What is VA Pension?

 
 

VA Pension, or “non-service-connected disability pension”, is a program that is used to supplement the income of disabled Veterans or their surviving spouses. If eligible and approved, a tax-free, monetary award will be paid to the claimant on a monthly basis. All other VA pension programs, such as Survivor’s Pension, Housebound Allowance, and Aid and Attendance, fall under the umbrella of VA pension.

Since VA pension is a needs-based program, eligibility for the benefit depends on the claimant’s military service, level of disability, level of income, and net worth. VA calculates pension awards on an individual basis, so the actual monthly awards will vary from person to person, depending on their financial situation.

 
 
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> WARTIME SERVICE

  • The Veteran must not have received a dishonorable discharge.

AND

  • The Veteran must have served at least one day during one of the wartime eras listed below:

  • World War II (December 7, 1941, to December 31, 1946)

  • Korean conflict (June 27, 1950, to January 31, 1955)

  • Vietnam War era (February 28, 1961, to May 7, 1975, for Veterans who served in the Republic of Vietnam during that period. August 5, 1964, to May 7, 1975, for Veterans who served outside the Republic of Vietnam.)

  • Gulf War (August 2, 1990, through a future date to be set by law or presidential proclamation)

> DISABILITY CRITERIA

  • You must be permanently and totally disabled at the time of application.

OR

  • You must be over the age of 65.

> NET WORTH LIMIT

  • Your total net worth must be below the net worth limit of $130,773.
  • Net worth is calculated as "assets + income".
  • Examples of assets include IRAs, pensions, stocks, bonds, interest bearing accounts or real estate property (excluding your primary residence).

> INCOME LIMIT

  • Your countable income must be below a certain threshhold, known as the Maximum Annual Pension Rate (MAPR).
  • Countable income is how much your household earns, to include Social Security benefits, retirement payments and wages from employment.
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Your Maximum Annual Pension Rate (MAPR) is the maximum amount of pension that you are eligible for and is based on a few factors, such as how many dependents you have or if you are applying for a special monthly pension such as Aid and Attendance or Housebound benefits.

In order to be eligible for VA non-service-connected pension or Survivors Pension, your income must not exceed your MAPR.

See what your MAPR is below.

 
 

> MAPR for Veterans with no dependents

  • If you don't qualify for Housebound or Aid and Attendance benefits:
    your MAPR is $13,931.
  • If you qualify for Housebound benefits:
    your MAPR is $17,024.
  • If you qualify for Aid and Attendance benefits:
    your MAPR is $23,238.

> MAPR for Veterans with at least 1 dependent spouse or child

  • If you don't qualify for Housebound or Aid and Attendance benefits:
    your MAPR is $18,243.
  • If you qualify for Housebound benefits:
    your MAPR is $21,337.
  • If you qualify for Aid and Attendance benefits:
    your MAPR is $27,549.

> MAPR for 2 Veterans who are married to each other

  • If neither of you qualifies for Housebound or Aid and Attendance benefits:
    your MAPR is $18,243.
  • If one of you qualifies for Housebound benefits:
    your MAPR is $21,337.
  • If both of you qualify for Housebound benefits:
    your MAPR is $24,428.
  • If one of you qualifies for Aid and Attendance benefits:
    your MAPR is $27,549.
  • If one of you qualifies for Housebound benefits and one of you qualifies for Aid and Attendance benefits:
    your MAPR is $30,635.
  • If both of you qualify for Aid and Attendance benefits:
    your MAPR is $36,861.
 
 

> MAPR for surviving spouses with no dependents

  • If you don't qualify for Housebound or Aid and Attendance benefits:
    your MAPR is $9,344.
  • If you qualify for Housebound benefits:
    your MAPR is $11,420.
  • If you qualify for Aid and Attendance benefits:
    your MAPR is $14,934.

> MAPR for surviving spouses with at least 1 dependent

  • If you don't qualify for Housebound or Aid and Attendance benefits:
    your MAPR is $12,229.
  • If you qualify for Housebound benefits:
    your MAPR is $14,300.
  • If you qualify for Aid and Attendance benefits:
    your MAPR is $17,815.
 
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If you qualify for VA Pension, the VA determines your benefit amount by calculating the difference between your countable income and your MAPR. The resulting difference is your pension amount.

 
 

Example: You are a qualified Veteran with a dependent non-Veteran spouse who is applying for non-service-connected pension. Your countable household income is $15,000.

  • Your MAPR amount = $27,195.

  • Your household income = $15,000.

  • Your calculated VA Aid and Attendance benefit = $12,195 or $1016.25 (paid monthly).