Review current VA pension rates for Veterans, including VA Aid and Attendance rates. If you qualify for these benefits, we’ll base your payment amount on the difference between your countable income and a limit that Congress sets (called the Maximum Annual Pension Rate, or MAPR).
Your countable income is how much you earn, including your Social Security benefits, investment and retirement payments, and any income your dependents receive. Some expenses, like non-reimbursable medical expenses (medical expenses not covered by your insurance provider), may reduce your countable income.
Your MAPR amount is the maximum amount of pension payable. Your MAPR is based on how many dependents you have, if you’re married to another Veteran who qualifies for a pension, and if your disabilities qualify you for Housebound or Aid and Attendance benefits. MAPRs are adjusted each year for cost-of-living increases. You can find your current MAPR amount using the tables below.
Example: You’re a qualified Veteran with a dependent, non-Veteran spouse and no children. You also qualify for Aid and Attendance benefits based on your disabilities. You and your spouse have a combined yearly income of $10,000.
Your MAPR amount = $31,714
Your yearly income = $10,000
Your VA pension = $21,714 for the year (or $1,809 paid each month)
What’s the net worth limit to be eligible for Veterans Pension benefits?
From December 1, 2022, to November 30, 2023, the net worth limit to be eligible for Veterans Pension benefits is$150,538.
On October 18, 2018, we changed the way we assess net worth to make the pension entitlement rules clearer. Net worth includes your and your spouse’s assets and annual income. When you apply for Veterans Pension benefits, you’ll need to report all of these assets and income.
Note:If your child's net worth is more than the net worth limit, wedon't consider themto be a dependentwhen we determine your pension.
Read our definitions below:
Assets
Assets include the fair market value of all your real and personal property, minus the amount of any mortgages you may have. “Real property” means any land and buildings you may own. Your personal property assets include any of these items:
- Investments (like stocks and bonds)
- Furniture
- Boats
Assets don’t include:
- Your primary residence (the home where you live most or all of the time)
- Your car
- Basic home items like appliances that you wouldn’t take with you if you moved to a new house
Read more about how we define “assets”
Annual income
Annual income is the money earned in a year from a job or from retirement or annuity payments. Itincludesany of these:
- Salary or hourly pay
- Bonuses
- Commissions
- Overtime
- Tips
We’ll subtract certain expenses from your annual income when we assess net worth. We call these applicable deductible expenses.They include:
- Educational expenses
- Medical expenses you’re not reimbursed for
Read more about how we define “annual income”
An example of net worth and eligibility
If youhad $121,000 in assets and $14,000 in annual income, then your net worth would be $135,000. This is less than the net worth limit of $150,538. So you would be eligiblefor Veterans Pension benefits.
What’s the 3-year look-back period for asset transfers?
When we receive a pension claim, we review the terms and conditions of any assets the Veteran may have transferred in the 3 years before filing the claim.
If you transfer assets for less than fair market value during the look-back period, and those assets would have pushed your net worth above the limit for a VA pension, you may be subject to a penalty period of up to 5 years. You won’t be eligible for pension benefits during this time.
Note: This new policy took effect on October 18, 2018. If you filed your claim before this date, the look-back period doesn’t apply. (A look-back period never includes a date before October 18, 2018.)
What’s a penalty period?
A penalty period is a length of time when a Veteran isn’t eligible for pension benefits because they transferred assets for less than fair market value during the look-back period. We won’t pay pension benefits during a penalty period.The penalty period rate is $2,642.
Find your Maximum Annual Pension Rate (MAPR) amount
Date of cost-of-living increase: December 1, 2022
Increase factor: 8.7%
Standard Medicare deduction: Actual amount will be determined by SSA based onindividual income.
For Veterans with no dependents:
If you have no dependents and… | Your MAPR amount is (inU.S.$) | ||
---|---|---|---|
If you have no dependents and… | You don’t qualify for Housebound or Aid and Attendance benefits | Your MAPR amount is (inU.S.$) | 16,037 |
If you have no dependents and… | You qualify for Housebound benefits | Your MAPR amount is (inU.S.$) | 19,598 |
If you have no dependents and… | You qualify for Aid and Attendance benefits | Your MAPR amount is (inU.S.$) | 26,752 |
Note:
If you have medical expenses, you may deduct only the amount that’s above 5% of your MAPR amount ($801 for a Veteran with no spouse or child).
For Veterans with at least 1 dependent spouse or child:
If you have 1 dependent and… | Your MAPR amount is (inU.S.$) | ||
---|---|---|---|
If you have 1 dependent and… | You don’t qualify for Housebound or Aid and Attendance benefits | Your MAPR amount is (inU.S.$) | 21,001 |
If you have 1 dependent and… | You qualify for Housebound benefits | Your MAPR amount is (inU.S.$) | 24,562 |
If you have 1 dependent and… | You qualify for Aid and Attendance benefits | Your MAPR amount is (inU.S.$) | 31,714 |
Note:
- If you have more than one dependent, add $2,743to your MAPR amount for each additional dependent.
- If you have a child who works, you may exclude their wages up to $13,850.
- If you have medical expenses, you may deduct only the amount that’s above 5% of your MAPR amount ($1,050 for a Veteran with 1 dependent).
For 2 Veterans who are married to each other:
If you’re 2 Veterans who are married to each other and… | Your MAPR amount is (inU.S.$) | ||
---|---|---|---|
If you’re 2 Veterans who are married to each other and… | Neither of you qualifies for Housebound or Aid and Attendance benefits | Your MAPR amount is (inU.S.$) | 21,001 |
If you’re 2 Veterans who are married to each other and… | One of you qualifies for Housebound benefits | Your MAPR amount is (inU.S.$) | 24,562 |
If you’re 2 Veterans who are married to each other and… | Both of you qualify for Housebound benefits | Your MAPR amount is (inU.S.$) | 28,121 |
If you’re 2 Veterans who are married to each other and… | One of you qualifies for Aid and Attendance benefits | Your MAPR amount is (inU.S.$) | 31,714 |
If you’re 2 Veterans who are married to each other and… | One of you qualifies for Housebound benefits and one of you qualifies for Aid and Attendance benefits | Your MAPR amount is (inU.S.$) | 35,266 |
If you’re 2 Veterans who are married to each other and… | Both of you qualify for Aid and Attendance benefits | Your MAPR amount is (inU.S.$) | 42,433 |
Note:
- If you have more than one dependent, add $2,743 to your MAPR amount for each additional child.
- If you have a child who works, you may exclude their wages up to $13,850.
- If you have medical expenses, you may deduct only the amount that’s above 5% of your MAPR amount ($1,050 for a Veteran with 1 dependent).
Past VA pension rate tables
Review VA pension rate tables from past years:
2022 rates (effective December 1, 2021)
2021 rates (effective December 1, 2020)
2020rates (effective December 1, 2019)
2019 rates (effective December 1, 2018)
2018 rates (effective December 1, 2017)
Full Title 38 regulations
Read full regulations from Title 38 Code of Federal Regulations:
3.23 Improved pension rates—Veterans and surviving spouses
Last updated:
FAQs
2023 VA pension rates for Veterans | Veterans Affairs? ›
The adjustment for 2023 means a disabled veteran with a 10% VA rating can expect to see about $13.28 more each month, and a 100% disabled veteran with no dependents will receive $300 more per payment.
How much is VA pension going up in 2023? ›The adjustment for 2023 means a disabled veteran with a 10% VA rating can expect to see about $13.28 more each month, and a 100% disabled veteran with no dependents will receive $300 more per payment.
What will 100% VA benefits be in 2023? ›Although the 2022 adjustment of 5.9 percent was already substantial, the 2023 adjustment is even higher. With the 8.7 percent COLA increase, veterans with a 100 percent disability rating and no dependents will see an extra $289.89 added to their disability compensation, yielding $3,621.95 per month.
What is the annual VA pension rate? ›2020 Maximum Annual Veterans Pension Rates (MAPR) Effective December 1, 2019 – 1.6% COLA Increase | |
---|---|
If you are a veteran... | Annual |
Without Spouse or Child | $13,752 |
No dependents, medical expenses must exceed 5% of MAPR | $87 |
Special Monthly Compensation (SMC)
For Veterans, Special Monthly Compensation is a higher rate of compensation paid due to special circumstances such as the need of aid and attendance by another person or by specific disability, such as loss of use of one hand or leg.
The legislation promises that VA benefits — including disability compensation, clothing allowances, and survivors' support — will see a cost-of-living hike in 2024 equal to that of Social Security payouts. The Social Security hikes are automatic each year, set under federal law.
What is the VA pay schedule for 2023? ›Payment month | Payment date |
---|---|
April 2023 | Monday, May 1 |
May 2023 | Thursday, June 1 |
June 2023 | Friday, June 30 |
July 2023 | Tuesday, Aug. 1 |
What is the compensation for a 90% VA Disability Rating? The 2023 compensation rate (an 8.7% increase) for a 90% VA disability rating is $2,172.39. For more information about compensation for dependents, our 2023 VA Disability Rates and Compensation article covers all the updates for the year.
How many veterans have a 100% disability rating? ›A single 100% rating means that the condition you're experiencing is severe and totally disabling. A combined rating of 100% is not a total disability because a person may be able to maintain substantially gainful employment with a combined 100%. More than a million veterans receive benefits at the 100% rate.
What happens to my VA disability when I turn 65? ›No, VA disability does not stop at age 65; nor does it stop at age 67. VA disability benefits are for the life of the disabled veteran! And in some instances, the veteran's VA benefits can pass to the surviving spouse. At age 65, a disabled veteran may also become eligible for VA pension benefits.
Do I get my husbands VA pension when he dies? ›
A VA Survivors 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.
How much is 90% VA pension? ›Dependent status | 70% disability rating (in U.S. $) | 90% disability rating (in U.S. $) |
---|---|---|
Dependent status | With 1 child, spouse and 2 parents | 2,133.06 |
Dependent status | With 1 child and 1 parent | 1,870.06 |
Dependent status | With 1 child and 2 parents (no spouse) | 1,983.06 |
Your military pension does not affect your Social Security benefits. You'll get your full Social Security benefit based on your earnings. Survivors benefits may affect benefits payable under the optional Department of Defense Survivors Benefit Plan.
How long does VA pension last? ›15 years from date of last discharge or release from active duty if you were discharged before Jan. 1, 2013. If you were discharged after that date there is no expiration date.
Is VA pension taxable? ›VA pension benefits are tax-free and can help you supplement your income or that of your surviving spouse and/or unmarried dependent child or children. Applying is free—there is no charge to help you receive benefits you may have earned for your service. You do not need to hire anyone to apply for a VA pension.
How much will the VA pay my wife to be my caregiver? ›Spouses, unfortunately, cannot be paid to provide care, as their income is also considered when calculating a veteran's pension amount. However, other relatives, such as adult children, nieces and nephews, and grandchildren, can be paid to be caregivers.
What are the new VA benefits for 2023? ›2023 VA Disability Rates. 2023 VA disability pay rates, which are effective December 1, 2022, have a year over year increase of 8.7% based on the latest cost-of-living adjustment (COLA). Confirmed as of October 13, 2022, this rate increase is the highest rate increase we've seen in about 40 years.
What will the 2024 VA disability rates be? ›Brian Reese from VA Claims Insider estimates a reasonable 2024 COLA range between 2.5% and 3.5%. For example, if you were previously getting $1,000 per month tax-free, a 3.1% VA pay increase is $31, so a veterans VA disability compensation pay in 2024 would go up to $1,031 per month.
How much will VA benefits go up next year? ›Disabled veterans with a 10% VA rating or higher will see an 8.7% increase effective December 1, 2022, with a first official payment date of January 2023. [Veterans] Find Out “HOW” to Recession-Proof Your Finances by Getting More Tax-Free Compensation Every Month!!!
How much does the widow of a 100 disabled veteran receive 2023? ›If you're the surviving spouse of a Veteran, your monthly rate would start at $1,562.74. Then for each additional benefit you qualify for, you would add the amounts from the Added amounts table.
What does 80% VA disability get you? ›
According to the VA's 2022 disability compensation rates, if you have an 80% rating you will receive $1,778.43 per month if you have no dependents. However, with a 100% disability rating that number can increase to $3,332.06 per month.
What is the 55 year old rule for VA disability? ›Based on the results of the exam, your disability rating may increase, decrease, or stay the same. Once you turn 55, you are typically "protected" and will no longer have to attend an exam to prove that your condition has not changed unless there is reason to suspect fraud. This is sometimes called the 55-year rule.
Can veterans fly for free? ›Service members and their families can use Space-A flights – formally known as Military Airlift Command or MAC flights – to travel around the country and world at a reduced cost or for free.
What is the VA 10 year rule? ›TEN YEAR RULE -The VA 10 year rule means the VA cannot eliminate a rating that's been in place for 10 years or more. However, the rating can be reduced if medical evidence shows that the disability has improved.
Can you collect Social Security if you are 100 percent disabled veteran? ›A Veterans Affairs compensation rating of 100% P&T doesn't guarantee that you'll receive Social Security disability benefits. To receive disability benefits from Social Security, a person must have a severe impairment expected to last at least one year or to result in death.
How do I get the $16728 Social Security bonus? ›To acquire the full amount, you need to maximize your working life and begin collecting your check until age 70. Another way to maximize your check is by asking for a raise every two or three years. Moving companies throughout your career is another way to prove your worth, and generate more money.
Do I keep my VA disability for life? ›Your VA benefits will last for your whole life. Even if your disability is classified as less than total and not permanent, if you've been collecting benefits for 20 years or more, the amount of your benefit won't go down.
Does my VA disability count as income? ›Disability compensation is a benefit paid to Veterans because of injuries or disease that happened during active duty. In some cases, an existing disease or injury was worsened due to active military service. This benefit is also paid to certain Veterans disabled from VA health care. The benefits are tax-free.
What will the VA disability pay be in 2023? ›Effective December 1st, 2023, the monthly veterans disability payment amounts for veterans with no dependents are as follows: $165.92 per month for 10% disability. $327.99 per month for 20% disability. $508.05 per month for 30% disability.
Can a widow remarry and keep VA benefits? ›Under PL 107-330, which was effective February 4, 2003, a surviving spouse who remarries after age 55 retains VA Civilian Health and Medical Program (CHAMPVA) eligibility. Note: PL 107-330 is an exception to the requirement that a surviving spouse must remain unmarried in order to retain eligibility for VA benefits.
What benefits does a wife of a deceased Veteran get? ›
As a veteran's surviving spouse, child or parent, you may qualify for certain benefits, such as help with burial costs and compensation or pension. You may also qualify for health care, life insurance, or financial assistance to help pay for school or training.
How many veterans have a 90 disability rating? ›According to VBA data reported to congress, 7.3% of disabled veterans or 348,325 out of 4,743,108 currently have a 90 percent VA disability rating.
What does 100% VA disability entitle you to? ›100% disabled veterans receive completely free VA care, with services including but not limited to, emergency care, preventative care, primary care, specialty care, mental health services, home health care, dental and vision care, geriatrics and extended care, medical equipment, prosthetics, nursing home placement, ...
Is the VA disability going to change for sleep apnea? ›However, in February 2022, VA proposed changes that would reclassify sleep apnea ratings to 0 percent, 10 percent, 30 percent, or 50 percent, with 100 percent for sleep apnea seeming even harder to qualify for.
How much will my Social Security be reduced if I have a pension? ›How much will my Social Security benefits be reduced? We'll reduce your Social Security benefits by two-thirds of your government pension. In other words, if you get a monthly civil service pension of $600, two-thirds of that, or $400, must be deducted from your Social Security benefits.
What is the retirement pay for E7? ›As of 2022 the pay calculation projection an E7 retiring with exactly 20 years of service would receive $27,827 per year. It's important to note the present value of almost $800,000 for a 40 year old receiving this pension indefinitely.
What is the Social Security 5 year rule? ›You must have worked and paid Social Security taxes in five of the last 10 years. • If you also get a pension from a job where you didn't pay Social Security taxes (e.g., a civil service or teacher's pension), your Social Security benefit might be reduced.
What happens to a VA pension when someone dies? ›Survivors Pension, formerly referred to as Death Pension, is a tax-free benefit payable to a low-income, un-remarried surviving spouse or unmarried child(ren) of a deceased Veteran with wartime service.
Can a veteran lose their pension? ›Military Department Administrative Requirements
Procedures of the Military Departments may suspend retired pays under authority of the head of the retired pay activity, if the retiree fails to take necessary administrative actions on time, or if the retiree declines further payments.
Your compensation may end up being less than it otherwise would be if either of the below is true: You receive military retirement pay, disability severance pay, or separation pay, or. You're incarcerated in a federal, state, or local facility for more than 60 days for conviction of a felony.
Do I have to report VA benefits to IRS? ›
Payments you receive for education, training, or subsistence under any law administered by the VA are tax free. Don't include these payments as income on your federal tax return.
Is VA disability getting an increase in 2023? ›Beginning Jan. 1, 2023, Veterans and beneficiaries who receive VA compensation benefits will see an 8.7% increase in their monthly payments—the largest increase in over 30 years. The annual COLA increase is tied to the Social Security rate change and is based on the consumer price index (CPI).
Do nurses at the VA get a pension? ›Highlights include: Generous pension. Under the federal retirement system, your future pension benefits are funded through an automatic 4.4% deduction from your salary and an 8.3% matching contribution from VA each pay period. After retirement, monthly pension annuity payments are distributed for life.
What is the monthly stipend for a VA caregiver? ›þ For example, the GS rate at grade 4, step 1, in Dallas, Texas, for 2022 was $34,916 annually. þ Thus, the monthly stipend amount for a Primary Family Caregiver of an eligible Veteran in Dallas, Texas, at this rate ($34,916, divided by 12 multiplied by 0.625) was approximately $1,818.54 in 2022.
Can my ex wife be my VA caregiver? ›VA provides several benefits to caregivers of some severely injured veterans. A caregiver can be a parent, spouse, child, step-family member, extended family member, or an individual who lives with the veteran, but is not a family member who provides support to the veteran.
What is a Level 1 VA caregiver? ›Level One: If VA determines that a Veteran is not “unable to self-sustain in the community” the designated Primary Family Caregiver will receive the lower-level stipend payment. Family Caregiver will receive the higher-level stipend payment.
How much will VA disability increase in 2024? ›What is the 2024 VA Disability Pay Increase? 2024 VA disability rates are projected to increase by 3.1% next year. Disabled veterans with a 10% VA disablity rating or higher could see a 3.1% COLA increase on their monthly VA compensation payment beginning January 2024.
Will disability benefits increase in 2023? ›SSDI benefits payments are increasing 8.7% for 2023, meaning all SSDI recipients will automatically get a monthly check that's worth 8.7% more than in 2022.
Will VA survivor benefits increase in 2023? ›The Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) benefit paid by the Department of Veterans Affairs to survivors of certain deceased veterans will be increasing by 8.7% for 2023.
What are the proposed VA disability changes for 2023? ›Beginning in January 2024, veterans whose income was $170,000 or higher in 2023 would no longer receive disability compensation, and those whose household incomes were between $125,000 and $170,000 would receive adjusted payments. There would be no adjustment for household size, according to the option.
What is the 5 year rule for VA disability? ›
The VA disability 5 year rule allows the VA to ex-examine your VA disability rating within 5 years of your initial examination if your condition is expected to improve over time. However, the VA may still change your disability rating past the 5-year deadline if your condition has significantly improved.
Does VA disability affect Social Security retirement benefits? ›Veterans who receive a partial VA disability rating and limited VA benefits, may also receive SSA benefits. For cash benefits, the receipt of VA benefits will affect SSI and SSDI differently. SSI Since SSI is a needs-based program, additional income from VA benefits will affect the cash benefit amount.
How much will disability checks be in 2023? ›In 2023, the maximum amount you can earn from Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) is $3,627 per month. That's a nice sum, but most people won't get that much. The average SSDI benefit is only about $1,358.
What is the 2023 COLA increase estimate and 2023 VA disability rates projected? ›2023 VA Disability Rates. 2023 VA disability pay rates, which are effective December 1, 2022, have a year over year increase of 8.7% based on the latest cost-of-living adjustment (COLA).
Does the wife of a 100 disabled veteran get benefits? ›As the spouse or dependent child of a Veteran or service member, you may qualify for certain benefits, like health care, life insurance, or money to help pay for school or training.