Title 38, Veterans' BenefitsRelease 119-102
§1525 Protection of Health-care Eligibility
Title 38 › PART II — GENERAL BENEFITS › CHAPTER 15 — PENSION FOR NON-SERVICE-CONNECTED DISABILITY OR DEATH OR FOR SERVICE › SUBCHAPTER II — VETERANS’ PENSIONS › § 1525
Summary
If a veteran's pension stopped after January 31, 1985 because they earned money from work or training, they keep VA health-care eligibility for three years from the date the pension ended. That care includes drugs and medicines under section 1712(d). “Stopped because of income from work or training” means the pension ended due to the veteran’s earnings, but only when the veteran’s other income alone would not have caused the pension to stop.
Full Legal Text
Title 38, §1525
Veterans' Benefits, Source: USLM XML via OLRC
(a)In the case of a veteran whose entitlement to pension is terminated after January 31, 1985, by reason of income from work or training, the veteran shall retain for a period of three years beginning on the date of such termination all eligibility for care and services under such chapter that the veteran would have had if the veteran’s entitlement to pension had not been terminated. Care and services for which such a veteran retains eligibility include, when applicable, drugs and medicines under section 1712(d) of this title.
(b)For purposes of this section, the term “terminated by reason of income from work or training” means terminated as a result of the veteran’s receipt of earnings from activity performed for remuneration or with gain, but only if the veteran’s annual income from sources other than such earnings would, taken alone, not result in the termination of the veteran’s pension.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Editorial Notes
Amendments
1996—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 104–262, § 101(e)(1)(A), substituted “section 1712(d) of this title” for “section 1712(h) of this title and special priority with respect to such care and services under clauses (5) and (6) of section 1712(i)”. Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 104–262, § 101(e)(1)(B), substituted “remuneration” for “renumeration”. 1992—Pub. L. 102–568, § 403(b)(1), substituted “Protection” for “Temporary protection” in section catchline. Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 102–568, § 403(a)(1), substituted “after
January 31, 1985,” for “during the program period”. Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 102–568, § 403(a)(2), added subsec. (b) and struck out former subsec. (b) which read as follows: “For the purposes of this section: “(1) The term ‘terminated by reason of income from work or training’ means terminated as a result of the veteran’s receipt of earnings from activity performed for remuneration or gain, but only if the veteran’s annual income from sources other than such earnings would, taken alone, not result in the termination of the veteran’s pension. “(2) The term ‘program period’ means the period beginning on
February 1, 1985, and ending on
December 31, 1992.” Pub. L. 102–291 substituted “
December 31, 1992” for “
January 31, 1992” in par. (2). 1991—Pub. L. 102–83, § 5(a), renumbered section 525 of this title as this section. Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 102–83, § 5(c)(1), substituted “1712(h)” for “612(h)” and “1712(i)” for “612(i)”. 1988—Subsec. (b)(2). Pub. L. 100–687 substituted “1992” for “1989”. 1986—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 99–576 struck out “under section 521 of this title” after “entitlement to pension”. Pub. L. 99–272 substituted “clauses (5) and (6) of section 612(i)” for “section 612(i)(5) of this title”.
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date
of 1992 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 102–291 effective Jan. 31, 1992, see section 2(d) of Pub. L. 102–291, set out as a note under section 1163 of this title.
Effective Date
of 1986
Amendments
Amendment by Pub. L. 99–576 effective as if included in Pub. L. 98–543, see section 703(c) of Pub. L. 99–576, set out as a note under section 1313 of this title. Amendment by Pub. L. 99–272 applicable to hospital care, nursing home care, and medical services furnished on or after
July 1, 1986, see section 19011(f) of Pub. L. 99–272, set out as a note under section 1710 of this title. Ratification of Actions of Secretary of Veterans Affairs During Lapsed PeriodProvision of health care and services to a veteran pursuant to this section ratified with respect to period beginning Feb. 1, 1992, and ending
May 20, 1992, see section 2(e) of Pub. L. 102–291, set out as a note under section 1163 of this title.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
38 U.S.C. § 1525
Title 38, Veterans' Benefits
Last Updated
Aug 21, 2026
Release point: 119-102