Veterans Administration (VA) Benefits
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This section includes information about income received as benefits from the Veterans Administration.
Policy
Veterans Administration (VA) benefits are countable.
NOTE VA benefits for Spina Bifida and Covered Birth Defects are not countable.
Countable income is used to determine an income budget. (See Income Budgeting to see how FAA determines the income budget.) FAA needs to know about income that is both countable and not countable to determine whether a budgetary unit’s expenses are exceeding their income. (See Income Eligibility for more information about how FAA uses countable and not countable income.)
VA benefits include and are not limited any of the following:
●Aid and attendant benefits
●Disability benefits
●Early retirement
●Regular retirement benefits
●Survivor and dependent benefits
●Widow benefits
●Other VA benefits
Procedures
To verify receipt of VA benefits, send a signed Authority to Release Information (FAA-1765A) to the Veterans Administration when unable to use the sources listed in unearned income verification.
When the participant is present, have them sign the Authority to Release (FAA‑1765A) form to contact any companies or businesses involved. The FAA-1765A can be faxed or emailed to the participant's employer when it is not possible to use the Application for Benefits (FAA-0001A) or the HEAplus Authority to Release signed statement.
Veterans Administration Educational Benefits are considered educational income. (For more information, see Montgomery GI Bill information under Assistance Income Types.)
Verification
System interface and the case file(g) must be reviewed before verification is requested. No additional verification is needed when AZTECS interface or HEAplus hubs have verified the information.
The participant has the primary responsibility for providing verification. (See Participant Responsibilities – Providing Verification for additional policy.)
For NA, all of the following income is required to be verified before eligibility is determined:
●Reported on a new application, during the interview of a new application, or changes reported before the eligibility determination of a new application.
●Changes after an eligibility determination of a new application (e.g., a renewal application, mid approval contact, etc.) and any of the following apply:
The source of the income has changed.
The income is questionable(g) or unclear(g).
The reported income amount has changed by $51 or more.
The previous verification in the case file is more than 59 calendar days old.
For CA, all income is required to be verified before determining eligibility.
Examples of verification that can be used for Veterans Administration benefits include, and are not limited to, any of the following:
●Assistance payments records
●Benefit award letters from SSA, Statement of Earnings VA, and other agencies
●Bank records
●Current check reflecting gross income
●Federal or state tax forms
●Insurance policies
●Signed statement from the agency or payer providing the income
●Participant statement verification when one of the following occur:
Obtaining documented or collateral contact verification may cause harm or undue hardship(g) for the participant.
When all of the following occur:
●Other attempts to obtain the verification have failed. This includes documented and collateral contact verification.
●The participant has requested assistance from FAA.
●The worker has evaluated the request for assistance and cannot obtain the verification from another acceptable source.
●The participant statement is not questionable(g).
AZTECS Keying Procedures
VA benefits are keyed on UNIC with any the following Unearned Income Codes:
●Aid and attendant benefits, keyed as VA AA
●Disability benefits, keyed as VA DS
●Early retirement benefits, keyed as VA ER
●Regular retirement benefits, keyed as VA RE
●Survivor and dependent benefits, keyed as VA SU
●Widow benefits, keyed as VA WI
●Other VA benefits, keyed as VA OT
Key VA in the TYPE field on UNIE for VA educational income.
Document the case file(g) thoroughly to support keyed codes, amounts, and frequencies. See the AZTECS Data Entry Guide for instructions on keying the AZTECS income screens.
NOTE Documentation must support determinations of eligibility and benefit level. Document in sufficient detail to ensure that any reviewer can assess whether the determination is reasonable and accurate. Include specific information regarding the reason the income is determined to be normal. (See Budgeting Income Documentation Requirements for additional information.)
Legal Authorities
Public Law 104 204
Public Law 106-419
last revised 10/02/2023