Skip to main content

Life event

Low on resources.
Help is here.

Pension, food, emergency aid

Start here

  1. If 65+ or permanently disabled with limited income, check Veterans Pension eligibility.
  2. If homebound or needing help with daily activities, check Aid and Attendance (up to ~$28K/yr).
  3. Call 211 for local emergency assistance (food, utilities, rent) outside the VA.

Benefits that apply here

Category: Family
FAMILY

Veterans Pension

Tax-free monetary benefit for low-income wartime veterans who are permanently and totally disabled from a non-service-connected condition, or who are age 65 or older with limited income.

Available to wartime veterans with limited income and permanent/total non-service disability or age 65+Up to ~$16,965/yrSingle veteran, no dependents
View Benefit
Category: Family
FAMILY

Aid and Attendance / Housebound Allowance

Increased pension rate for veterans who need the regular aid of another person for daily activities, or who are substantially confined to the home due to a permanent disability.

Available to pension-eligible veterans requiring personal care assistance or substantially houseboundUp to ~$28,300/yrVeteran pension with A&A
View Benefit
Category: Disability
DISABILITY

Total Disability Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU)

Allows veterans unable to maintain substantially gainful employment due to service-connected conditions to receive compensation at the 100% rate, even if their combined rating is below 100%.

Available at 60%+ (single condition) or 70%+ (combined) with unemployability due to service-connected conditions
View Benefit

Beyond the VA

Add your state in your profile to see state and community programs for this moment. You can also browse the full network.

VSOs file pension claims at no cost.

Avoid predatory pension poaching companies; accredited VSOs do not charge.

Find a VSO near you