Compare needs-based pension and survivor compensation. DIC does not require low income or wartime service:
- Veterans Pension and Survivors Pension are needs-based: VA pays the difference between a yearly limit (the MAPR) and your countable income. Aid & Attendance or Housebound raise the limit.
- DICis a flat monthly payment to survivors when a Veteran died from a service-connected condition, or certain qualifying periods of total disability — it is not needs-based.
Estimates only; your official amounts come from VA. Pension also has service, age/disability, and relationship requirements. A VA-accredited VSO can help check eligibility.
Your household
Estimated pension
Monthly pension is rounded down to whole dollars.
Service and other eligibility requirements are not checked here. Two married Veterans both eligible for pension, child-only Survivors Pension, and special reductions — such as the $90/month cap for a Veteran with no dependents in a Medicaid-covered nursing home or VA nursing-home/domiciliary care — require separate VA review. See VA pension tables.
What these terms mean
- MAPR (Maximum Annual Pension Rate)
- The yearly income limit Congress sets for pension. VA pays the difference between your countable income and this limit, so a higher MAPR (from Aid & Attendance or Housebound, or more dependents) means a bigger possible pension.
- Countable income
- Your family’s gross income for VA purposes, minus deductible expenses. Unreimbursed medical expenses above 5% of the basic family MAPR (before Aid & Attendance/Housebound increases) are subtracted — which is why Veterans with high care costs (e.g., assisted living) often qualify even with decent income.
- Aid & Attendance vs Housebound
- Two enhancements that raise your MAPR. Aid & Attendance is for those who need help with daily activities or are in a nursing home; Housebound is for those substantially confined to home. You can get one, not both.
- Net-worth limit
- We add countable assets to annual income after the estimated medical deduction. The result must be at or below $163,699. Your primary home and car are excluded. Other income exclusions and the 3-year asset-transfer look-back need separate VA review.
- $90/month nursing-home cap
- A separate rule this estimate does not apply: if a Veteran with no dependents is in a nursing home covered by Medicaid (or in VA nursing-home / domiciliary care), the VA pension is reduced to $90/month. If that’s your situation, your actual payment may be far below the estimate above — confirm with VA or a VSO.
- DIC vs Pension
- DIC is a flat monthly benefit for survivors of a service-connected death (or a Veteran rated 100% long enough) — not needs-based. Survivors Pension is the needs-based benefit for survivors of a wartime Veteran with limited income.
Rates effective Dec 1, 2025 – Nov 30, 2026 (2026 COLA). Sources: Veterans Pension, Survivors Pension, DIC. How to apply. Educational estimate, not an official VA award.