The VA reopened its Partial Claim Program on June 15, 2026, giving veterans a path to stop foreclosure without refinancing or selling. If you're behind on your VA-guaranteed mortgage in Virginia Beach or anywhere in Hampton Roads, this program is the most significant foreclosure-prevention tool the VA has offered in over a year, and the clock is already running.
What the VA Partial Claim Program 2026 Actually Does
A partial claim lets the VA advance money on your behalf to bring your mortgage current. That advance gets structured as a second, interest-free lien, typically due when you sell, refinance, or pay off the home. You don't need to come up with a lump sum yourself. The VA pays your servicer the overdue amount, your loan goes back to current, and you keep making your regular monthly payment going forward.
This program replaced VASP, which the VA ended in May 2025. From that point until June 15, 2026, veterans in default had a thinner set of options. According to the VA, the Servicer Handbook was updated effective June 1, 2026, and servicers were cleared to begin accepting applications on June 15. During the 13-month gap before that reopening, more than 10,000 veterans lost homes to foreclosure sales nationwide. With Hampton Roads home to one of the largest military and veteran populations in the country, that number hit this region hard.
Why the November 28 Deadline Matters to You
Here's the part most veterans don't know: servicers have until November 28, 2026, to build the systems needed to process partial claim submissions. Some servicers are already set up. Others are not. That means if you call your servicer today and they tell you they can't process a partial claim yet, that answer may be accurate, but it doesn't mean you should wait.
You should still contact your servicer now, in writing, and ask specifically about the VA partial claim program 2026. Document every conversation. If your servicer pushes back or says the option isn't available, call the VA directly at 1-877-827-3702. The VA has housing counselors who can intervene with servicers on your behalf.
The November 28 deadline creates real urgency because foreclosure timelines don't pause while servicers finish their internal setup. The further behind you fall, the fewer options remain.
Steps to Take Right Now
• Contact your servicer today by phone and follow up in writing. Ask specifically whether they can submit a VA partial claim on your behalf.
• Request a VA-approved housing counselor if your servicer is unresponsive. You can reach one through the VA at 1-877-827-3702 or through HUD-approved counseling agencies.
• Pull together your income documentation. The VA will need to verify you can sustain the regular monthly payment once the arrears are cleared.
• Stop ignoring the mail. Servicers are required to send notices, and missing a deadline in one of those letters can close off options.
If your home has equity and you're weighing whether it makes more sense to sell than to restructure the loan, that's a separate conversation worth having. Find out what your home is worth →
For more on VA financing and homeownership resources in the region, visit the Legacy Home Search blog.
What This Means For You
• The VA partial claim program 2026 is active now, but your servicer may not be able to process it until November 28, 2026.
• Waiting is the most dangerous thing you can do. Every missed payment narrows your options.
• You can go directly to the VA for help even if your servicer is not yet set up.
• If you're current but worried about future payments, talk to your servicer before you miss a payment, not after.
This program exists because Congress and the VA know that veterans shouldn't lose homes over temporary financial setbacks. If you're in Hampton Roads and behind on a VA loan, the resources are there. The only wrong move is doing nothing.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the VA partial claim program 2026 and who qualifies?
The VA partial claim program 2026 allows the VA to advance funds to bring a delinquent VA-guaranteed mortgage current, with the amount repaid as an interest-free second lien when the home is sold or refinanced. To qualify, you generally need to have a VA-guaranteed loan, be behind on payments due to a financial hardship, and demonstrate the ability to resume regular monthly payments going forward.
My servicer says they can't process a partial claim yet. What should I do?
Servicers have until November 28, 2026, to implement full processing capability for the VA partial claim program 2026, so some are not yet ready. Contact the VA directly at 1-877-827-3702 and ask for a VA housing counselor who can work with your servicer on your behalf while you wait for their systems to be in place.
Will a VA partial claim affect my ability to buy another home in Hampton Roads later?
A partial claim creates a second lien on your current property, but it does not eliminate your VA loan entitlement the way a foreclosure or short sale would. Once the lien is paid off at sale or refinance, your entitlement is generally restored. A foreclosure, by contrast, can affect your VA eligibility for years, which is one reason this program is worth pursuing before a foreclosure sale occurs.
Source: themortgagereports.com
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