If a veteran is living, an absent dependent can be a dependent spouse, child(ren), or parent (for disability compensation payments only) who does not reside with the veteran.

If a veteran is deceased, an absent dependent for a surviving spouse is the surviving spouse’s dependent child(ren) who does not reside with the surviving spouse.

Under the first-of-the-month (FOM) rule, we determine an absent dependent’s residence as of the first moment of the month. For information on the first-of-the-month rules, see SI 00835.500.

NOTE: The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) recognizes an absent dependent spouse because a marital relationship exists between the veteran and the absent dependent spouse. If the veteran and their spouse are divorced, the VA no longer recognizes the divorced spouse of the veteran and VA apportionment or augmentation payments to the divorced spouse are not possible.

Apportionment is the VA’s direct payment of the dependent's portion of VA benefits to a dependent spouse, child or dependent parent (for disability compensation payments only). The VA decides whether and how much to pay by apportionment on a case-by-case basis. Apportionment reduces the amount of the augmented benefit payable to the veteran or veteran's surviving spouse.

An augmented benefit is an increase in benefit payment to a veteran or a veteran's surviving spouse or higher VA income eligibility limit, because of a dependent. (For Supplemental Security income (SSI) purposes, the augmented benefit includes a beneficiary's portion and one or more dependents' portions.) VA normally issues an augmented VA benefit as a single payment to the veteran or the veteran's surviving spouse.

A beneficiary is the individual entitled to the VA benefit and receives an augmented benefit (when there are dependents).

For purposes of this section:

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  If a veteran is living, the veteran is the beneficiary;

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  If a veteran is deceased, the veteran’s surviving spouse is the beneficiary;

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  If a veteran is deceased, and the veteran’s surviving child is independent of the veteran’s surviving spouse, the surviving child is the beneficiary;

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  If a veteran is deceased, and the veteran’s surviving parent receives Parents’ Dependency Indemnity Compensation (DIC), the surviving parent is the beneficiary; and

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  If a spouse, child, or parent (for disability compensation payments only) receives a benefit directly from the VA through apportionment, the apportioned spouse, child, or parent is the beneficiary.

NOTE: The VA does not augment the benefit payments for:

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  Surviving child improved death pension;

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  Surviving child DIC; or

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  Parents’ DIC benefits.

The beneficiary’s portion is the part of an augmented benefit that is attributable to the veteran or to the veteran’s surviving spouse.

NOTE: For surviving child improved death pension, surviving child Dependency Indemnity Compensation (DIC), and parents’ DIC benefits, the entire payment is for the surviving child or surviving parent.

A spouse receiving benefits directly from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) through apportionment may receive the entire payment even though the payment includes portions for children in their custody.

For purposes of this section, a child is a son or daughter (biological, adoptive, or by marriage) who is:

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  under age 18;

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  age 18-23 (inclusive) and a student; or

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  age 18 or older, and disabled before age 18.

For purposes of this section, if a veteran is:

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  living and receiving VA compensation payments, dependents can be the veteran’s spouse, child(ren), or dependent parent(s);

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  living and receiving VA pension payments, dependents can be the veteran’s spouse and child(ren); and

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  deceased, dependents for the veteran’s surviving spouse are the surviving spouse’s children.

A dependent is someone who is or was dependent on the veteran for financial support, as determined by the VA.

The dependent's portion is the part of an augmented benefit that is attributable to the dependent.

A divorced spouse is no longer married to the veteran. The VA does not consider a divorced spouse to be married to the veteran and the VA cannot make payments by apportionment or augmentation. If any of the veteran’s dependent children are in the custody of the divorced spouse, VA makes apportionment payments directly to the dependent children. When the dependent children are in the custody of the divorced spouse, normally the divorced spouse acts as the fiduciary for the dependent children. For the definition of fiduciary, see SI 00830.314B.10. in this section.

A fiduciary is responsible to the beneficiary and oversees the financial management of the beneficiary’s VA benefits because of age or when the VA is determines the beneficiary is unable to manage their financial affairs.

A portion of a VA benefit the VA pays directly to a dependent spouse, child, or parent, is VA income to the dependent spouse, child, or parent. It is not a support payment from the beneficiary.

For information on Apportionment, see SI 00830.314B.2.

The beneficiary's portion is VA income to the beneficiary.

The dependent's portion is VA income to the dependent, provided the dependent resides with the beneficiary. The dependent's portion is not a support payment from the beneficiary.

Prior to November 17, 1994, if the VA did not deny an application for apportionment, an absent dependent's portion of an augmented VA benefit that the beneficiary received was VA income to the absent dependent.

If the VA denies an application for apportionment, the absent dependent's portion, less any amount the beneficiary provides to the absent dependent, is income to the beneficiary.

EXAMPLE: Prior to 11/17/94 and apportionment denied

SSI child recipient, Susan Baker, is an absent dependent. The VA denied Susan's application for apportionment. Susan's parent, Joseph Baker, is also an SSI recipient. Joseph receives an augmented monthly VA pension of $450 on the first of each month. Joseph has no other dependents. During 1993, Joseph sends Susan $25 per month. The VA Regional Office (VARO) verified that Susan's portion of the VA benefit is $50. The claims specialist (CS) inputs $25 as a child support payment (type “N” income) for Susan and $425 as VA pension based on need (type “E” income) for Joseph for payments received prior to November 17, 1994.

An absent dependent's portion of an augmented VA benefit the beneficiary receives on or after November 17, 1994, is not VA income to either the dependent or the beneficiary. This is true even if the beneficiary continues to receive the absent dependent's portion of the VA payment.

For the policy on payments the beneficiary made to an absent dependent, see SI 00830.314C.6.

The absent dependent may be required to file for apportionment of the augmented VA benefit per SI 00510.005A.2.

A payment from a beneficiary to an absent dependent on or after November 17, 1994 is not VA income to the absent dependent. It is unearned income in the form of a gift, a support payment, in-kind support and maintenance, or other income.

EXAMPLE: Effective 11/17/94 an augmented Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) benefit without apportionment

Scottie Jones, age 17, and their parent, Raymond Jones, are both SSI recipients who do not reside together. Raymond receives a VA pension for $450 per month. The payment includes the beneficiary’s portion of $400 for Raymond and the dependent’s portion of $50 for Scottie (Raymond's only dependent). Because Robert is an absent dependent, the $50 Raymond receives on Scottie’s behalf is not income to Raymond or to Scottie. However, Raymond sends Scottie a money order for $25 per month. The CS inputs $25 as child support (type “N” income) for Scottie. The VARO verified that Raymond's portion of the VA benefit is $400. The CS inputs $400 as VA pension based on need (type “E” income) for Raymond.

The veteran is the beneficiary and the VA augments their VA payment for the dependent child.

The dependent child receives direct payment by the VA through apportionment and is the beneficiary. Since the child is in the custody of the veteran’s divorced spouse, normally, the divorced spouse acts as the fiduciary for the dependent child.

For a definition of fiduciary, see SI 00830.314B.10.

NOTE: Do not consider this dependent child an absent dependent child. The VA does not recognize the dependent child’s non-veteran parent because the dependent child’s parents are divorced.

VA determines the dependent parent is financially dependent on the veteran. The veteran is the beneficiary and the VA augments their payment for the dependent parent.

The veteran is deceased and the VA determines the surviving parent is financially dependent on the deceased veteran. The surviving parent is the beneficiary of the VA benefit. Augmented benefits are not applicable for this benefit payment.

Input the beneficiary's portion as VA income to the beneficiary only if the interface did not post the income. A verification code of “2,” “3,” or “4” following the claim number of the VA income entry on the SSR indicates an interface posting.

If the case has an active SSI claim system pending file, process the actions on the SSI claim system using the VETERANS AFFAIRS PAYMENT page. For information on the Veterans Affairs Payment page, see MS INTRANETSSI 014.052.

For the specific rules to input VA Compensation or Pension not based on need (type “C” unearned income) and based on need (type “E” unearned income) for a dependent, see SM 01305.296 or SM 01005.191.

NOTE: To input VA educational benefits on the SSI claim system, select EDUCATIONAL BENEFITS payment “TYPE” on the drop-down list on the VETERANS AFFAIRS PAYMENT page.

If the interface did not post the income, input the dependent's portion (but not an absent dependent spouse's portion) as VA income to the dependent spouse. A verification code of “2,” “3,” or “4” following the claim number of the VA income entry on the Supplemental Security Record (SSR) indicates an interface posting.

If the case has an active SSI claim system pending file, process the actions on the SSI claim system using the VETERANS AFFAIRS PAYMENT page. For information on the Veterans Affairs Payment page, see MS INTRANETSSI 014.052.

For the specific rules to input VA Compensation or Pension not based on need (type “C” unearned income) and based on need (type “E” unearned income) for a dependent, see SM 01305.296 or SM 01005.191.

NOTE: Include the special program service center office code (PCOC) code of "D" following the claim number to indicate a dependent when inputting type “C” or “E” income. For information on VA PCOC entries, see SM 02002.015. To input VA educational benefits on the SSI claim system, select EDUCATIONAL BENEFITS payment “TYPE” on the drop-down list on the VETERANS AFFAIRS PAYMENT page.

If the interface does not post the income to the Supplemental Security Record (SSR), input the dependent child's portion (but not an absent dependent child's portion) as Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) income to the dependent child. A verification code of “2,” “3,” or “4” following the claim number of the VA income entry on the SSR indicates an interface posting.

If the case has an active Supplemental Security Income (SSI) claims system pending file, process the actions on the SSI claim system using the VETERANS AFFAIRS PAYMENT page.

For information on the Veterans Affairs Payment page, see MS INTRANETSSI 014.052.

For the specific rules to input VA Compensation or VA Pension not based on need (type “C” unearned income) and based on need (type “E” unearned income) for a dependent, see SM 01305.296 or SM 01005.191.

NOTE: When you input type “C” or “E” income, include the special program service center office code (PCOC) code of "D" following the claim number. For information on VA program service center office code (PCOC) entries, see SM 02002.015.

To input VA educational benefits on the SSI claim system from the VETERANS AFFAIRS PAYMENT page drop-down list, select EDUCATIONAL BENEFITS payment “TYPE.”