into an AFRH facility, both campuses offer assisted living, skilled nursing, and long term care services.