FirstStep
VA Compensation Program Q & A
Source: U.S. Department of Veterans
Affairs
General Questions about VA Compensation
General Questions about VA Compensation
What is VA Compensation?
VA Compensation provides a monthly benefit to veterans who are disabled by
injury or disease that developed or worsened in the line of duty.
Where can I get more information
about VA Compensation?
For more information on VA Compensation benefits, visit www.vba.va.gov/bln/21.
For more information on VA Compensation benefits in your state, please visit www.va.gov/sta/guide/home.asp.
VA Compensation and Eligibility
Who is eligible for VA Compensation?
Your client may be eligible for Compensation if he or she is a veteran and:
- Has a service-connected disability
- Was discharged under honorable conditions
Your client who is a veteran may also be eligible for additional amounts of Compensation benefits if:
- The disability is severe, or there is loss of limb or use of an organ
- The veteran has a spouse, child(ren), or dependent parent(s)
- The veteran’s spouse is seriously disabled
VA Compensation Application Process
How do my clients enroll in VA
Compensation?
Your client can apply for VA Compensation by completing the Application for
Disability Compensation or Pension Benefits, VA form 21-526. The application
can be obtained by visiting, calling or writing to any VA regional office.
Every VA regional office has a Homeless Veterans Outreach Coordinator who can
help homeless veterans with the application process.
To receive VA compensation, a veteran’s disability or disabilities must first be evaluated and determined by VA to be service-connected to a certain degree that is compensable.
Your client can call toll-free 1-800-827-1000 or access the form on the Internet at http://vabenefits.vba.va.gov/vonapp.
What do my clients need to enroll
in VA Compensation?
Your clients may need to provide the following information to apply for VA
Compensation:
- Dependency records (marriage and children’s birth certificates, and divorce decree, if any)
- Medical evidence (treatment records and hospital reports)
- His/her Report of Separation from Active Military Service (DD Form 214), or discharge certificate
- Dependent(s) Social Security number(s)
What is the best way to submit
applications for VA Compensation? The Internet, U.S. mail or fax?
Where can my clients download or find the applications they need?
The best way to submit an application is by U.S. mail. VA forms and applications
can be downloaded from the Internet www.va.gov/forms/.
If my client does not have the
appropriate documentation needed to apply, how can I help him/her
obtain this information?
You or your client should contact VA by calling 1-800-827-1000. A representative
should be able to determine if there is alternative documentation that can
be used. Each regional office has a Homeless Veterans Outreach Coordinator
who may be able to provide personal assistance to you and your client. Just
ask the representative for the coordinator in your area. To locate the nearest
VA regional office, visit www.va.gov/sta/guide/home.asp.
How long is the typical turn-around
for application approval?
Your client’s Application for Disability Compensation or Pension Benefits,
VA Form 21-256, should be processed within 30 days. As a part of the application
review process, VA may request additional medical records and documentation,
or require a physical examination of the person applying. If VA does not receive
the medical records or other requested evidence timely, then the application
review process will be held up until the information is received.
Once my client is receiving VA
Compensation, does he/she need to renew benefits?
If your client’s disability is determined by VA to be non-permanent,
then his/her case may be periodically reviewed to see whether or not he/she
is still disabled. An examination will be occasionally scheduled to review
your client’s non-permanent disability.
If your client’s disability is determined by VA to be permanent, an examination to review his/her disability will not be scheduled.
What special programs does VA
offer for people who are homeless?
VA offers several programs specifically to meet the needs of people who are
homeless including:
- Aggressive outreach to those veterans living on the streets and in shelters
- Clinical assessment and referral for needed medical treatment for physical and psychiatric disorders, including substance abuse
- Long-term sheltered transitional assistance, case management, and rehabilitation
- Employment assistance and linkage with available income supports
- Supported permanent housing
VA Compensation and Immigration
If my client is an immigrant,
is he/she still eligible for VA Compensation benefits?
Yes. VA benefits are payable to anyone who qualifies regardless of citizenship.
Does VA have any monthly benefit
programs for people who are homeless or their surviving dependents
such as spouses, children, or dependent parents?
Yes. VA has four other programs that pay monthly benefits to veterans and their
surviving dependents:
- Disability Pension is paid to wartime veterans with limited income, and who are permanently and totally disabled over age 65.
- Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC)
is paid to eligible survivors of a
- Military service member who died while on active duty, OR
- Veteran whose death resulted from a service-connected injury or disease, OR
- Veteran whose death resulted from a non-service connected injury or disease, and who was receiving or was entitled to receive, VA Compensation for a service-connected disability.
- Death Pension is an income-based benefit paid to the surviving spouse and children of deceased wartime veterans.
- Parent’s Dependency and Indemnity Compensation
(Parent’s DIC) is an income-based benefit paid to the parent,
or parents of a military service member, or veteran who died from
- A disease or injury that developed or worsened while on active duty or active duty training, OR
- An injury that developed or worsened in the line of duty or inactive duty for training, OR
- A service-connected disability.
If you believe your client may be eligible for any of these monthly benefits, you should contact VA by calling 1-800-827-1000. A representative is available to answer questions about benefit eligibility and the application process, and can advise you about how your client can apply in the most convenient way possible. Each regional office has a Homeless Veterans Outreach Coordinator who may be able to provide personal assistance to you and your client. Just ask the representative for the coordinator in your area. To locate the nearest VA regional office, visit www.va.gov/sta/guide/home.asp.