Pension for Non-Service-Connected Disability for Veterans

Objective

The Veterans Pension program provides monthly payments to wartime Veterans who meet certain age or disability requirements, and who have income and net worth within certain limits.

Who Can Apply

• Veteran (including dependents)

A Veteran who meets the wartime service requirements is potentially eligible if he/she is: permanently and totally disabled for reasons not necessarily due to service, age 65 or older, or is presumed to be totally and permanently disabled for pension purposes because: he/she is a patient in a nursing home for long-term care due to a disability, or being disabled, as determined by the Commissioner of Social Security (SS) for purposes of any benefits administered by the Commissioner, such as SS disability benefits or Supplemental Security Income. Income restrictions are prescribed in 38 U.S.C. § 1521. Pension is not payable to those whose estates are so large that it is reasonable they use the estate for maintenance. A Veteran meets wartime service requirements if he/she served: • a total of 90 days or more during one or more periods of war; • 90 or more consecutive days that began or ended during a period of war; or • for any length of time during a period of war if he/she was discharged or released for a service-connected disability. Veterans entering service after September 7, 1980, must also meet the minimum active-duty requirement of 24 months of continuous service or the full period to which the Veteran was called to active duty. (38 U.S.C. § 5303(A)).

Who Benefits

Disabled veterans.

Assistance Types

• Direct Payment with Unrestricted Use

Program Contact

Pension.Fiduciary.VBACO@va.gov
(800) 827-1000