How to document military retirement pay and pension on VA application forms?
Executive summary
Veterans must report military retirement pay and related annuities as “income for VA purposes” when applying for VA pension or other income‑tested benefits; the VA bases pension on the difference between that income and the Maximum Annual Pension Rate (MAPR) and applies a net‑worth limit of $159,240 for Dec. 1, 2024–Nov. 30, 2025 [1]. Military retired pay schedules, monthly statements (RAS) and DFAS/MyPay records are the primary documentation sources claimants use to show amounts and dates [2] [3].
1. What the VA expects: show retirement pay as income
The VA treats military retirement pay, Social Security, investment and annuity payments as part of “income for VA purposes” when calculating pension eligibility and payment amounts; pension is the difference between a claimant’s income for VA purposes and the MAPR Congress sets [1]. That means retirees applying for needs‑based VA pension must disclose their retired pay and any annuities — the VA will include those figures in the income calculation [1].
2. Key numbers to keep in mind: MAPR and net‑worth limit
For pension eligibility the VA compares reported income to the MAPR; additionally, the VA uses a net‑worth limit — currently $159,240 for Dec. 1, 2024 through Nov. 30, 2025 — when determining eligibility for Veterans Pension benefits [1]. If your combined resources exceed that net‑worth cap the VA’s pension rules may disqualify or reduce pension [1].
3. Which documents do the heavy lifting: RAS and DFAS/MyPay
Military retirees receive a monthly Retiree Account Statement (RAS) and an annual RAS that show retired pay history and COLA adjustments; MyPay makes the prior 12 monthly RAS statements available and DFAS publishes the official pay schedules and payment records — these are the primary documents veterans present to document retired pay on VA forms [3] [2]. DFAS is the authoritative payer; if VA asks for verification, DFAS records and RAS statements are the clearest proof [2] [3].
4. Timing and COLA issues that affect reported amounts
Retired pay includes cost‑of‑living adjustments that can alter monthly figures (notably a 2.5% COLA for the 2025 cycle noted in multiple pay‑date analyses); COLA may appear on the RAS in the month applied, so applicants should use the exact RAS that reflects the period VA asks about to avoid mismatches [4] [5] [6]. Some retirement plans (e.g., REDUX/CSB) have different COLA treatments that change the long‑term retired pay calculation—those plan details affect the amounts you document [5].
5. Practical steps: what to attach to VA forms
Attach copies of your most recent RAS from MyPay showing monthly retired pay and any annuities, your DFAS pay schedule or account statement if requested, and documentation of one‑time or prorated COLA if the VA period overlaps a COLA change. Use the DFAS/Retired Military pages to obtain official statements and the monthly RAS for line‑by‑line verification [2] [3].
6. Where disputes and complexity arise
Disagreements commonly occur over which month’s pay to report (pre‑COLA vs post‑COLA), whether portions of retired pay are taxable or excluded, and how prorated retirements are reflected; the DFAS RAS is the primary evidence the VA will accept to resolve such discrepancies [3] [4]. If your retired pay was prorated (for example, a 2024 retiree’s 2025 COLA prorated by quarter), preserve DFAS statements and any DFAS guidance showing the proration to present to VA [4].
7. Alternative viewpoints and limitations in available reporting
Official guidance on “how to fill specific VA form fields” is not present in the supplied results; the sources explain what counts as income and where to get official retired‑pay statements but do not provide step‑by‑step VA form instructions or example attachments — available sources do not mention the exact form fields or a checklist for each VA application [1] [2] [3]. For line‑by‑line form help, the VA website’s benefit pages or a veterans service organization will be necessary beyond these documents.
8. Bottom line for applicants: document precisely and keep DFAS records
Document retired pay with DFAS/MyPay RAS statements and attach clear evidence of annuities or other retirement income when applying; know the MAPR and the VA’s net‑worth limit ($159,240 for Dec. 1, 2024–Nov. 30, 2025) because VA pension is income‑difference driven, not a flat entitlement [1] [2] [3]. If you expect ambiguity about COLA or proration, retain the DFAS statements that show the adjustment month and amount [4] [6].