Pension Benefits for Veterans

By J.S. Nogara

After a person has served in the military, that person is eligible to receive veterans benefits. These benefits include the areas of compensation and pension. This article provides an overview of what veterans pensions benefits are, discusses eligibility requirements, reviews whether a spouse and children of a veteran may receive benefits and discusses how to file for pension benefits.

A veterans pension benefit is a monthly income paid to the veteran by the United States government, based upon wartime military service. The benefit is based upon the veteran's family income and is generally paid to the veteran in twelve monthly payments per year.

According to the Code of Federal Regulations, in order to be eligible for veterans benefits, the veteran must meet four conditions. First, the veteran must have been "discharged from duty for purposes other than dishonorable mention". Secondly, the veteran served "ninety days or more of active duty with at least one day during war." (Note that there may be exceptions to this requirement for veterans serving after September 1980.) Additionally, the veteran must be "permanently disabled or over the age of sixty-five". Finally, the veterans "family income must be below a specific amount" which is set by the government.

Dependents of a wartime veteran who has died may be eligible to receive a death pension benefit. This benefit is payment of money which is generally paid to the dependents in twelve monthly installments. The dependents must fulfill eligibility requirements. According to the Code of Federal Regulations, these requirements include: the veteran must have been "discharged from duty for purposes other than dishonorable mention"; the veteran served "ninety days or more of active duty with at least one day during war"; the dependent is the "surviving spouse or unmarried child of the veteran"; and the "family income is under a certain amount".

The best way to apply for veterans pension benefits is to visit the United States Department of Veterans Affairs Veterans Benefits Administration website. This website is located at http://www.vba.va.gov/VBA. The site contains the income criteria levels and includes links for applications for veterans pension benefits.

When one submits an application, there is a large amount of documentation required. Physicians reports and diagnostic reports, hospital records, proof of all forms of income for the family, marriage certificates, divorce decrees and birth certificates may all be required. Thus, when one contemplates applying for benefits, it is important to recognize that there is a lot of work involved in filing the application. Frequently, the jurisdiction in which one resides may have local agencies which can assist veterans with the process. Alternatively, one could contact the local American Legion, which provides assistance to veterans in an array of matters, including applying for veterans benefits.

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