Do You Need a Job to Get a VA Loan? Here’s What Counts as Income

A traditional 9-to-5 isn’t the only way to qualify for a VA loan. In fact, the VA loan program is designed with flexibility in mind, because military families, retirees, and veterans don’t always fit into neat income boxes, and that's okay! Let’s talk about what actually counts as qualifying income.

Income You Can Use on a VA Loan

The VA recognizes a wide range of income sources. These are all acceptable if properly documented:

• Base pay, BAH, BAS (for active duty)- but only if you have at least a year left in service.
• Spousal income (W-2 or self-employed)
• Military retirement or pension
• VA disability compensation
• Social Security income (for you or dependents)
• Self-employment income with filed tax returns
• Consistent part-time, seasonal, or gig income 
• Future employment with a valid offer letter

The key across the board: it must be stable, likely to continue, and able to be verified with documentation.

No Job? You May Still Qualify

If you’re receiving VA disability, retirement, or Social Security, you may qualify for a loan even without current employment. That’s because the VA allows fixed income to count, and in some cases, we can even use asset-based income—a calculation based on your savings. You don’t need a paycheck.

You need provable, steady income that meets VA’s residual income requirements.

Using a Job Offer Letter

Yes, you can qualify with a job you haven’t started yet if the offer meets certain criteria.

The offer must be:

• In writing
• For a full-time position (40 hours)
• Non-contingent (or meet allowable conditions)
• Have a clear start date and pay structure
• Directly related to previous work history

This is especially helpful if you're PCSing or relocating to a new area like NAS Lemoore and already have work lined up with a contracting company on the base.

What Usually Doesn’t Work

Some types of income don’t count unless we have the full paper trail:

• Cash income with no verification
• Gig or contract income with no 2 year history
• Part time, tip, overtime, or other variable income without a 2 year history
• Unfiled self-employment or self-employment income less than 2 years
• One-time gifts or temporary assistance
• Gi benefit income including BAH
• Active Duty income with less than 1 year remaining in service

That doesn’t mean you're out of luck, it just means we may need to build a qualifying profile over time.

Let’s Make a Plan That Works

There’s no one-size-fits-all answer.

That’s why I look at the full picture, not just a credit score or pay stub, and give you a game plan based on what’s possible now and what could be possible in the near future. Whether you’re active duty, self-employed, newly separated, or fully retired, there’s often more flexibility in the VA loan program than people think.