FEDERAL
AGENCY:
VETERANS
BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS
AUTHORIZATION:
38
U.S.C. 1511, 1512, 1521.
To
assist wartime veterans in need whose non-service- connected disabilities
are permanent and total preventing them from following a substantially
gainful occupation.
TYPES
OF ASSISTANCE:
Direct Payments with Unrestricted Use.
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USES
AND USE RESTRICTIONS:
No
restrictions.
ELIGIBILITY
REQUIREMENTS:
Applicant
Eligibility: Those veterans who have had 90
days or more of honorable active war-time service in the Armed Forces
or if less than 90 days wartime service were released or discharged
from such service because of a service-connected disability, who
are permanently and totally disabled for reasons not necessarily
due to service. Income restrictions are prescribed. Pension is not
payable to those whose estates are so large that it is reasonable
they use the estate for maintenance.
Beneficiary
Eligibility: Disabled veterans.
Credentials/Documentation:
Military discharge certificate showing the separation from service
was under other than dishonorable conditions. The veteran must
have a permanent and total disability preventing a substantially
gainful occupation. His or her income and net worth must be limited
as prescribed by statute.
APPLICATION
AND AWARD PROCESS:
Pre-application
Coordination: None. This program is excluded
from coverage under E.O. 12372.
Application
Procedure: An application (VA Form 21-526)
may be obtained from a local or regional VA Office (see Appendix
IV of the Catalog) and submitted to the Regional Office.
Award
Procedure: Awards are authorized at the regional
office.
Deadlines:
None. Entitlement is established from the date of receipt of the
application, or the date the veteran became permanently and totally
disabled, if disability prevents the veteran from applying for
30 days or more and if the application is received within 1 year
of the date of disablement.
Range
of Approval/Disapproval Time: Approximately
82 percent in 180 days or less.
Appeals:
Available through special board. In the event of a denial, claimants
are advised of appeal rights and procedures at the time of notification.
Renewals:
None.
ASSISTANCE
CONSIDERATIONS:
Formula
and Matching Requirements: Not applicable.
Length
and Time Phasing of Assistance: Not applicable.
POST
ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS:
Reports:
The veteran must promptly report any change in his or her income,
net worth or dependency status. Additionally, income verification
requests are sent to the veteran periodically.
Audits:
None.
Records:
None.
FINANCIAL
INFORMATION:
Account
Identification: 36-0102-0-1-701.
Obligations:
(Direct Payments) FY 01 $42,320,195,000; FY 02 est $2,359,072,000;
and FY 03 est $2,390,314,000.
Range
and Average of Financial Assistance:
Payments are $9,558 annually, reduced by countable income for
a veteran without dependents ($15,945 if in need of aid and attendance
and $11,679 if housebound) and $12,516 for a veteran with one
dependent ($18,902 if in need of aid and attendance and $14,639
if housebound) plus $1,630 for each additional dependent. Also,
an additional $2,166 is added if a veteran is of the WWI or Mexican
Border Period. These payments apply for the Improved Law Program.
PROGRAM
ACCOMPLISHMENTS:
During fiscal year 2001, 353,856 veterans received pensions. Estimates
for subsequent years are: fiscal year 2002, 345,614 and fiscal year
2003, 338,599.
REGULATIONS,
GUIDELINES, AND LITERATURE:
38 CFR 3.3. "Federal Benefits for Veterans and Dependents," VA Pamphlet
80-00-1, $5.00, available from Superintendent of Documents, P.O.
Box 371954, Pittsburgh, PA 15250-79054. The stock number is 051-000-00220-2.
INFORMATION
CONTACTS:
Regional
or Local Office: See Appendix IV of the Catalog
for Veterans Benefits Administration field offices.
Headquarters
Office: Department of Veterans Affairs, Washington,
DC 20420. Telephone: (202) 273-7210.
Web
Site Address: http://www.va.gov
EXAMPLES
OF FUNDED PROJECTS:
Not applicable.
CRITERIA
FOR SELECTING PROPOSALS:
Not applicable.
