Pension & Disability

VA Pension

Financial support for veterans with limited income when they have 90 days or more of active-duty military service, one day of which was during a wartime period. To qualify, a veteran must be permanently and totally disabled for reasons traceable neither to military service nor to willful misconduct or must be over 65 years of age. The veteran must have been discharged from active duty under conditions other than dishonorable.

• How to Apply

  Visit your local VAC. Find your nearest LDVA Parish Service Office here.

VA Disability Payments

Payments to veterans who are disabled by injury or disease incurred, or aggravated as a result of military service.

• How to Apply

  Visit your local VAC. Find your nearest LDVA Parish Service Office here.

Louisiana National Guard Disability and Death Benefits

Louisiana National Guard members suffering a permanent and total disability while on federal or state active duty on or after Sept. 11, 2001 may be eligible for the $100,000/$50,000 state disability benefit. Beneficiaries of record of Louisiana National Guard members killed in action may be eligible for the $250,000 federal death benefit.*

There are two levels of the state disability benefit:

• • If the guard member’s rating was granted on the final adjudication of the first claim, the guard member may be eligible for the $100,000 benefit.
  • If the guard member’s rating was granted on a later decision, the guard member may be eligible for the $50,000 benefit.

A Louisiana National Guard member must meet each of the following requirements for qualifying periods of service:

• Service in the Louisiana National Guard after Sept. 11, 2001
• Activated with the Louisiana National Guard for federal service on orders under 32 U.S.C. 502(f) or 10 U.S.C. 12301, 12302 or 12303
• Activated with the Louisiana National Guard during any declared national emergency or contingency operation as defined by 10 U.S.C. 101(a)(13), or during any state emergency declared by the governor of the state of Louisiana
• Have honorable or under honorable conditions discharge for all periods of federal and state service in any branch of the U.S. Armed Forces and the Louisiana National Guard

NOTE: A guard member who is injured during duty in any training status (except training pursuant to 32 U.S.C. 502(f)(2)(A)) is not eligible for the state disability benefit.

*The Louisiana National Guard processes all federal death benefits as well as workers’ compensation claims. For workers’ compensation claims, a guard member must have a permanent and total rating of 100% through workers’ compensation if the guard member was injured during state-activated duty pursuant to La. R.S. 29:7. For more information about the federal death benefit and workers’ compensation, contact the guard member’s Army or Air Guard unit.

• How To Apply

  For more information about the application process, or to apply, email langclaims@la.gov.