Veterans Pension Benefits: Who Can Get Them and How to Apply (September 2025)

• Author: Miguel Waters
• Posted: 2025-09-09

Many veterans face financial challenges after returning home from service. The Veterans Pension program, provided by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), gives eligible veterans and their families tax-free monthly payments.

The program has certain rules around who can qualify and how to apply.
 

Who Can Receive Veterans Pension Benefits?

To get these benefits, veterans must meet both service and financial requirements:
 

Service Requirements:

 

• The veteran must have served at least one day during a recognized wartime period, such as World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, or the Gulf War.
• If discharged after September 7, 1980, they must have served at least 24 months in a row.

 

Other Requirements:

 

• The candidate must be 65 or older, OR
• Be permanently and completely disabled, OR
• Be a patient in a nursing home due to disability, OR
• Be receiving Social Security Disability Income (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI).

 

Financial Requirements:

 

• The veteran’s family income and assets must be below the VA limits. (A home, car, and personal possessions do not count as assets, but the spouse’s and veteran’s assets do.)
• Veterans who have a spouse or dependent children may receive additional funds.

 

How to Apply for Veterans Pension (September 2025)

Veterans and their families can apply for pension benefits in several ways:
 

• Online: Visit the official VA website and complete the online application.
• By Mail: Fill out VA Form 21P-527EZ (Application for Veterans Pension) and mail it to the VA.
• In Person: Go to a VA regional office for help and to submit your application.
• With Help from a Veterans Service Organization (VSO): VSOs can guide veterans through the application process.

You may need to include supporting documents, such as income statements (Form 21P-0969) or medical information if applying for Aid & Attendance benefits. Submitting a complete application with all forms at once helps speed up the process.

If you’re not ready to fill out the full application, you can send in an Intent to File (Form 21-0966) to secure an earlier start date for your benefits.
 

Why Veterans Pension Benefits Matter

The VA Pension is an important financial help for elderly or disabled veterans, especially as living costs rise. It's important for veterans and their families to understand these rules so they can get the support they earned through their service.

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Read more: The States That Receive the Most and Least Welfare Assistance in the U.S.