Vets Waive Benefits to Dodge Military Pay Mix-Ups
Published Date: 11/20/2025
Notice
Summary
If you're a reservist or guardsman getting VA disability benefits, this update lets you officially waive those benefits to receive your military pay instead. The VA is updating the form you use to do this, helping avoid payment mix-ups and saving you from overpayments. You’ve got until December 22, 2025, to share your thoughts on these changes—no extra costs, just smoother paperwork!
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.
Waive VA Benefits to Get Military Pay
If you are a reservist or guardsman receiving VA disability compensation or pension, you can use VA Form 21-8951-2 (OMB Control No. 2900-0463) to formally waive those VA benefits so you can receive active or inactive duty training pay and allowances, or to notify VA to resume benefits after your service ends. The form is intended to reduce overpayments and erroneous payments that could cause hardship for claimants.
Paperwork Time Burden for Claimants
VA estimates filling out VA Form 21-8951-2 takes about 10 minutes per respondent. The agency estimates 34,594 respondents per year, totaling 5,766 hours of annual burden for individuals or households.
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