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8.2. VA Non-Service Connected Pension or Wartime Pension
VA Non-Service Connected Pension or Wartime Pension
Many people confuse VA Pension with VA disability compensation; however, the two are different.
- VA pension is based on wartime service, having a non-service connected disability and the Veteran must be of low income.
- VA disability compensation is based on a service connected disability rating for the Veteran. The focus of this article is to provide the facts on the VA Pension since recently there has been misleading TV and internet advertisements promoting Veteran's and Spouses to apply for the Pension.
Over the years the VA improved pension has been known as a Non-service connected Pension, a VA low-income Pension, live VA pension and most recently on TV and the internet advertised as a VA Wartime Pension for Veterans or Surviving Widows of Wartime Veterans.
The current improved pension became effective January 1, 1979 and was preceded by Section 306 Pension and Old-Law Pension Program. All three non-service connected programs are disability and needs based.
Today, the only available program for applicants is the Improved Pension Program or Non-service Connected Pension.