United States Department of Veterans Affairs
United States Department of Veterans Affairs

VA Compensation and Pension Payment Rates

How to Read Pension Benefits Rate Tables


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 1 MAPR Explanation
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: $775 Go to the With One Dependent MAPR row and look at the To be deducted row beneath it.

Example 2 MAPR Explanation
Mary is a veteran of WWI. She has a spouse. She is entitled to aid & attendance. $23,396
+ 2,686
$26,082
Go to the A&A With One Dependent MAPR row and add from the Early War Veteran row.
If she has deductible medical expenses, she can deduct any that exceed: $812 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 $15,750 for the year, or $1,312 each month of that year.
$3,588
- $812
$2,776

$10,350
- 2,776
$7,574

$23,324
-7,574
$15,750

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

If you do not have Microsoft Word software installed, you may download free viewer and reader software to view the documents cited below.

Link to Regulation Name 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

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