Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Benefit Programs

Overview

In This Chapter

This chapter contains the following topics:

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1. Overview of Compensation and Pension for Veterans

Introduction

This topic contains definitions of VA Veterans benefits, including

• service-connected (SC) disability compensation
• 38 U.S.C. 1151 compensation, and
• Veterans Pension.

Change Date

September 24, 2019

I.ii.2.1.a. Definition: SC Disability Compensation

Service-connected (SC) disability compensation is a monthly payment made to a Veteran discharged or released under conditions other than dishonorable who the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) determines has a disability resulting from an injury or disease incurred or aggravated in the line of duty during active service.

References: For more information on

• disability compensation, see 38 CFR 3.4(b)(1), and
• determining service connection, see M21-1, Part V, Subpart ii, 2.

I.ii.2.1.b. Definition: 38 U.S.C. 1151 Compensation

38 U.S.C. 1151 compensation is a payment for additional disability or death that is proximately caused by

• VA fault or an event not reasonably foreseeable in the provision of VA hospital care, medical or surgical treatment, or examination, or
• the individual’s participation in vocational rehabilitation services or compensated work therapy.

Reference: For more information on 38 U.S.C. 1151 compensation, see M21-1, Part VIII, Subpart iv, 6.

I.ii.2.1.c. Definition: Veterans Pension

Veterans Pension is a benefit paid to a Veteran who

• is permanently and totally disabled as determined by
• VA, or
• the Social Security Administration
• is in a nursing home for long-term care, as a presumption of disability, or
• has reached the age of 65 years.

Eligibility requires meeting certain service requirements pertaining to length of service and service during a period of war, and certain income and net worth limitations.

Reference: For more information on Veterans Pension, see

• 38 CFR 3.3(a)(3)
• 38 CFR 3.17
• 38 CFR 3.270, and
• M21-1, Part IX, Subpart i, 1.

2. Overview of VA Survivors Benefits

Introduction

This topic contains definitions of VA survivors benefits, including

• Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC)
• Survivors Pension
• death compensation, and
• accrued benefits.

Change Date

June 21, 2015

I.ii.2.2.a. Definition: DIC

Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) is a monthly payment made

• to a surviving spouse, child, or parent because of an SC death that occurred after December 31, 1956
• to a surviving spouse or child because the Veteran had been rated as totally disabled due to an SC disability prior to his/her death, typically for at least ten years, per 38 U.S.C. 1318
• to a surviving spouse, child, or parent because of death due to VA medical treatment, per 38 U.S.C. 1151, or
• because a surviving spouse, child, or parent elects DIC in the case of an SC death that occurred before January 1, 1957.

Reference: For more information on DIC, see

• 38 CFR 3.5
• 38 CFR 3.22
• 38 CFR 3.358
• 38 CFR 3.702, and
• M21-1, Part XII, Subpart i.

I.ii.2.2.b. Definition: Survivors Pension

Survivors Pension is a benefit paid to a surviving spouse or child because of a Veteran’s non-service-connected death.

Basic eligibility requires meeting certain service requirements pertaining to length of service and service during a period of war, and certain income and net worth limitations.

Reference: For more information on Survivors Pension, see

• 38 CFR 3.3(b), and
• M21-1, Part IX, Subpart i, 2.

I.ii.2.2.c. Definition: Death Compensation

Death compensation is a monthly payment made because of an SC death occurring before January 1, 1957.

Note: Generally, new entitlement to this benefit can no longer be established since the Veteran must have died prior to 1957.

Reference: For more information on death compensation, see

• 38 CFR 3.4(c), and
• M21-1, Part XII, Subpart ii, 1.

I.ii.2.2.d. Definition: Accrued Benefits

Accrued benefits are benefits that are due to the beneficiary based on an existing decision on a claim for benefits or evidence in the Veteran’s claims folder at the date of death, but not paid prior to death.

Reference: For more information on accrued benefits, see

• 38 CFR 3.1000, and
• M21-1, Part XI, Subpart ii, 3.

3. Additional Allowance for Dependents

Introduction

This topic contains information about an additional allowance for dependents, including

• general policy regarding additional allowance for dependents
• entitlement of surviving spouses to additional DIC or Survivors Pension for children
• payments to children over age 18, and
• allowance for dependent parents.

Change Date

June 21, 2015

I.ii.2.3.a. General Policy Regarding Additional Allowance for Dependents

An additional allowance for a spouse and children may be paid to Veterans who are receiving payments for compensation evaluated at 30 percent or more or for pension.

Payments for an unmarried child can continue

• until the child reaches age
• 18, or
• 23, if the child continues in an approved school, or
• indefinitely if the child becomes incapable of self-support prior to age 18.

Reference: For more information on dependents, see

• 38 CFR 3.4(b)(2)
• 38 CFR 3.57
• 38 CFR 3.23(d)(1)
• 38 CFR 3.356, and
• M21-1, Part VII, Subpart i, 1.C.

I.ii.2.3.b. Entitlement of Surviving Spouses to Additional DIC or Survivors Pension for Children

Surviving spouses are entitled to additional DIC or Survivors Pension for the Veteran’s children.

Payments for an unmarried child can continue

• until the child reaches age
• 18, or
• 23, if the child continues in an approved school, or
• indefinitely if the child becomes incapable of self-support prior to age 18.

References: For more information on payments for children, see

• DIC and additional allowances, see M21-1, Part XII, Subpart i, 4.B.1
• awards involving a child that is permanently incapable of self-support, see M21-1, Part X, Subpart ii, 6.B.3
• Survivors pension for a child, see M21-1, Part IX, Subpart i, 2.1, and
• requirements to be considered a child, see M21-1, Part VII, Subpart i, 3.A.

I.ii.2.3.c. Payments to Children Over Age 18

The table below explains how benefits are paid for children over age 18.

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I.ii.2.3.d. Allowance for Dependent Parents

Veterans in receipt of compensation evaluated at 30 percent or more may also receive an additional allowance for dependent parents.

Reference: For more information on an additional allowance for dependent parents, see

• 38 CFR 3.4(b)(2), and
• M21-1, Part VII, Subpart i, 4.B.

4. Ancillary Benefits

Introduction

This topic contains definitions of ancillary benefits that are related to, or derived from the entitlement of SC benefits, including

• clothing allowance
• automobile or other conveyance allowance
• specially adapted housing (SAH) and special home adaptation (SHA) grants
• vocational rehabilitation under 38 U.S.C. 31
• dependents’ educational assistance (DEA) under 38 U.S.C. 35, and
• special allowance payable under Section 156 of Public Law (PL) 97-377.

Change Date

December 11, 2023

I.ii.2.4.a. Definition: Clothing Allowance

Clothing allowance is an annual lump-sum payment made when

• a Veteran’s SC disability causes the use of certain prosthetic or orthopedic appliances (including a wheelchair) that tend to wear or tear clothing, or
• the use of physician-prescribed medication for an SC skin condition causes irreparable damage to outer garments.

Reference: For more information on clothing allowance, see

• 38 CFR 3.810, and
• M21-1, Part XIII, Subpart i, 8.A.

I.ii.2.4.b. Definition: Automobile or Other Conveyance Allowance

Automobile or other conveyance allowance is a benefit of financial assistance toward the purchase price of a vehicle when a Veteran or service member has one of the following SC disabilities:

• loss, or permanent loss of use, of one or both
• feet, or
• hands
• permanent impairment of vision of both eyes to a prescribed degree
• a severe burn injury, or
• amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

Note: Necessary adaptive equipment may be certified for the initial vehicle and for subsequent vehicles.

Reference: For more information on automobile or other conveyance allowance and adaptive equipment, see

• M21-1, Part XIII, Subpart i, 2.A, and
• 38 CFR 3.808.

I.ii.2.4.c. Definition: SAH and SHA Grants

Specially adapted housing (SAH) and special home adaptation (SHA) grants assist Veterans or service members with certain SC disabilities severely affecting vision or locomotion in

• adapting a presently owned home, or
• acquiring or building a residence adapted with special features.

Reference: For more information on SAH and SHA grants, see

• M21-1, Part XIII, Subpart i, 2.B
• 38 CFR 3.809, and
• 38 CFR 3.809a.

I.ii.2.4.d. Definition: Vocational Rehabilitation Under 38 U.S.C. 31

Vocational rehabilitation under 38 U.S.C. Chapter 31 provides subsistence allowance as well as other services and assistance necessary for an eligible Veteran with compensable SC disabilities to

• achieve maximum independence in daily living, and
• obtain and maintain suitable employment.

Reference: For more information on vocational rehabilitation, see

• 38 CFR Part 21, Subpart A, and
• M21-1, Part XIII, Subpart i, 5.A.

I.ii.2.4.e. Definition: DEA Under 38 U.S.C. 35

Dependents’ Educational Assistance (DEA) under 38 U.S.C. Chapter 35 provides payment of a monthly education or training allowance to the spouse and children of a Veteran who

• has a total SC disability that is permanent in nature, or
• died
• of an SC disability, or
• while an SC disability was evaluated as total and permanent in nature.

Note: VA grants basic eligibility to DEA to service members under specific circumstances. For more information, see M21-1, Part XIII, Subpart i, 1.A.1.e.

Reference: For more information on DEA, see

• 38 CFR 3.807
• 38 CFR 21.3021, and
• M21-1, Part XIII, Subpart i, 1.A.

I.ii.2.4.f. Definition: Special Allowance Payable Under Section 156 of Public Law 97-377

The special allowance payable under Section 156 of Public Law (PL) 97-377 is called the Restored Entitlement Program for Survivors (REPS). The REPS allowance is a payment to certain surviving spouses and children of individuals who died

• on active duty prior to August 13, 1981, or
• as a result of an SC disability that was incurred or aggravated prior to August 13, 1981.

Reference: For more information on the special allowance payable under Section 156 of PL 97-377, see

• M21-1, Part XII, Subpart ii, 3, and
• 38 CFR 3.812.

5. A&A or Housebound Allowance

Introduction

This topic contains information on A&A or housebound allowance, including

• an explanation of the
• A&A benefit and entitlement, and
• housebound benefit and entitlement, and
• Veterans hospitalized at government expense.

Change Date

September 30, 2010

I.ii.2.5.a. A&A Benefit and Entitlement

The aid and attendance (A&A) allowance is

• part of special monthly compensation (SMC) or special monthly pension (SMP), and
• paid because a person, due to mental or physical disability, requires the regular A&A of another person in conducting the basic activities of daily living, such as
• bathing
• dressing, and
• going to the bathroom.

Entitlement: Entitlement to the A&A allowance extends to the Veteran, spouse, surviving parent(s), or surviving spouse.

References: For more information on

• SMC, see
• M21-1, Part VIII, Subpart iv, 4.A, and
• 38 CFR 3.350, and
• SMP, see
• M21-1, Part IX, Subpart ii, 1
• M21-1, Part IX, Subpart ii, 2.C, and
• 38 CFR 3.351.

I.ii.2.5.b. Housebound Benefit and Entitlement

The housebound allowance is

• part of SMC or SMP, and
• paid because a person, due to a mental or physical disability, has very limited ability to leave home.

Entitlement to the housebound benefit extends to the Veteran and surviving spouse only.

References: For more information on

• SMC, see
• M21-1, Part VIII, Subpart iv, 4.A, and
• 38 CFR 3.350, and
• SMP, see
• M21-1, Part IX, Subpart ii, 1
• M21-1, Part IX, Subpart ii, 2.C, and
• 38 CFR 3.351.

I.ii.2.5.c. Veterans Hospitalized at Government Expense

A Veteran who is entitled to A&A and who is hospitalized at government expense can only receive the Housebound rate until released from the hospital.

Exceptions: This policy is subject to the exceptions in 38 CFR 3.552(a)(2).