Verification of Employment (VOE) for VA Loans (2024)

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At a Glance

Verification of Employment (VOE) is essential for VA lenders to see that you have a reliable source of income and can make your mortgage payments. Guidelines will vary by lender and borrowers should be aware that some employment scenarios can disrupt the VA loan process.

For potential homebuyers who are still working, VA lenders will need to verify your employment situation before closing your loan.

Verification is at the heart of the mortgage process. Lenders want to see that you have a steady income and make sure your employment status hasn't changed as your loan closing approaches.

While it isn't terribly common, some prospective borrowers lose or change jobs between getting preapproved and receiving a “clear to close.” Lenders want to make sure you're still in a position to make mortgage payments on time every month. Any change to your employment or income situation is serious and could potentially derail your VA loan.

How do lenders verify employment for a VA loan?

Guidelines and policies regarding Verification of Employment (VOE) can vary by lender. The good thing is there are a couple of ways lenders can verify employment: verbally or with a formal written document. Typically, VA lenders will look at:

How long you've been working for your employer
Your position at the company
Income information and the likelihood of continued employment

Verbal Verification of Employment (VVOE)

For many borrowers with a single and consistent income stream, a Verbal Verification of Employment (VVOE) can suffice. This can be accomplished with a phone call between the lender and a representative from your employer.

At Veterans United, we typically complete a VVOE no more than ten calendar days before closing for all hourly, salary and commission-income borrowers.

For self-employed VA loan borrowers, we will usually do the following within 30 days of closing:

Verify the existence of the business from a third party, such as a CPA or governmental agency
Verify a phone listing and address for the borrower's business

Borrowers must understand the date they sign the note is considered the closing date and should keep the VOE in mind as they move through the mortgage process. Some jobs and employment scenarios can pose unique hurdles.

For example, lenders can run into difficulty verifying employment for teachers who want to close on a loan during a holiday break or over the summer. Speak with your loan officer if the nature of your work might make it more challenging to contact your employer.

Written Verification of Employment

There are times when lenders will conduct a full, written verification of employment. At Veterans United, we typically seek a full VOE if the borrower qualifies with multiple types of income or if there's a discrepancy regarding the borrower's dates of employment.

We may also require a full Verification of Employment for borrowers who receive handwritten paystubs or pursue a loan while on temporary leave from work.

Acceptable Documents to Verify Employment and Income

Two years of W-2 statements
Income tax returns
Most recent pay stubs
Recent bank statements from checking, savings and retirement accounts
VA disability awards letter
Social Security awards letter
1099 forms

Can you use an offer letter as proof of income for a VA mortgage?

Depending on the lender, guidelines and policies on future income and employment can vary. Generally, lenders might be able to work with this situation if the new income starts within 30 days of closing. But they would need to take a deeper look at your overall situation to determine potential options.

Verify your VA loan eligibility (June 8, 2024)

Verifying Employment While Active Duty

The verification process is a bit different for prospective homebuyers still actively serving in the military. Several different forms may be needed, and additional types of effective income may be accounted for.

How do I verify employment for active military?

To verify active military employment, VA lenders will require a Leave and Earnings Statement (LES) instead of a VOE, which contains the same basic financial information. Active duty members can acquire their LES online by using the MyPay portal.

Base pay counts as stable and reliable as long as the service member isn’t within a year of release from active duty. Lenders can also include a service member’s Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) as effective income and occassionally other military allowances — clothing, flight pay, combat pay and more — provided they’re verified and expected to continue.

Service members within a year of their release from active duty or the conclusion of their contract term can present a unique challenge.

Verify your VA loan eligibility (June 8, 2024)

VOE When Nearing Military Discharge

If your discharge date falls within 12 months of the anticipated date of your loan closing, the lender has to take a few extra steps to satisfy the VA. It makes sense, considering there may be uncertainty regarding the type of job and income that awaits the recently discharged Veteran.

Given those potential question marks, lenders typically have to document at least one of the following five elements, if not more:

The service member has already extended active duty service beyond that 12-month window
The service member has a legitimate job offer in the civilian world and can provide information about earnings and other standard data
Significant underwriting factors that compensate for uncertainty, such as a down payment of at least 10 percent or noteworthy cash reserves
A written statement from the service member declaring their intent to reenlist or extend service
A written statement from a commanding officer confirming the member’s eligibility to reenlist or extend service and that it’s likely to go through

Employment Changes Before Closing

Talk with your loan officer immediately if your employment situation changes during the loan process.

Jobs gaps or changes to your employment won't automatically stall your mortgage plans, but lenders will need to take a closer look to assess your ability to repay the loan.

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Verification of Employment (VOE) for VA Loans (1)

ByChris Birk, Vice President of Mortgage Insight

Chris Birk is the author of “The Book on VA Loans: An Essential Guide to Maximizing Your Home Loan Benefits.”An award-winning former journalist, Chris writes about mortgages and homebuying for a host of sites and publications. His analysis and articles have appeared at The New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, USA Today, ABC News, CBS News, Military.com and more.More than 300,000 people follow VA Loans Insider, his interactive VA loan community on Facebook.

About Our Editorial Process

Veterans United is recognized as the leading VA lender in the nation, unmatched in our specialization and expertise in VA loans. Our strict adherence to accuracy and the highest editorial standards guarantees our information is based on thoroughly vetted, unbiased research. Committed to excellence, we offer guidance to our nation's Veterans, ensuring their homebuying experience is informed, seamless and secured with integrity.

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