The Department of Veterans Affairs offers assistance for certain low-income veterans. This program is available to permanently and totally disabled veterans who have 90 days or more of active duty, at least one of which was during a designated war-time period. The veteran must have a discharge that is "other than dishonorable" (i.e., Honorable, General Under Honorable Conditions.). The current program, called the "Improved Pension," provides supplemental monetary support which will bring the veterans HOUSE HOLD INCOME up to the DVA’s Maximum Allowable Pension Rate (MAPR). Household income includes all earned (such as wages) and unearned (social security payments, interest from investments or savings accounts) income and may be offset by unreimbursed medical expenses (co-payments, deductibles, medications, medical insurance premiums). The MAPR is adjusted for the number of dependents the veteran has in his household and is subject to annual cost of living increases.

Application Procedure

The NSC Pension requires submission of a VA form 526. The entire form must be completed including all income and net worth information. Information pertaining to possible disabilities incurred during active military service should be provided to allow the DVA to consider awarding Service Connected Disability benefits for those conditions. (That could result in award of a higher monetary award than the NSC Pension would provide).

Because the NSC Pension requires that the veteran be permanently and totally disabled, a statement from the veterans physician must be submitted which provides the medical history, diagnosis, prognosis, and the degree of disabling effect of the medical condition. A form is available from the County Veterans Service Office to serve this purpose. Copies of the most recent (at least two years) medical records should also be provided with the application.

Supporting documentation required includes a certified copy of the veterans discharge from active duty, copies of marriage licenses and divorce decrees for all marriages and the current spouses divorce decree or death certificate for the most recent marriage prior to marrying the veteran. If the veteran is in a nursing home, a statement from the nursing home attesting to the rate of charges and the amount paid by the veteran must be submitted. Again, a form for this purpose is available from the County Veterans Service Office.

All necessary forms and any additional information may be sought from the County Veterans Service Office by calling (817) 531-5645.