What is the income limit to qualify for VA benefits?

Asked by: Armando Nader  |  Last update: August 31, 2025
Score: 4.9/5 (5 votes)

In 2021, the VA National Income Thresholds were as follows: $34,616 or less if you have no dependents. $41,539 or less if you have one dependent.

Can you make too much money to qualify for VA benefits?

No, like the VA advertises, once you're in, you're in. No income restrictions after the fact.

What disqualifies you from receiving VA benefits?

Generally, to receive VA benefits and services, the Veteran's character of discharge or service must be under other than dishonorable conditions (e.g., honorable, under honorable conditions, general).

Does social security count as income for VA benefits?

Social Security Benefits. Regular Social Security payments that are countable income for VA purposes are paid to workers and their dependents when the worker retires, becomes severely disabled, or dies. These benefits are paid under Title II of the Social Security Act.

Why are some veterans not eligible for VA health care?

You must have been called to active duty by a federal order and completed the full period for which you were called or ordered to active duty. If you had or have active-duty status for training purposes only, you don't qualify for VA health care.

VA Disability Income Limits: How much you can earn and get VA benefits? #disability #compensation

19 related questions found

Is VA health care based on income?

Some Veterans are eligible for VA health care no matter their income. You may be eligible based on your VA disability rating, service history, or other factors. If you think you may be eligible, we encourage you to apply anytime. Review health care eligibility factors.

What is the VA rule of 55?

The 55 Years Old Rule simply states that once a veteran reaches the age of 55, they are protected from such periodic C&P examinations and any reduction to their current disability ratings. There are, of course, certain exceptions, cancer in fact being one of them.

Can a veteran receive both VA and Social Security benefits?

Veterans may be concurrently eligible for both SSA and VA benefits and may begin receiving SSA benefits while they are waiting on a VA benefit decision.

Do veterans get free healthcare for life?

No! You get VA Healthcare if you have a service connected injury or illness. Any Veteran can be treated by VA but there can be costs, sometimes large costs.

Why would someone not qualify for VA benefits?

If a discharge was not characterized as under honorable conditions, benefits are not payable unless VA determines the discharge was “under conditions other than dishonorable.” By law, certain situations resulting in a discharge under less than honorable conditions constitute a legal bar to the payment of benefits.

What is the most approved VA disability?

The Top Ten Most Commonly Approved VA Claims:
  • Tinnitus.
  • Hearing Loss.
  • Limitation of Flexion, Knee.
  • Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
  • Lumbosacral or Cervical Strain (Back Pain)
  • Scars, General.
  • Paralysis of the Sciatic Nerve.
  • Limitation of Range of Motion of the Ankle.

What is the 70-40 rule for VA disability?

If a veteran has two or more service-connected disabilities, at least one of those disabilities must be rated at 40% or higher. When these ratings are considered for the other disabilities, the veteran's combined disability rating must be 70% or higher. This is essentially how the 70-40 rule operates.

Can you be denied VA benefits because of income?

When the veteran has no VA rating, the VA determines group assignment by special circumstance (for example: Medal of Honor recipient, Purple Heart recipient, or former prisoner of war) or by income. For veterans with no rating or special circumstance, then gross household income must be below VA income limits.

What are the new VA rules for 2024?

As of March 5, 2024, all Veterans who meet the basic service and discharge requirements and who were exposed to toxins and other hazards while serving are eligible to enroll directly in VA health care--including all Veterans who served in Iraq, Afghanistan, the Gulf War, and any other combat zone after 9/11.

How do I determine if I am eligible for VA benefits?

You may be eligible for VA disability benefits or compensation if you meet both of these requirements. Both of these must be true: You have a current illness or injury (known as a condition) that affects your mind or body, and. You served on active duty, active duty for training, or inactive duty training.

How much extra Social Security do veterans get?

From 1957 through 1977, you are credited with $300 in additional earnings for each calendar quarter in which you received active-duty basic pay. From 1978 through 2001, for every $300 in active-duty basic pay, you are credited with an additional $100 in earnings up to a maximum of $1,200 a year.

What conditions automatically qualify you for VA disability?

At the current time, most veterans that are awarded benefits are for conditions like PTSD, diabetes, migraines, spinal and orthopedic conditions, unstable or painful scars, sleep apnea, hypertensive vascular disease, hernias, dermatitis, tinnitus, and hearing loss.

What illness automatically qualifies for disability?

Neurological disorders (e.g., epilepsy, benign brain tumors) Mental disorders (e.g., bipolar disorder, anxiety, depression) Cancer (malignant neoplastic diseases) Immune system disorders (e.g., HIV infection, lupus, inflammatory arthritis)

What is the 10 year VA rule?

The ten-year rule says that the VA cannot revoke a veteran's disability rating if they have had it for a decade or more. That means that the VA has to offer the vet some level of benefits, although there are limited exceptions. Also, the ten-year rule is a moot point for a subset of veterans' disability claims.

What disabilities can the VA not prove?

No, there aren't any VA disability claims that cannot be proven. In fact, all VA claims must be proven on an “at least as likely as not” basis. If you have no evidence (no proof), your VA claim will be denied. Also, you must first ensure you're even eligible for VA disability benefits under the law.

How much can I make and still get VA benefits?

In 2021, the VA National Income Thresholds were as follows: $34,616 or less if you have no dependents. $41,539 or less if you have one dependent.

What is the hardest VA claim to get?

1. Mental Health Conditions (e.g., PTSD, Depression) Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is one of the most frequently filed claims by veterans, but it's also one of the hardest to get approved.

Can I lose my VA benefits if I make too much money?

Those with incomes between $125,000 and $170,000 would receive reduced benefits based on a scale and those who made $170,000 a year or more would receive no benefits.