**GAO-08-112**                      Published: Feb 14, 2008. Publicly Released: Feb 14, 2008.                  

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## Highlights

In 2006, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) paid about $3.5 billion in means-tested pension benefits to over 500,000 veterans and survivors. GAO was asked to review the management of VA pension program. This report assesses (1) the characteristics and trends in size of the current pensioner population, (2) the policies and procedures VA has in place to ensure that initial pension eligibility decisions are well managed, and (3) the procedures VA has in place to ensure that pensioners continue to receive the proper benefit payments on an ongoing basis. Our study included reviews of agency policies, procedures, and internal controls; site visits to 4 of VA's 57 regional offices and all three of its pension maintenance centers; and a selected file review of new claims at three locations.

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## Recommendations for Executive Action

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## Topics

Veterans

Data integrityEligibility criteriaEligibility determinationsFinancial recordsGovernment retirement benefitsMilitary disability retirement payPaymentsPension claimsPensionsPolicy evaluationProgram managementQuality assuranceRetirement benefitsVeterans benefitsVeterans disability compensationVeterans pensionsPolicies and procedures