Medal of Honor Pension
A monthly benefit paid to recipients of the Congressional Medal of Honor (MoH) or their surviving spouse.
Click HERE to see the current payment amount.
Eligibility
Servicemembers and Veterans
Received the MoH.
IMPORTANT NOTES:
Veteran does NOT need to have service-connected conditions to be entitled to the pension.
Veteran CAN receive Disability compensation at the same time as the pension.
Surviving Spouse
Former spouse received the MoH AND;
Married for at least 1 year; or
Spouse created a child with the Servicemember/Veteran before OR after the marriage.
IMPORTANT NOTES:
If the spouse remarries BEFORE 57 years of age the entitlement to the pension WILL stop!
If they remarry at 57 or older entitlement to the pension will continue.
Annulment, death, or divorce will result in restoration of entitlement to this pension.
The surviving spouse is NOT entitled to BOTH Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) and this pension.
Applying
Servicemembers and Veterans
There is no application to submit as the Secretary of your branch of service will notify the VA of your eligibility.
Surviving Spouse
If DoD or VA records show you were married at the time of death for at least a year then there is nothing you need to do.
If you were married under a year but are eligible via children AND/OR your eligible marriage was not established with DoD or VA, you will need to Submit a VA Form 21-4170, Statement of Marital Relationship to verify marital and parental information.
IMPORTANT NOTE:
Remember if you remarry before 57 years of age you MUST notify the VA to prevent an over payment of benefits.
NOTE:
You are NOT required to submit a copy of your marriage or children’s birth certificates with the VA Form.
Frequently Asked Questions
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There are NO income or net worth limitations.
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Only 1 pension is paid out no matter the number of MoHs received.
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Nope, max of 1.
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Yes, the eligible recipient may submit a written statement to the Secretary of the VA and inform them they do not want the pension.