Summary of VA 

Supplemental Pension Benefits

income for 

wartime 

Veterans

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INCOME AND NET WORTH LIMITATIONS

If eligible, your pension benefit is the difference 

between your “countable” income and the annual 

pension limit set by Congress. VA generally pays 

this difference in 12 equal monthly payments.

Countable income. Includes income from most 

sources as well as from any eligible dependents. 

It generally includes earnings, disability and 

retirement payments, interest and dividend 

payments from annuities, and net income from 

farming or a business. Some expenses, such as 

unreimbursed medical expenses, may reduce 

your countable income.

Net worth. Includes assets such as bank accounts, 

stocks, bonds, mutual funds, annuities, and any

property other than your residence and a reasonable

lot area. You should report all of your net worth. 

VA will determine whether your assets are of a 

sufficiently large amount that you could live off 

of them for a reasonable period of time.

Yearly Income 

Your yearly family income must be less than 

the amount set by Congress to qualify for the

Veterans or Survivors’ Pension benefit. You can

view the current income limits, sample pension

calculations, and determine your estimated 

benefit amount at www.vba.va.gov.

Requirements Service Requirements Age / Disability Income and Net Worth

Veterans

•	 Discharged from service under other 

than dishonorable conditions

•	 Served 90 days or more of active duty 

with at least one day during a period 

of war1

•	 Age 65 or older, OR

•	 Permanently and totally disabled 

(not due to own personal 

misconduct), OR

•	 Patient in a nursing home 

receiving skilled nursing care, OR

•	 Receiving Social Security 

disability benefits

•	 Countable family income 

is below the amount set by 

Congress

•	 Unreimbursed medical expenses 

may reduce countable income

•	 Net worth is not excessive

Un-remarried 

Surviving Spouses

Spouse must have met all Veteran 

Service Requirements listed above N/A

Unmarried Children Parent must have met all Veteran 

Service Requirements

Must be under 18 years of age, 

or under age 23 if attending a 

VA-approved school

Children who are permanently incapable 

of self-support due to a disability before 

age 18 may also be eligible

ELIGIBILITY FOR VA PENSION BENEFITS

Access Your VA Benefits

Go to eBenefits at www.ebenefits.va.gov, 

your one-stop shop to learn about and apply 

for your benefits.

VA helps Veterans with wartime service and their families cope with financial challenges by 

providing supplemental income through Veterans Pension and Survivors Pension benefits.

1

 Veterans who entered active duty after September 7, 1980 must also serve at least 

24 months of active duty service. If the total length of service is less than 24 months, 

the Veteran must have completed his or her entire tour of active duty.

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HOW TO APPLY

To apply for pension benefits, fill out and submit 

the following forms:

» Veterans Pension: Veteran’s Application for 

Compensation and/or Pension (VA Form 21-526) 

» Survivors Pension: Application for Dependency 

and Indemnity Compensation, Death Pension, 

and Accrued Benefits by Surviving Spouse or 

Child (VA Form 21-534)

You can access these forms by:

» Applying online via www.ebenefits.va.gov, 

your one-stop shop to apply for and learn

about your benefits, if you’re a Veteran

» Downloading either form at www.va.gov/forms

» Calling VA toll free at 1-800-827-1000 to have a 

claim form mailed to you

» Visiting your local VA regional office. For the 

VA regional office nearest you, call VA toll free

at 1-800-827-1000

AID AND ATTENDANCE AND HOUSEBOUND 

Veterans or surviving spouses who are eligible for 

VA pension and are housebound or require the aid 

and attendance of another person may be eligible 

for an additional monetary payment. 

Aid and Attendance (A&A). An increased 

monthly pension amount paid if you meet one 

of the following conditions:

» You require help in performing daily functions, 

which may include bathing, eating, or dressing

» You are bedridden

» You are a patient in a nursing home

» Your eyesight is limited to a corrected 5/200 

visual acuity or less in both eyes; or concentric 

contraction of the visual field to 5 degrees or less

Housebound. An increased monthly pension amount 

paid if you are substantially confined to your immediate 

premises because of a permanent disability.

To apply for increased pension based on A&A or 

Housebound, write to your local VA regional office 

and provide medical evidence, 

such as a doctor’s report, that validates the need 

for an increased benefit. If your income exceeds 

the threshold for basic pension, you may still 

qualify for pension if you are eligible for either the 

A&A or Housebound. 

Because Aid and Attendance and Housebound 

allowances increase the pension amount, people 

who are not eligible for a basic pension due to 

excessive income may be eligible for pension at 

these increased rates. You may not receive both 

A&A and Housebound at the same time.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What qualifies as a wartime period?

Under current law, VA recognizes the following war periods:

» World War I (April 6, 1917—November 11, 1918) 

» World War II (December 7, 1941—December 31, 1946)

» Korean conflict (June 27, 1950—January 31, 1955)

» Vietnam era (February 28, 1961—May 7, 1975 for Veterans 

who served in the Republic of Vietnam during that period; 

otherwise August 5, 1964—May 7, 1975)

» Gulf War (August 2, 1990—through a future date to be set 

by law or Presidential Proclamation)

If I am already receiving monthly payments for a serviceconnected disability, can I also receive a VA pension? 

You cannot receive a VA non-service connected pension and 

service-connected disability compensation at the same time. 

However, if you apply for a pension benefit and are awarded 

payments, VA will pay you whichever benefit is greater.

Can I reapply for pension benefits if I do not initially qualify?

Yes, you may reapply at any time if your countable income is 

below the yearly limit (which may occur after deducting unreimbursed medical expenses from the 12 month period after 

VA received your claim), or if you were denied because you 

were not rated as permanently and totally disabled but your 

disabilities have become worse.

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U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

Veterans Benefits Administration

Washington, DC 20420

T 800-827-1000

www.va.gov/benefits

For More Information

For more information about VA pension 

benefits, including eligibility and the 

application process, please:

» Find links to VA benefits information and apply 

at www.ebenefits.va.gov 

» Visit us at www.va.gov/benefits

» Use IRIS, VA’s tool to find information and ask 

questions online at https://iris.custhelp.com

» Call us at 1-800-827-1000

» Visit the nearest VA regional office. To find the 

VA regional office nearest you, go to our website 

or call VA toll free at 1-800-827-1000

Additional VA Benefits

Disabilities determined by VA to be related to 

your military service can lead to monthly nontaxable compensation, enrollment in the VA 

health care system, a 10-point hiring preference 

for federal employment, and other important 

benefits. Ask your VA representative or Veterans 

Service Organization (VSO) representative about 

Disability Compensation, Pension, Health Care, 

Caregiver Program, Vocational Rehabilitation and 

Employment Services, Educational Assistance, Home 

Loan Guaranty, Insurance, and/or Dependents’ 

and Survivors’ Benefits. You can search for a VSO 

representative online at www.ebenefits.va.gov. 

Thank you for your service. Now let us serve you.

VA adopted five core values that define “who we are,” our culture, 

and how we care for Veterans, their families, and other beneficiaries.

The values are Integrity, Commitment, Advocacy, Respect, I CARE and Excellence (I-CARE). DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

VA PAM 21PF-12-1

September 2012

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