Veteran's Pension
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.
To qualify for these benefits you must have:
-
Started Active Duty Service before September 8th, 1980 and have served for at least 90
days on active duty status, or
-
Started Active Duty Service after September 7th, 1980, and have served for at least 24
months on active duty or the full period for which you were called or ordered to active
duty, and
-
Have served for at least one day during a qualifying period of war (See below),
and
- Have received an honorable dicharge, and
- Be 65 or older, or be rated by the VA as totally disabled.
| Period of War |
Eligible Dates |
| Mexican Border Period |
May 9th 1916 — April 5th, 1917 * |
| World War I |
April 6th, 1917 — November 11th, 1918
|
| World War II |
December 7th, 1941 — December 31st, 1946
|
| Korean War |
June 27th, 1950 — January 31st, 1955
|
| Vietnam War |
August 5th, 1965 — May 7th, 1975 †
|
| Gulf War and GWOT |
August 2nd 1990 — A future date to be set by law or
presidential proclamation
|
* For Veterans who served in Mexico, on its borders, or in adjacent waters.
† For Vietnam Veterans who served "in country" prior to August
5th, 1965; eligible dates are February 28th, 1961 —
May 7th, 1975.
|
Not eligible? Unsure if you're eligible?
Request a consultation
Aid and Attendance Benefit and Housebound Allowance
VA Aid and Attendance or Housebound benefits provide monthly payments added to the amount of
a monthly VA pension for qualified Veterans and survivors. If you need help with daily
activities, or you’re housebound, you may qualify.
To qualify for Aid and Attendance a Veteran, or their single surviving spouse, must be
eligible for a Veterans Pension and must meet at least one of the following requirements:
-
You need another person to help you perform daily activities, like bathing, feeding, and
dressing, or
-
You have to stay in bed—or spend a large portion of the day in bed—because of illness,
or
-
You are a patient in a nursing home due to the loss of mental or physical abilities
related to a disability, or
-
Your eyesight is limited (even with glasses or contact lenses you have only 5/200 or
less in both eyes; or concentric contraction of the visual field to 5 degrees or less).
Not eligible? Unsure if you're eligible?
Request a consultation
VA Survivor's Pension
A VA Survivor's Pension offers monthly payments to qualified surviving spouses and unmarried
dependent children of wartime Veterans who meet certain income and net worth limits set by
Congress. If you haven’t remarried after the Veteran’s death, and if the deceased Veteran
didn’t receive a dishonorable discharge, and their service meets at least one of the
requirements listed below, you may be eligible for this benefit.
To qualify, the Veteran must:
-
Have entered active duty on or before September 7, 1980, and served at least 90 days on
active military service, with at least 1 day during a covered wartime period,
or
-
Entered active duty after September 7, 1980, and served at least 24 months or the full
period for which they were called or ordered to active duty (with some exceptions), with
at least 1 day during a covered wartime period, or
-
Was an officer and started on active duty after October 16, 1981, and hadn’t previously
served on active duty for at least 24 months.
Not eligible? Unsure if you're eligible?
Request a consultation
Disability Benefits
Eligibility for VA disability compensation for general military service is based on a few
key criteria that ensure Veterans receive benefits for injuries or illnesses incurred or
aggravated by their service. The main requirements include:
Service Requirements
Veteran Status: The individual must be a Veteran, meaning they served
in the active military, naval, or air service and were discharged under conditions other
than dishonorable.
Service-Connected Disability: The Veteran must have a current diagnosed
disability that is linked to an injury, illness, or event that occurred during military
service. This connection must be demonstrated through medical records, service records,
and, if necessary, supporting statements or evidence.
Criteria for Service-Connected Disability
In-Service Occurrence or Aggravation: The Veteran must provide evidence
of an event, injury, or illness that occurred during service. This can be documented
through military service records, medical records, or other supporting documents.
Current Disability: There must be a current medical diagnosis of the
disability. A Veteran cannot receive compensation for conditions that are resolved or do
not currently affect their health.
Nexus: There must be a link (nexus) between the in-service event and
the current disability. This is often established through medical evidence and opinions,
showing that the disability is "at least as likely as not" caused by or related to the
Veteran's service.
Not eligible? Unsure if you're eligible?
Request a consultation
Dependency Indemnity Compensation (DIC)
VA Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) is a tax-free monetary benefit provided by
the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to eligible survivors of service members and
Veterans who died in the line of duty or as a result of a service-related injury or illness.
DIC is intended to provide financial support to surviving spouses, dependent children, and
sometimes dependent parents of the deceased service member or Veteran.
Eligibility
Surviving Spouse:
-
Marriage Duration: The surviving spouse must have been married
to the Veteran for at least one year prior to the Veteran's death, or they must
have had a child together.
-
Remarriage: If the surviving spouse remarries after turning 57,
they may still be eligible for DIC benefits. Remarriage before age 57 generally
disqualifies a spouse from receiving DIC unless the remarriage ends in death,
divorce, or annulment.
Dependent Children:
- Unmarried: The child must be unmarried.
-
Age: Generally, the child must be under the age of 18, or under
23 if attending school full-time. Disabled children, if the disability occurred
before age 18, may receive DIC benefits for life.
Dependent Parents:
-
Parents who were financially dependent on the Veteran may be eligible for a
separate DIC benefit, which is based on income.
Conditions for Eligibility
Death During Service:
-
The service member died while on active duty, active duty for training, or
inactive duty training.
Service-Connected Death:
-
The Veteran's death was the direct result of a service-connected disability or
condition. This includes situations where the Veteran's death was caused by a
condition that was recognized as service-connected by the VA at the time of
their death.
Death from a Non-Service-Connected Condition:
-
If the Veteran was receiving or entitled to receive VA compensation for a
totally disabling service-connected condition for at least 10 years prior to
their death, or for five years from their release from active duty, the survivor
may be eligible for DIC.
The DIC benefit provides crucial financial support to the surviving family members of
service members and Veterans who have passed due to service-related causes. DIC helps to
ease the financial burden on spouses, children, and sometimes parents, ensuring that those
who have lost a loved one in service to their country receive the care and support they
deserve. This program honors the sacrifices made by Veterans by providing a vital safety net
for their families, helping them maintain stability and security in the face of loss.
Not eligible? Unsure if you're eligible?
Request a consultation
Civilian Health and Medical Program of the VA (CHAMPVA)
CHAMPVA is a comprehensive healthcare program in which the VA shares the cost of covered
healthcare services and supplies with eligible beneficiaries. Unlike TRICARE, which is
managed by the Department of Defense, CHAMPVA is administered by the VA and serves a
distinct group of individuals.
Eligibility
To qualify for CHAMPVA, individuals must not be eligible for TRICARE and must meet one
of the following criteria:
Surviving Spouse or Child of a Veteran:
- The Veteran died from a VA-rated service-connected disability.
-
The Veteran was rated permanently and totally disabled due to a
service-connected condition at the time of death.
-
The Veteran died on active duty, and the dependents are not otherwise eligible
for TRICARE benefits.
Spouse or Child of a Veteran with Disabilities:
-
The Veteran has been rated permanently and totally disabled due to a
service-connected condition.
Survivors of Individuals Who Died in the Line of Duty:
-
If the service member died in the line of duty and the family members are not
eligible for DoD TRICARE benefits.
CHAMPVA serves as a vital resource for eligible family members of Veterans, providing access
to affordable healthcare services. By sharing the cost of medical care, CHAMPVA helps ensure
that the sacrifices made by Veterans and their families are honored through continued
support and access to necessary health services.
Not eligible? Unsure if you're eligible?
Request a consultation
The PACT Act
Veterans who served in the Middle East, including Iraq, Afghanistan, and surrounding areas,
may be eligible for benefits under the PACT Act if they were exposed to toxic substances.
Key eligibility criteria include:
Service Locations: Veterans must have served in specific areas, including
Iraq, Afghanistan, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates.
Exposure to Burn Pits and Other Toxins: Veterans who were exposed to burn
pits, which were used to dispose of waste and often contained harmful chemicals, are
eligible. The act also covers exposure to other environmental hazards and toxins, such as
oil well fires and contaminated water.
Qualifying Health Conditions: Veterans must have developed specific health
conditions linked to toxic exposure. These conditions include respiratory issues, various
cancers, and other chronic diseases recognized by the VA.
Not eligible? Unsure if you're eligible?
Request a consultation
Agent Orange
The PACT Act also strengthens benefits for Vietnam Veterans exposed to Agent Orange, a
herbicide used during the Vietnam War. Eligibility criteria for these Veterans include:
Service Locations and Dates: Veterans must have served in Vietnam between
January 9, 1962, and May 7, 1975. This includes service on the ground in Vietnam or on its
inland waterways (often referred to as "boots on the ground").
Presumptive Diseases: The VA has identified several diseases that are
presumed to be caused by Agent Orange exposure. Veterans diagnosed with these conditions are
eligible for compensation. These diseases include various types of cancer (such as Hodgkin's
disease and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma), Type 2 diabetes, Parkinson's disease, and ischemic
heart disease, among others.
Expanded Locations: The PACT Act expands the geographic scope for
presumptive conditions to include Veterans who served in other locations where Agent Orange
was used, such as the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) and certain areas in Thailand.
Not eligible? Unsure if you're eligible?
Request a consultation