United States Department of Veterans Affairs

Spouse's Death Pension Calculation

How Does VA Calculate a Spouse's Death Pension Amount?

Your pension is calculated to be an amount equal to the difference between your countable family income and the annual pension limit set by Congress.

  • If, for example, the annual income limit for a spouse without a dependent as set by Congress is $7,094 and your income is $6,000, your VA pension will be $1,094 ($7,094 - $6,000 = $1,094) paid in monthly installments.


  • If your total countable income is more than $7,094 in this example, then you are not eligible for VA Death Pension for that year.  You may reapply again at any time your countable income falls below the limit.


  • a portion of your unreimbursed medical expenses (what you paid out of pocket after medical insurance pays) may reduce your countable income.     You can apply the portion of your unreimbursed medical expenses only if the expenses exceed 5% of the maximum annual rate allowed by Congress.   Using the example above for an income of $6,000:
    • If your medical expenses for a year are $8,000 and your medical insurance pays $6,400 of that, your unreimbursed medical expense is ($8,000 - $6,400) $1,600.


    • The unreimbursed medical expenses must exceed 5% of $7,094, or $354 to be deductible.   Since your unreimbursed medical expenses ($1,600) in this example are greater than $354, the portion of the unreimbursed medical expenses that exceed $354, or $1,246, may be deducted from your total combined income which then increases the amount VA will pay to you.


    • The ($1,600 - $354) $1,246 out of pocket medical expenses will reduce your income from $6,000 to $4,754 ($6,000 - $1,246).


    • Your VA pension would then be $7,094 (maximum rate for a spouse with not dependents) minus $4,754 (total income after deducting unreimbursed medical expenses), or $2,340 for that year.

    Net worth, or corpus of estate (the value of your assets) also has a bearing on your pension eligibility.   Because VA pension is a needs based benefit, a large net worth may render you ineligible.
    Net worth and corpus of estate mean the market value, less mortgages or other encumbrances, of all real and personal property owned by the veteran, except the veteran's dwelling (single family unit), including a reasonable lot area, and personal effects suitable to and consistent with the claimant's reasonable mode of life.
    There are a number of other criteria that may affect your eligibility to pension benefits such as veterans who are in need of regular aid and attendance to manage normal daily activities, or who are in a care facility.   That is why we encourage you to go ahead and file an application, particularly if your countable income appears to be near the maximum.



Disclaimer --We will make every effort to keep this Internet Site current and accurate, but there will surely be times when this site will not be current.   These pages are for general information only, your best source of current information is to contact the managers of the benefits programs.