VA Veterans Pension Eligibility

VA Veterans Pension Explained on VeteransBenefits.Com

 

 

The Veterans Pension program provides monthly payments to wartime Veterans who meet specific age or disability criteria and have income and net worth within certain limits. Learn more about your eligibility for this benefit.

Are You Eligible for Veterans Pension Benefits?

You may qualify for the Veterans Pension program if you meet the following criteria:

 

Both of these must be true:

  • You did not receive a dishonorable discharge, and
  • Your yearly family income and net worth are within limits set by Congress. Net worth includes all personal property you own (excluding your house, car, and most home furnishings), minus any debt you owe. This also includes the net worth of your spouse.

Find out more about Veterans Pension rates.

Additionally, at least one of these must be true regarding your service:

  • You began active duty before September 8, 1980, and served at least 90 days on active duty, with at least one day during wartime, or
  • You began active duty as an enlisted person after September 7, 1980, and served at least 24 months or the full period for which you were called to active duty (with some exceptions), including at least one day during wartime, or
  • You were an officer who started active duty after October 16, 1981, without prior active duty service for at least 24 months.

And at least one of these must be true:

  • You are at least 65 years old, or
  • You have a permanent and total disability, or
  • You are a patient in a nursing home for long-term care due to a disability, or
  • You are receiving Social Security Disability Insurance or Supplemental Security Income.

Wartime Periods Recognized for Eligibility

Under current law, the following wartime periods are recognized for VA pension benefits eligibility:

  • Mexican Border period: May 9, 1916, to April 5, 1917 (for Veterans who served in Mexico, on its borders, or in adjacent waters)
  • World War I: April 6, 1917, to November 11, 1918
  • World War II: December 7, 1941, to December 31, 1946
  • Korean conflict: June 27, 1950, to January 31, 1955
  • Vietnam War era (for Veterans who served in the Republic of Vietnam): November 1, 1955, to May 7, 1975
  • Vietnam War era (for Veterans who served outside the Republic of Vietnam): August 5, 1964, to May 7, 1975
  • Gulf War: August 2, 1990, through a future date to be determined by law or presidential proclamation.

Discharge Status and Pension Eligibility

If you received an other than honorable, bad conduct, or dishonorable discharge, you may not be eligible for VA pension benefits. However, there are two ways you might still qualify:

How to Apply for Veterans Pension

You can apply online for Veterans Pension benefits.

Alternatively, you can apply by mail, in person, or with the assistance of a trained professional. Learn more about how to apply.

Additional VA Pension Benefits

Source VA.Gov



About VA Disability Ratings

The VA assigns disability ratings based on the severity of a veteran’s service-connected condition. These ratings are expressed as a percentage from 0% to 100%, reflecting the degree to which the disability decreases the veteran’s overall health and ability to function.

When a veteran has multiple disabilities, the VA uses a combined rating system rather than simply adding the percentages together. This is done using a method that accounts for the impact of each additional disability on the veteran’s remaining health. For example, if a veteran has two disabilities rated at 30% and 20%, the VA doesn’t simply add them to get 50%. Instead, they use a specific calculation where each disability’s impact is measured on the remaining “healthy” percentage of the body, often resulting in a combined rating that is lower than the sum of individual ratings​

Current Veterans disability compensation rates

Review 2024 Veterans disability compensation rates. Use our compensation benefits rate tables to find your monthly payment amount. We base your monthly payment amount on your disability rating and details about your dependent family members.

Compensation rates for Veterans with a 10% to 20% disability rating

Effective December 1, 2023

Note: If you have a 10% to 20% disability rating, you won’t receive a higher rate even if you have a dependent spouse, child, or parent.

Disability rating Monthly payment (in U.S. $)
10% 171.23
20% 338.49

Compensation rates for Veterans with a 30% to 100% disability rating

Effective December 1, 2023

With a dependent spouse or parent, but no children

Find the dependent status in the left column that best describes you. Then look for your disability rating in the top row. Your basic monthly rate is where your dependent status and disability rating meet.

If your spouse receives Aid and Attendance benefits, be sure to also look at the Added amounts table, and add it to your amount from the Basic monthly rates table.

Learn more about Aid and Attendance benefits

Basic monthly rates for 30% to 60% disability rating
Dependent status 30% disability rating (in U.S. $) 40% disability rating (in U.S. $) 50% disability rating (in U.S. $) 60% disability rating (in U.S. $)
Veteran alone (no dependents) 524.31 755.28 1,075.16 1,361.88
With spouse (no parents or children) 586.31 838.28 1,179.16 1,486.88
With spouse and 1 parent (no children) 636.31 904.28 1,262.16 1,586.88
With spouse and 2 parents (no children) 686.31 970.28 1,345.16 1,686.88
With 1 parent (no spouse or children) 574.31 821.28 1,158.16 1,461.88
With 2 parents (no spouse or children) 624.31 887.28 1,241.16 1,561.88
Added amounts for 30% to 60% disability rating
Dependent status 30% disability rating (in U.S. $) 40% disability rating (in U.S. $) 50% disability rating (in U.S. $) 60% disability rating (in U.S. $)
Each additional child under age 18 31.00 41.00 51.00 62.00
Each additional child over age 18 in a qualifying school program 100.00 133.00 167.00 200.00
Spouse receiving Aid and Attendance 57.00 76.00 95.00 114.00

Find the dependent status in the left column that best describes you. Then look for your disability rating in the top row. Your basic monthly rate is where your dependent status and disability rating meet.

If your spouse receives Aid and Attendance benefits, be sure to also look at the Added amounts table, and add it to your amount from the Basic monthly rates table.

Learn more about Aid and Attendance benefits

Basic monthly rates for 70% to 100% disability rating
Dependent status 70% disability rating (in U.S. $) 80% disability rating (in U.S. $) 90% disability rating (in U.S. $) 100% disability rating (in U.S. $)
Veteran alone (no dependents) 1,716.28 1,995.01 2,241.91 3,737.85
With spouse (no parents or children) 1,861.28 2,161.01 2,428.91 3,946.25
With spouse and 1 parent (no children) 1,978.28 2,294.01 2,578.91 4,113.51
With spouse and 2 parents (no children) 2,095.28 2,427.01 2,728.91 4,280.77
With 1 parent (no spouse or children) 1,833.28 2,128.01 2,391.91 3,905.11
With 2 parents (no spouse or children) 1,950.28 2,261.01 2,541.91 4,072.37
Added amounts for 70% to 100% disability rating
Dependent status 70% disability rating (in U.S. $) 80% disability rating (in U.S. $) 90% disability rating (in U.S. $) 100% disability rating (in U.S. $)
Each additional child under age 18 72.00 82.00 93.00 103.55
Each additional child over age 18 in a qualifying school program 234.00 267.00 301.00 334.49
Spouse receiving Aid and Attendance 134.00 153.00 172.00 191.14

With dependents, including children

Find the dependent status in the left column that best describes you. Then look for your disability rating in the top row. Your basic monthly rate is where your dependent status and disability rating meet.

If you have more than one child or your spouse receives Aid and Attendance benefits, be sure to also look at the Added amounts table, and add these to your amount from the Basic monthly rates table.

Learn more about Aid and Attendance benefits

Basic monthly rates for 30% to 60% disability rating
Dependent status 30% disability rating (in U.S. $) 40% disability rating (in U.S. $) 50% disability rating (in U.S. $) 60% disability rating (in U.S. $)
Veteran with 1 child only (no spouse or parents) 565.31 810.28 1,144.16 1,444.88
With 1 child and spouse (no parents) 632.31 899.28 1,255.16 1,577.88
With 1 child, spouse, and 1 parent 682.31 965.28 1,338.16 1,677.88
With 1 child, spouse, and 2 parents 732.31 1,031.28 1,421.16 1,777.88
With 1 child and 1 parent (no spouse) 615.31 876.28 1,227.16 1,544.88
With 1 child and 2 parents (no spouse) 665.31 942.28 1,310.16 1,644.88
Added amounts for 30% to 60% disability rating
Dependent status 30% disability rating (in U.S. $) 40% disability rating (in U.S. $) 50% disability rating (in U.S. $) 60% disability rating (in U.S. $)
Each additional child under age 18 31.00 41.00 51.00 62.00
Each additional child over age 18 in a qualifying school program 100.00 133.00 167.00 200.00
Spouse receving Aid and Attendance 57.00 76.00 95.00 114.00

Note: We’re required by law to match the percentage of cost-of-living adjustments made to Social Security benefits. These adjustments help to make sure that the purchasing power of your benefits keeps up with inflation.

Get the latest cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) information on the Social Security Administration’s (SSA) website

How to use the tables to find your monthly payment

Find your basic rate

Go to the compensation rates for your disability rating. On the Basic monthly rates table, find the amount for your disability rating and dependent status. This is your basic monthly rate.

Example (Veteran with no children):
If you’re a Veteran with a 30% disability rating, and you have a dependent spouse (no dependent parents or children), your basic monthly rate would be $586.31 each month.

Find your added amounts, if any apply

If your spouse receives Aid and Attendance benefits or you have more than one child, you may qualify for additional monthly payment amounts as listed in the Added amounts table.

Learn more about Aid and Attendance benefits

First, determine your basic rate.

Example (Veteran with children):
If you’re a Veteran with a 70% disability rating, and you have a spouse, plus 3 dependent children under the age of 18, you would start with the basic rate of $1,968.28 (for a Veteran with a spouse and 1 child).

Next, look at the Added amounts table. Find the amount for children under age 18 ($72.00).

Since your basic rate already provides payment for 1 child, you would add the rate of $72.00 for each additional child (so $72 x 2).

If your spouse receives Aid and Attendance, you would also add $134 (which is the added amount for a spouse receiving Aid and Attendance, for a Veteran with a 70% disability rating).

In our example of a Veteran with 70% disability rating, your total monthly payment amount would be:

$1,968.28 basic rate (1 spouse, 1 child)
+$72 (second child under 18)
+$72 (third child under 18)
+$134 (spouse who receives Aid and Attendance)
Total $2,246.28 

VA combined disability rating calculator
https://www.va.gov/disability/about-disability-ratings/

Source:
https://www.va.gov/disability/compensation-rates/veteran-rates/

 

Learn more about how the VA assigns disability ratings and use the official VA combined disability rating calculator by visiting the VA’s Disability Ratings Page.



Real estate industry changes could mean for VA home loan borrowers

Recently, the National Association of Realtors® (NAR), one of the largest real estate professionals (REPs) trade organizations, has been in the news regarding a settlement concerning buyer-broker compensation. Effective August 17, 2024, the NAR reached a settlement in a class action lawsuit, resulting in significant changes to buyer-broker fees in real estate transactions. Here’s how this could affect Veterans and service members using VA’s home loan benefits.

What are the changes?

The settlement mandates two significant changes in how buyers and sellers negotiate services from a buyer’s agent:

  1. When agents list homes on the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) platform, they will no longer be able to include the buyer’s agent’s compensation. The MLS is the platform that buyers’ brokers and listing brokers use to share information about properties for sale.
  2. Buyers will be required to enter into written agreements with Realtors® before touring a home, and the agreement must include terms regarding their agent’s fee.

Why does this change matter for Veterans using the VA-guaranteed home loan benefit?

Historically, Veterans could not pay buyer-broker fees when purchasing a home with a VA-guaranteed loan. In June, VA announced an update to help ensure that Veterans using the VA-guaranteed home loan benefit remain competitive buyers. Specifically, eligible Veterans, active-duty service members, and surviving spouses who use their VA home loan benefits can pay for certain real estate buyer-broker fees when purchasing a home as of August 10, 2024. This update was intended to ensure VA’s programs continue to promote access to homeownership.

For additional information about this update, please review VA Circular 26-24-14: “Temporary Local Variance for Certain Buyer-Broker Charges” on VA’s Loan Guaranty Service Resources page.

What this means for homebuyers

Homebuyers will now be required to sign a written agreement with their agent before touring a home. This contract must explain the buyer-broker fee, as negotiated by the homebuyer and the agent, and the specific services that will be provided by the agent.

The buyer’s written agreement must include the following four components regarding the buyer-broker fee:

  • A prominent disclosure of the amount or rate of compensation the real estate agent will receive and how this amount will be determined.
  • Compensation must be objective (e.g., $0, X flat fee, X percent, X hourly rate) and not open-ended.
  • A term that prohibits the agent from receiving compensation for brokerage services from any source that exceeds the amount agreed to with the buyer.
  • A prominent statement that broker fees and commissions are fully negotiable by the homebuyer and agent involved and not set by law.

The seller may agree to offer compensation to your agent, but the offer cannot be shared on the MLS. Buyers may also ask sellers to pay the buyer’s agent’s compensation, even if the seller’s agent did not advertise seller-paid compensation on a platform other than the MLS.

Buyers can still accept concessions from the seller (up to 4% of the appraised value of the property), such as offers to pay closing costs. Also, because buyers’ agents cannot receive compensation over the amount negotiated with their client, any seller-paid offers of compensation higher than the amount negotiated by the buyer may be negotiated as a seller concession to defray the buyer’s closing costs.

What this means for home sellers

Sellers can offer compensation to buyer brokers. However, the seller’s agent must clearly disclose and document the seller’s approval of the payment or offer that will be made to the buyer brokers.

This compensation amount cannot be included on the MLS listing. The seller’s agent may advertise the listing on other social media, flyers, and websites outside of the MLS platform.

Sellers can still offer buyer concessions (up to 4% of the appraised value of the property), such as offers to pay closing costs.

What can Veterans do?

When finding an agent to work with, make sure to ask questions about compensation and understand what services are included. It is also your right to negotiate the fees before signing a written contract. You should work with your agent to understand how the VA-guaranteed home loan benefit applies to your situation, with the full range of choices when both buying or selling a home.

VA remains committed to providing guidance and policies that ensure Veterans are not disadvantaged in the homebuying or selling process. VA will continue to monitor how the settlement affects the real estate market and keep Veteran buyers competitive in the housing market.

For more information on VA home loans, please visit VA’s Loan Guaranty Assistance page.

Source: VA News



Benefits for U.S. Veterans with a VA Rating of 100%

Veterans Benefits Hub is committed to keeping you informed on the latest benefits for veterans with a 100% disability rating.

If you’re a veteran receiving 100% disability from the Department of Veterans Affairs, you might be wondering what benefits are available to you. There are 14 key benefits, with only two requiring special considerations. Let’s start with the first and most well-known benefit: compensation. A veteran rated at 100% can receive over $3,700 per month, tax-free, with no restrictions on how that money can be used.

Benefit number two is additional compensation for eligible dependents, which can be significant. For example, as of this video’s production, a veteran alone receives $3,737.85, while a veteran who is married with one child receives $4,098.87. The third benefit is no-cost health care and prescription medications, covering everything from hearing aids to hospital beds.

If you’re not yet enrolled, details on how to do so are in the video description below. Benefit number four is a travel allowance for scheduled medical appointments. Whether you drive, take a taxi, bus, or train, the VA can help cover those costs, and more details are provided below. Benefit number five is also substantial: no-cost dental care, covering everything from cleanings to dentures.

Benefit number six is a waiver of the U.S. VA funding fee for a U.S. VA home loan. If you’ve ever purchased a home, you know how expensive the upfront costs can be, but this benefit significantly reduces that financial burden. Benefits seven and eight relate to U.S. employment. You’ll receive a 10-point preference when applying for United States federal jobs, and many U.S. states offer the same. You may even be eligible for direct hire, meaning you don’t have to compete for the job. However, hiring authorities are not required to use this option, so it’s worth asking the HR department.

If you’re retired from the military, benefit number nine allows you to receive your full military retirement pay alongside your VA disability without any offset. Benefit number ten is a burial and plot allowance, and you can even get pre-need authorization. It’s not a pleasant topic, but planning ahead can ease the burden on your

Benefit number eleven is a uniformed services ID card, and one of my personal favorites, benefit number twelve, is the Veteran Readiness and Employment (VR&E) program. This program helps veterans start a new career with education, training, and more, including tuition, supplies, housing, and personalized counseling. If your current job is aggravating or worsening a service-connected disability, VR&E can help you find a more suitable position to improve your quality of life.

The final two benefits are specific to veterans with a 100% permanent disability. Benefit number thirteen is Dependents’ Educational Assistance (Chapter 35), which helps your dependents pay for school or job training. Benefit number fourteen is CHAMPVA, a comprehensive health care program where the VA shares the cost of health care services and supplies.

So, there you have it—14 benefits that veterans rated at 100% disability are eligible for. Thanks for tuning in. If you haven’t already, be sure to like and subscribe so you don’t miss any future episodes of the VETERANS DISABILITY HUB. Our mission is to help you connect with the benefits you’ve earned, and we’re offering more resources than ever to do just that.