Benefits and Services

After it looks at your total net worth and decides that you do qualify for VA Pension benefits, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) then compares your countable income to the Maximum Annual Pension Rate (MAPR) to decide how much you will get.

Maximum Annual Pension Rate (MAPR)

The federal MAPR is the most anyone can get in VA Pension benefits. It varies depending 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 Aid and Attendance (A&A) benefits or the Housebound allowance.

The VA lists the Maximum Annual Pension Rates online (scroll down to “Find your Maximum Annual Pension Rate"). Your MAPR varies depending on your situation. For example, the MAPR for a veteran with no dependents who doesn't qualify for A&A or Housebound benefits is $16,551; with A&A the rate is $27,609; and with the Housebound allowance it is $20,226.

How the VA Calculates Your Pension Benefit

The VA subtracts your countable income from your MAPR rate, and the remainder is how much you will get each month in VA Pension benefits:

Your MAPR minus Your Countable Income = Your VA Pension Benefit

How You Get Your Payment

The U.S. Treasury Department pays all federal benefits electronically. This means you can get your payments by direct deposit (your payments go straight into your bank account each month and you never have to worry about losing a check) or through a Direct Express debit card.

For direct deposit, the U.S. Treasury Department:

• Has answers to common questions

• Explains what you need to sign up, and

• Has an online application.

You can enroll in direct deposit online, by phone, or by mail.

If you choose to have your benefits payments added to a Direct Express debit card each month:

1. You can get your payments electronically even if you do not have a bank account.

2. You have access to your money any time at automated teller machines (ATMs) and you can buy things anywhere that accepts MasterCard.

3. You can access your account information by telephone and Internet, make purchases over the Internet, and get cash back at stores without paying a fee.

For more details or to sign up for a Direct Express debit card, visit the Direct Express website.

VA Pension and Other Benefits Programs

You may qualify for other benefits programs, and some may affect your VA Pension benefits.

• VA Disability Compensation: You can’t get a VA Pension and VA Disability Compensation at the same time. However, it’s worth applying for both, because if you qualify for both, the VA pays you whichever benefit is higher. Learn more in DB101’s VA Disability Compensation article.

• VA Health Care: If qualify for a VA Pension, you also get VA Health Care in the Enrollment Priority 5 group (out of eight Priority Group categories, Priority 1 being the highest). If you get a VA Pension with Housebound or A&A benefits, you qualify for VA Health Care in the Enrollment Priority 4 group. Learn more about Priority Groups.

• Supplemental Security Income (SSI): If you currently get SSI, you may also qualify for a VA Pension. However, SSI counts VA Pension benefits as unearned income, and deducts them dollar-for-dollar (except for a $20 general exclusion) from your SSI benefit. Learn more in DB101’s SSI article.

• Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI): You can get both SSDI and a VA Pension at the same time. However, your SSDI benefits are counted as part of your countable family income. If your countable family income goes up, your VA Pension benefits may go down, or you might stop qualifying for VA Pension benefits. Learn more about SSDI in DB101’s SSDI article.