How To Apply For A VA Pension As A Veteran

<!DOCTYPE html><html lang="en"><head> <meta charset="utf-8"> <meta http-equiv="X-UA-Compatible" content="IE=edge"> <meta name="HandheldFriendly" content="True"> <meta name="MobileOptimized" content="320"> <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0">  <link rel="preconnect" href="https://www.googletagmanager.com">    <link rel="canonical" href="https://www.va.gov/pension/how-to-apply/">  <meta name="DC.Date" scheme="W3CDTF" content="2024-08-31">     <meta property="og:url" content="https://www.va.gov/pension/how-to-apply/">  <meta property="og:type" content="website">   <meta name="description" content="Find out how to apply for tax-free VA pension benefits as a Veteran."> <link rel="image_src" href="https://www.va.gov/img/design/logo/va-og-image.png"> <meta property="og:description" content="Find out how to apply for tax-free VA pension benefits as a Veteran."> <meta property="og:image" content="https://www.va.gov/img/design/logo/va-og-image.png"> <meta property="og:image:alt" content="U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs"> <meta property="og:site_name" content="Veterans Affairs"> <meta property="og:title" content="How to apply for a VA pension as a Veteran | Veterans Affairs"> <title>How To Apply For A VA Pension As A Veteran | Veterans Affairs</title> <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image"> <meta name="twitter:description" content="Find out how to apply for a VA pension online, by mail, in person, or with the help of a trained professional. If you're not ready to apply now, learn how to submit an intent to file form (VA Form 21-0966) to set the effective date of your claim (the day you can start getting benefits)."> <meta name="twitter:image" content="https://www.va.gov/img/design/logo/va-og-image.png"> <meta name="twitter:image:alt" content="U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs"> <meta name="twitter:site" content="@DeptVetAffairs"> <meta name="twitter:title" content="How to apply for a VA pension as a Veteran | Veterans Affairs">   <script nonce="QL6hTBuV5XrjHAJcEdWstyccZeNXr9kx" nomodule data-entry-name="polyfills.js" src="https://prod-va-gov-assets.s3-us-gov-west-1.amazonaws.com/generated/polyfills.entry.js"></script>  <script nonce="QL6hTBuV5XrjHAJcEdWstyccZeNXr9kx"> /** * An alias for window.dataLayer.push made available under the window so that it is accessible in content files. * @module module:record-event * @see https://developers.google.com/tag-manager/devguide * @see module:platform/monitoring/record-event * @param {object} data - The event data that will be sent to GA. */ window.dataLayer = [] || window.dataLayer; window.recordEvent = function(data) { return window.dataLayer.push(data); }; window.recordMultipleEvents = function (events){ events.forEach(event => recordEvent(event)) } </script>  <link rel="stylesheet" data-entry-name="web-components.css" href="https://prod-va-gov-assets.s3-us-gov-west-1.amazonaws.com/generated/web-components.css"> <script nonce="QL6hTBuV5XrjHAJcEdWstyccZeNXr9kx" defer data-entry-name="web-components.js" src="https://prod-va-gov-assets.s3-us-gov-west-1.amazonaws.com/generated/web-components.entry.js"></script>  <script data-e2e="analytics-script" nonce="QL6hTBuV5XrjHAJcEdWstyccZeNXr9kx"> (function(w, d, s, l, i) { w[l] = w[l] || []; w[l].push({ 'gtm.start': new Date().getTime(), event: 'gtm.js' }); var f = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0], j = d.createElement(s), dl = l != 'dataLayer' ? 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This is used to set the height of the button's placeholder and the // height of the white button background function getButtonHeight(withBottomPadding) { // If the mobile nav button is hidden, just return 0 if (!mobileMediaQuery.matches) { return 0 } const style = window.getComputedStyle(buttonWrapper) const { height, paddingBottom } = style if (withBottomPadding) { return parseFloat(height) } return parseFloat(height) - parseFloat(paddingBottom) } function setElementHeights() { // In some edge cases when switching from desktop to mobile viewport (such // as when you open the web inspector), getButtonHeight() was returning 0, // likely due to `mobileMediaQuery.matches` failing. This simple hack // ensures that the height is not computed until the next run of the event // loop setTimeout(() => { navTriggerPlaceholder.style.height = getButtonHeight(true) + 'px' buttonBackground.style.height = getButtonHeight(false) + 'px' }, 0) } function setMenuTriggerPosition() { navTriggerPosition = navTriggerPlaceholder.offsetTop } function pinTrigger() { if (mobileMediaQuery.matches) { if (navTriggerPosition < window.pageYOffset) { navTrigger.classList.add('fixed-trigger') } else { navTrigger.classList.remove('fixed-trigger') } } } // As the document loads, make sure the height and trigger positions are // updated document.onreadystatechange = () => { setElementHeights() setMenuTriggerPosition() } window.addEventListener( 'resize', () => { // The height of the trigger can change at extreme browser widths setElementHeights() // The trigger can be pushed up/down as elements above it change height as // the browser width changes setMenuTriggerPosition() // We might need to pin/unpin the trigger if we transitions from/to mobile // browser widths pinTrigger() }, false ) window.addEventListener( 'scroll', () => { // We are resetting the trigger button's position on scroll just in case any // elements have been removed from above the menu trigger, such as a // dismissible alert. setMenuTriggerPosition() // Primarily scrolling will pin/unpin the trigger from the top of the // viewport pinTrigger() }, false ) </script> <article class="usa-content vads-u-padding-bottom--0"> <div data-widget-type="i18-select"></div> <h1>How to apply for a VA pension as a Veteran</h1> <div class="va-introtext"> <p>Find out how to apply for tax-free VA pension benefits as a Veteran.</p> </div> <div class="feature"> <div data-template="paragraphs/q_a" data-entity-id="4106" data-analytics-faq-section data-analytics-faq-text="How do I prepare before starting my application?"> <div id="4106"> <div class="vads-u-display--flex"> <h2 id="how-do-i-prepare-before-starti"> How do I prepare before starting my application? </h2> </div> <div data-entity-id="4106"> <div data-template="paragraphs/wysiwyg" data-entity-id="4107"> <div itemprop="text"> <ul><li><a href="/pension/eligibility" data-entity-type="node" data-entity-uuid="1abeaf1a-fd28-4e5a-8c20-7ecb68cf9de1" data-entity-substitution="canonical" title="Eligibility for Veterans Pension">Find out if you’re eligible for VA pension benefits</a></li><li>Gather the information listed that you’ll need to fill out your pension application.</li></ul><h3 id="youll-need-this-information">You’ll need this information</h3><ul><li>Your Social Security number </li><li>Your VA file number if you have one</li><li>Your military history </li><li>Your marital history (and if you’re married, your spouse’s marital history) </li><li>Your work history</li><li>Information about your dependents</li></ul><p>You’ll also need this financial information:</p><ul><li>Your household’s gross monthly income</li><li>The value of your household’s assets</li><li>Your unreimbursed medical expenses</li></ul><p><strong>If you’re under age 65,</strong> you’ll need to submit a copy of your medical records. </p><p><strong>If we need more information about your household’s medical needs or finances, or your dependents,</strong> we may also ask you to complete and submit additional forms. We’ll provide links to download these forms when you apply for pension benefits.</p><p><strong>Note:</strong> In 1973, a fire at the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) in St. Louis destroyed records held for Veterans who were discharged from the Army and Air Force during certain periods of time. If your records were destroyed in this fire, you can get help reconstructing them.</p><p><a href="/records/get-military-service-records/reconstruct-records" data-entity-type="node" data-entity-uuid="d3bb2f17-f32c-4b9f-9438-fe1da9b19a3c" data-entity-substitution="canonical" title="Reconstruct military records destroyed in NPRC fire">Find out how to reconstruct your records</a> </p><p><a href="/resources/evidence-to-support-va-pension-dic-or-accrued-benefits-claims" data-entity-type="node" data-entity-uuid="33ef9f4c-bf8c-411e-8490-893433565675" data-entity-substitution="canonical" title="Evidence to support VA pension, DIC, or accrued benefits claims">Learn about the evidence you’ll need to support your claim</a></p> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div data-template="paragraphs/wysiwyg" data-entity-id="144021"> <div itemprop="text"> <h2 id="how-do-i-apply">How do I apply?</h2><p dir="ltr">You can apply in any of these 5 ways.</p><h3 dir="ltr" id="option-1-apply-online"><strong>Option 1: Apply online  </strong></h3> </div> </div> <va-alert date-template="paragraphs/alert" data-entity-id="145946" status="info" class="vads-u-margin-top--3" data-test-id="alert-" uswds> <h2 slot="headline" class="vads-u-font-size--h3" id="we-updated-our-online-pension-"> We updated our online pension form </h2> <div data-template="paragraphs/wysiwyg" data-entity-id="145945"> <div itemprop="text"> <p dir="ltr"><strong>If you started applying online before November 8, 2023,</strong> we have some new questions for you to answer. And we changed some questions, so you may need to provide certain information again. </p> </div> </div> </va-alert> <div data-template="paragraphs/wysiwyg" data-entity-id="145947"> <div itemprop="text"> <p dir="ltr">You can apply online right now. </p><p dir="ltr"><a class="vads-c-action-link--green" href="https://www.va.gov/pension/apply-for-veteran-pension-form-21p-527ez/">Apply for Veterans Pension benefits</a></p><h3 id="option-2-upload-your-pdf-form-"><strong>Option 2: Upload your PDF form online</strong></h3><p dir="ltr">First, fill out an Application for Pension (VA Form 21P-527EZ).</p><p dir="ltr"><a href="/find-forms/about-form-21p-527ez" data-entity-type="node" data-entity-uuid="892eb38b-5b0b-4842-bf46-bd3810435c60" data-entity-substitution="canonical" title="About VA Form 21P-527EZ">Get VA Form 21P-527EZ to download</a></p><p dir="ltr">Then upload a copy of your completed form using the QuickSubmit tool through AccessVA. If it’s your first time signing in to this tool, you’ll need to register first. After you’ve registered, you can upload your application and documents online.</p><p dir="ltr"><a href="https://eauth.va.gov/accessva/?cspSelectFor=quicksubmit">Upload your form through AccessVA</a></p><h3 id="option-3-mail-your-form"><strong>Option 3: Mail your form</strong></h3><p dir="ltr">First, fill out an Application for Pension (VA Form 21P-527EZ).</p><p dir="ltr"><a href="/find-forms/about-form-21p-527ez" data-entity-type="node" data-entity-uuid="892eb38b-5b0b-4842-bf46-bd3810435c60" data-entity-substitution="canonical" title="About VA Form 21P-527EZ">Get VA Form 21P-527EZ to download</a></p><p dir="ltr">Then mail your completed form to the pension management center (PMC):</p><p class="va-address-block" dir="ltr">Department of Veterans Affairs<br>Pension Intake Center<br>PO Box 5365<br>Janesville, WI 53547-5365</p><h3 id="option-4-submit-your-form-in-p"><strong>Option 4: Submit your form in person</strong></h3><p dir="ltr">First, fill out an Application for Pension (VA Form 21P-527EZ).</p><p dir="ltr"><a href="/find-forms/about-form-21p-527ez" data-entity-type="node" data-entity-uuid="892eb38b-5b0b-4842-bf46-bd3810435c60" data-entity-substitution="canonical" title="About VA Form 21P-527EZ">Get VA Form 21P-527EZ to download</a></p><p dir="ltr">Then bring your completed form to a VA regional office near you.</p><p dir="ltr"><a href="https://www.va.gov/find-locations/?facilityType=benefits">Find your nearest VA regional office</a></p><h3 id="option-5-apply-with-the-help-o"><strong>Option 5: Apply with the help of a trained professional</strong></h3><p dir="ltr">You can work with an accredited attorney, claims agent, or Veterans Service Organization (VSO) representative to get help applying for VA pension benefits.</p><p dir="ltr"><a href="/disability/get-help-filing-claim" data-entity-type="node" data-entity-uuid="ce63481e-2333-4d74-b0eb-2e49ecbfb252" data-entity-substitution="canonical" title="Get help from an accredited representative">Get help filling out an application</a></p> </div> </div> <script type="application/ld+json" nonce="QL6hTBuV5XrjHAJcEdWstyccZeNXr9kx"> { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "FAQPage", "mainEntity": [ { "@type": "Question", "name": "Should I submit an intent to file form?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "" } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "How long does it take VA to make a decision?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "" } } ] } </script> <div data-template="paragraphs/q_a_section" data-entity-id="4111"> <div data-template="paragraphs/q_a" data-entity-id="67042" data-analytics-faq-section data-analytics-faq-text="Should I submit an intent to file form?"> <div id="67042"> <div class="vads-u-display--flex"> <h2 id="should-i-submit-an-intent-to-f"> Should I submit an intent to file form? </h2> </div> <div data-entity-id="67042"> <div data-template="paragraphs/wysiwyg" data-entity-id="67041"> <div itemprop="text"> <p>An intent to file sets a potential start date (or effective date) for your benefits. If you notify us of your intent to file and we approve your claim, you may be able to get retroactive payments. Retroactive payments are payments for the time between when we processed your intent to file and when we approved your claim.<br><br><strong>If you sign in with an identity-verified account and apply for pension benefits online,</strong> then you don’t need to notify us of your intent to file. This is because we’ll automatically set the effective date for your benefits when you start filling out the form online.</p><p><a href="/resources/verifying-your-identity-on-vagov" data-entity-type="node" data-entity-uuid="6b45e509-65ef-4504-9dc0-b9c94b2341f3" data-entity-substitution="canonical" title="Verifying your identity on VA.gov">Learn about verifying your identity on VA.gov</a><br><br><strong>If you sign in with an account that isn’t verified or if you plan to apply for pension benefits using a PDF form,</strong> you may want to submit an intent to file form first. </p><p><a href="/resources/your-intent-to-file-a-va-claim" data-entity-type="node" data-entity-uuid="3c0f1ca0-bc4d-41ef-a521-7a3ff8cb1ac4" data-entity-substitution="canonical" title="Your intent to file a VA claim">Find out how to submit an intent to file form</a></p> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div data-template="paragraphs/q_a" data-entity-id="4110" data-analytics-faq-section data-analytics-faq-text="How long does it take VA to make a decision?"> <div id="4110"> <div class="vads-u-display--flex"> <h2 id="how-long-does-it-take-va-to-ma"> How long does it take VA to make a decision? </h2> </div> <div data-entity-id="4110"> <div data-template="paragraphs/wysiwyg" data-entity-id="4112"> <div itemprop="text"> <p>It depends. We process claims in the order we receive them, unless a claim requires priority processing.</p> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="row"> <div class="usa-content"> <aside class="va-nav-linkslist va-nav-linkslist--related"> <section data-template="paragraphs/list_of_link_teasers" data-entity-id="4103" class="field_related_links"> <h2 id="other-pension-benefits" class="va-nav-linkslist-heading" tabindex="-1"> Other pension benefits </h2> <ul class="va-nav-linkslist-list"> <li data-template="paragraphs/linkTeaser" data-entity-id="4104" data-links-list-header="VA Survivors Pension" data-links-list-section-header="Other pension benefits"> <h3 class="va-nav-linkslist-title vads-u-font-size--h4" id> <va-link href="/pension/survivors-pension" text="VA Survivors Pension"> </va-link></h3> <p class="va-nav-linkslist-description">Find out if you’re eligible and how to apply for VA pension benefits as a surviving spouse or child of a deceased Veteran with wartime service.</p> </li> <li data-template="paragraphs/linkTeaser" data-entity-id="4105" data-links-list-header="Aid and Attendance benefits and Housebound allowance" data-links-list-section-header="Other pension benefits"> <h3 class="va-nav-linkslist-title vads-u-font-size--h4" id="-1"> <va-link href="/pension/aid-attendance-housebound" text="Aid and Attendance benefits and Housebound allowance"> </va-link></h3> <p class="va-nav-linkslist-description">If you need help with daily activities or you’re housebound, find out how to apply for extra VA pension benefits.</p> </li> </ul> </section> </aside> </div> </div> <va-back-to-top></va-back-to-top>  <div class="last-updated usa-content vads-u-padding-x--1 desktop-lg:vads-u-padding-x--0"> <div class="mobile-lg:vads-u-display--flex above-footer-elements-container"> <div class="vads-u-flex--auto"> <span class="vads-u-text-align--justify"> <p>Last updated: <time datetime="2024-08-31">August 31, 2024</time></p> </span> </div> <div class="vads-u-flex--1 vads-u-text-align--right"> <span class="vads-u-text-align--right"> <button type="button" class="feedback-button usa-button" id="mdFormButton" aria-label="give feedback"> Feedback </button> </span> </div> </div> </div> </article> </div> </div></main> </div> </div>  <script nonce="QL6hTBuV5XrjHAJcEdWstyccZeNXr9kx" type="text/javascript" defer src="https://www.datadoghq-browser-agent.com/datadog-rum-v5.js"></script> <script nonce="QL6hTBuV5XrjHAJcEdWstyccZeNXr9kx" type="text/javascript"> window.addEventListener('load', () => { // All of the page urls we want to monitor include www.va.gov (production only) if (window.DD_RUM && window.location?.hostname === 'www.va.gov') { /** * Unauthenticated Static pages may be crawled by bots, so we won't initialize * RUM sessions. 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How To Apply For A VA Pension As A Veteran | Veterans Affairs