Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Benefit Programs

In This Chapter

Introduction

• service-connected (SC) disability compensation
• 38 U.S.C. 1151 compensation, and
• Veterans Pension.

Change Date

I.ii.2.1.a. Definition: SC Disability Compensation

I.ii.2.1.b. Definition: 38 U.S.C. 1151 Compensation

• VA fault or an event not reasonably foreseeable in the provision of VA hospital care, medical or surgical treatment, or examination, or
• the individual’s participation in vocational rehabilitation services or compensated work therapy.

I.ii.2.1.c. Definition: Veterans Pension

Introduction

• Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC)
• Survivors Pension
• death compensation, and
• accrued benefits.

Change Date

I.ii.2.2.a. Definition: DIC

I.ii.2.2.b. Definition: Survivors Pension

I.ii.2.2.c. Definition: Death Compensation

I.ii.2.2.d. Definition: Accrued Benefits

Introduction

• general policy regarding additional allowance for dependents
• entitlement of surviving spouses to additional DIC or Survivors Pension for children
• payments to children over age 18, and
• allowance for dependent parents.

Change Date

I.ii.2.3.a. General Policy Regarding Additional Allowance for Dependents

• until the child reaches age
  • 18, or
  • 23, if the child continues in an approved school, or
• indefinitely if the child becomes incapable of self-support prior to age 18.

• 38 CFR 3.4(b)(2)
• 38 CFR 3.57
• 38 CFR 3.23(d)(1)
• 38 CFR 3.356, and
• M21-1, Part VII, Subpart i, 1.C.

I.ii.2.3.b. Entitlement of Surviving Spouses to Additional DIC or Survivors Pension for Children

• until the child reaches age
  • 18, or
  • 23, if the child continues in an approved school, or
• indefinitely if the child becomes incapable of self-support prior to age 18.

• DIC and additional allowances, see M21-1, Part XII, Subpart i, 4.B.1
• awards involving a child that is permanently incapable of self-support, see M21-1, Part X, Subpart ii, 6.B.3
• Survivors pension for a child, see M21-1, Part IX, Subpart i, 2.1, and
• requirements to be considered a child, see M21-1, Part VII, Subpart i, 3.A.

I.ii.2.3.c. Payments to Children Over Age 18

I.ii.2.3.d. Allowance for Dependent Parents

Introduction

• clothing allowance
• automobile or other conveyance allowance
• specially adapted housing (SAH) and special home adaptation (SHA) grants
• vocational rehabilitation under 38 U.S.C. 31
• dependents’ educational assistance (DEA) under 38 U.S.C. 35, and
• special allowance payable under Section 156 of Public Law (PL) 97-377.

Change Date

I.ii.2.4.a. Definition: Clothing Allowance

I.ii.2.4.b. Definition: Automobile or Other Conveyance Allowance

I.ii.2.4.c. Definition: SAH and SHA Grants

I.ii.2.4.d. Definition: Vocational Rehabilitation Under 38 U.S.C. 31

I.ii.2.4.e. Definition: DEA Under 38 U.S.C. 35

I.ii.2.4.f. Definition: Special Allowance Payable Under Section 156 of Public Law 97-377

Introduction

• an explanation of the
  • A&A benefit and entitlement, and
  • housebound benefit and entitlement, and
• Veterans hospitalized at government expense.

Change Date

I.ii.2.5.a. A&A Benefit and Entitlement

• part of special monthly compensation (SMC) or special monthly pension (SMP), and
• paid because a person, due to mental or physical disability, requires the regular A&A of another person in conducting the basic activities of daily living, such as
  • bathing
  • dressing, and
  • going to the bathroom.

• SMC, see
  • M21-1, Part VIII, Subpart iv, 4.A, and
  • 38 CFR 3.350, and
• SMP, see
  • M21-1, Part IX, Subpart ii, 1
  • M21-1, Part IX, Subpart ii, 2.C, and
  • 38 CFR 3.351.

I.ii.2.5.b. Housebound Benefit and Entitlement

• part of SMC or SMP, and
• paid because a person, due to a mental or physical disability, has very limited ability to leave home.

I.ii.2.5.c. Veterans Hospitalized at Government Expense