Your LES and your mortgage
Your Leave and Earnings Statement is your pay stub for a VA loan. Here's how to get it, how to read it, and what lenders look for.
Download your LES
- Log in to myPay with your login or CAC. DFAS myPay
- Download your most recent LES as a PDF.
- Send it with your application. Coast Guard members get theirs from the Coast Guard Pay and Personnel Center.
The main parts of your LES
Entitlements
Base pay plus special pays and allowances, such as housing allowance.
Deductions
Taxes and retirement contributions.
Allotments
Money sent automatically to someone else each month. Lenders review these.
Leave
Your leave balance. Active duty earns 2.5 days a month.
Service dates
Your grade, years of service and end of active service date.
Summary
Your net pay deposited.
Sources: DFAS: your LES, Military OneSource: LES and the DFAS Marine Corps LES guide. Layouts differ by branch and component.
What a lender looks for
- Your LES replaces an employment verification. For active-duty borrowers, VA rules say the lender uses your LES instead of calling an employer.
- It has to be recent. Generally no more than 120 days old, or 180 days for a new-construction home.
- Allotments get a look. The lender checks whether any allotment is a debt.
- Housing allowance counts as continuing income when you’re authorized to live off base.
- Your end-of-service date matters. Have your orders or reenlistment paperwork ready if it’s close. Active-duty borrowers also sign VA Form 26-0592.
Source: 38 CFR 36.4340, checked November 10, 2026.
Good to know
What is an LES?
Your monthly Leave and Earnings Statement: pay, allowances, deductions, allotments and leave balance.
Where do I get my LES?
On DFAS myPay. Coast Guard members use the Coast Guard Pay and Personnel Center.
Do I need W-2s if I'm active duty?
Your LES takes the place of an employment verification. Your lender will tell you if anything else is needed.
How recent does my LES need to be?
Generally no more than 120 days old, or 180 days for new construction.
Is BAH counted as income for a mortgage?
Housing allowance counts as continuing income when you're authorized to live off base.
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