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Pension

How To Read Rates

The Improved Pension Rate Tables have two divisions: (1) the Maximum Annual Pension Rate (MAPR) Category and (2) the Amount.


The MAPR is the maximum amount of pension payable to a veteran, surviving spouse or child. MAPR fluctuates due to the following categories:

  1. Is the veteran or surviving spouse without dependents?
  2. How many dependents beyond one, does the veteran or surviving spouse have?
  3. Is the veteran or surviving spouse in need of housebound benefits?
  4. Is the veteran or surviving spouse in need of aid & attendance benefits?
  5. Did the veteran serve during the Mexican Border Period or World War I (Early War Veteran)?
  6. Are the veterans married to each other?

Here are some examples of how these categories interact:

Example 1MAPRExplanation
Joe is a veteran of WW II. He has a spouse. He is entitled to aid & attendance. $23,396 Go to the A&A With One Dependent MAPR row.
If Joe has deductible medical expenses, he can deduct any that exceed: $774 Go to the With One Dependent MAPR row and look at the To be deducted row beneath it.

Example 2MAPRExplanation
Mary is a veteran of the Vietnam era. She has a spouse and one child. She is entitled to aid & attendance. $23,396
+ 2,020
$25,416
Go to the A&A With One Dependent MAPR row and add from the Each Additional Child row.
If she has deductible medical expenses, she can deduct any that exceed: $774 Go to the With One Dependent MAPR row and look at the To be deducted row beneath it.

The MAPR is reduced for each dollar of income that the veteran, surviving spouse, child, or their families have.

Example 1
So if Joe and his spouse have $3,000 of income and they have no deductible expenses, you subtract the income from the MAPR.

Joe will receive $20,096 for the year, or $1,675 each month of that year.
$23,396
- 3,000
$20,096

Example 2
If Mary and her spouse have $10,350 of income and they have deductible expenses of $3,588, you subtract the deductible amount from the medical expenses first.


Then subtract the expenses from the income.


Then subtract the income from the MAPR.
Mary will receive $17,880 for the year, or $1,490 each month of that year.
$3,588
- $774
$2,814

$10,350
- 2,814
$7,536

$25,416
-$7,536
$17,880

Here are some references to look at to help you determine what income is counted:

Link to RegulationName of Regulation
38 Code of Federal Regulation 3.23 Improved Pension Rates -
Veterans and Surviving Spouses
38 Code of Federal Regulation 3.271 "Income" for VA Purposes (IVAP)
38 Code of Federal Regulation 3.272 Exclusions from Income
38 Code of Federal Regulation 3.273 Rate Computations

 

To go to the Improved Disability Pension Rate Tables CLICK HERE
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