VA Pension Highlights
Get Free and Immediate Access to the online VA Pension Learning Center
Get the facts about VA Pension by signing up for our free online VA Pension Learning Center. More...
Service Requirements
The veteran must have served at least one day during a time of war. This is the first consideration for eligibility. More...
How Pension helps Wartime Veterans get needed care
Millions of wartime veterans struggle to pay for care for themselves or for their spouse. VA Pension can help. More…
Understanding how the VA rules affect future Medicaid eligibility
The eligibility rules for Medicaid are different than VA Pension and you should know about the "Medicaid Bomb" ticking for unwary pension applicants. More…
Veterans Pension Program
Pension Resources > Frequently Asked Questions
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What is Veterans Pension?
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Who is eligible for VA Pension?
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What income is counted when determining Veterans Pension eligibility and what exclusions apply?
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What are the net worth limitations?
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Are any expenses allowed as deductions to reduce countable income?
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How does VA calculate the monthly Pension?
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What are the Housebound, and the Aid and Attendance benefits?
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How Do I apply for the additional Housebound and Aid and Attendance?
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If I am already receiving monthly payments or a service-connected disability can I get a VA Pension too?
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How do I apply for the VA Pension?
What is VA Pension for veterans?
Pension is a benefit paid to wartime
veterans who have limited
or no income, and who are age 65 or older, or, if
under 65, who are permanently and totally disabled. Veterans
who are more seriously disabled may qualify for Aid
and Attendance or Housebound benefits.
These are benefits that are paid in addition to the basic pension
rate.
Who is eligible?
Generally, you may be eligible if:
- you were discharged from service under conditions other than dishonorable,
AND
- you served at least 90 days of active military service 1 day of
which was during a war
time period. If you entered active duty after September
7, 1980, generally you must have served at least 24 months or the
full period for which called or ordered to active duty (There
are exceptions to this rule),AND
- your countable family
income is below a yearly limit set by law (The yearly limit
on income is set by Congress), AND
- you are age 65 or older, OR, you are permanently and totally disabled, not due to your own willful misconduct.
What is countable income for veterans pension eligibility purposes?
This includes income received by the veteran and his or her dependents,
if any, from most sources. It includes earnings, disability and retirement
payments, interest and dividends, and net income from farming or business.
There is a presumption that all of a child's income is available to
or for the veteran. VA may grant an exception in hardship cases.
What about net worth?
Net worth means the net value of the assets of the veteran and his or her dependents. It includes such assets as bank accounts, stocks, bonds, mutual funds and any property other than the veteran's residence and a reasonable lot area. There is no set limit on how much net worth a veteran and his dependents can have, but net worth cannot be excessive.
The decision as to whether a claimant's net worth is excessive depends on the facts of each individual case. All net worth should be reported and VA will determine if a claimant's assets are sufficiently large that the claimant could live off these assets for a reasonable period of time. VA's needs-based programs are not intended to protect substantial assets or build up an estate for the benefit of heirs.
Are there any exclusions to income or deductions that may be made to reduce countable income?
Yes, there are exclusions. The following are
examples of what may be excluded:
- Public assistance such as Supplemental Security Income is not considered income.
- Many other specific sources of income are not considered income, however, all income should be reported. VA will exclude any income that the law allows.
- A portion of unreimbursed medical expenses paid by the claimant after VA receives the claimant's pension claim may be deducted. (These are expense you have paid for medical services or products for which you will not be reimbursed by Medicare or private medical insurance.)
- Certain other expenses, such as a veteran's education expenses, and in some cases, a portion of the educational expenses of a child over 18 are deductible.
How Does VA calculate your pension?
Your annual pension is calculated by first totaling all your countable
income. Then any deductions are subtracted from that total. The
remaining countable income is deducted from the appropriate annual
pension limit which is determined by the number of your dependents,
if any, and whether or not you are entitled to housebound or aid and
attendance benefits. This amount is then divided by 12 and rounded
down to the nearest dollar. This gives you the amount of your monthly
payment. Click here to
see an example of the pension calculation.
What are Aid and Attendance and Housebound benefits?
- Aid and Attendance (A&A) is a benefit paid
in addition to monthly pension. This benefit may
not be paid without eligibility to pension. A veteran may be eligible
for A&A when:
- The veteran requires the aid of another person in order to perform personal functions required in everyday living, such as bathing, feeding, dressing, attending to the wants of nature, adjusting prosthetic devices, or protecting himself/herself from the hazards of his/her daily environment, OR,
- The veteran is bedridden, in that his/her disability or disabilities requires that he/she remain in bed apart from any prescribed course of convalescence or treatment, OR,
- The veteran is a patient in a nursing home due to mental or physical incapacity, OR,
- The veteran is blind, or so nearly blind as to have corrected visual acuity of 5/200 or less, in both eyes, or concentric contraction of the visual field to 5 degrees or less.
- Housebound is paid in addition to monthly pension.
Like A&A, Housebound benefits may not be paid without eligibility
to pension. A veteran may be eligible for Housebound benefits when:
- The veteran has a single permanent disability evaluated as 100-percent disabling AND, due to such disability, he/she is permanently and substantially confined to his/her immediate premises, OR,
- The veteran has a single permanent disability evaluated as 100-percent disabling AND, another disability, or disabilities, evaluated as 60 percent or more disabling.
A veteran cannot receive both Aid and Attendance and Housebound benefits at the same time.
How Do I apply for the additional Housebound
and Aid and Attendance benefits:
- You may apply for Aid and Attendance or Housebound benefits by writing to the VA regional office having jurisdiction of the claim. That would be the office where you filed a claim for pension benefits. If the regional office of jurisdiction is not known, you may file the request with any VA regional office.
- You should include copies of any evidence, preferably a report from an attending physician validating the need for Aid and Attendance or Housebound type care.
- The report should be in sufficient detail to determine whether there is disease or injury producing physical or mental impairment, loss of coordination, or conditions affecting the ability to dress and undress, to feed oneself, to attend to sanitary needs, and to keep oneself ordinarily clean and presentable.
- In addition, it is necessary to determine whether the claimant is confined to the home or immediate premises.
- Whether the claim is for Aid and Attendance or Housebound, the report should indicate how well the individual gets around, where the individual goes, and what he or she is able to do during a typical day.
If I am already receiving monthly payments or a service-connected
disability can I get a VA pension too?
You cannot receive a VA non-service connected pension and service-connected
compensation at the same time. However, if you apply for pension
and are awarded payments, VA will pay you whichever benefit is the
greater amount.
How do I apply for veterans non-service connected pension?
- You can apply on line at the following VA web site: http://vabenefits.vba.va.gov/vonapp/main.asp
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- You may download and fill out VA
Form 21-526, Veteran's Application for Compensation and/or
Pension. Make sure you download all parts
of the application as well as the instructions for filling out
the forms. If available, attach copies of
dependency records (marriage & children's birth certificates).
You must send the completed application and any copies of other documents to the VA regional office that serves your area of residence. Please click here to find the office of jurisdiction.
- You may also contact a Veterans Service Officer (VSO) from a veterans service organization. Please call the toll free number, 1-800-827-1000, for the location of the nearest VSO nearest you. You may also look to the VA web site for a list of the nationally recognized Veterans Service Organizations.
If you have any questions, you can contact the VA at its toll free number, 1-800-827-1000, or you may contact the VA at https://iris.va.gov.
You can get more information about VA Pension and Aid and Attendance by signing up for our free online Veterans Pension Learning Center.
Disclaimer --This site is for general information only, and it is not legal advice. You should contact the VA or state VA agency, or a lawyer experienced in VA pension matters.
