21-8951 Notice of Waiver of VA Compensation or Pension to Receiv

OMB Approved No. 2900-0463
Respondent Burden: 10 minutes
VA REGIONAL OFFICE

NOTICE OF WAIVER OF VA
COMPENSATION OR PENSION
TO RECEIVE MILITARY PAY AND
ALLOWANCES
VA FILE NUMBER

NAME AND ADDRESS OF VETERAN

SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER

DAYTIME TELEPHONE NUMBER (Include Area Code)

EVENING TELEPHONE NUMBER (Include Area Code)

Based on your Social Security number, the Defense Manpower Data Center (DMDC) has identified you as having been a reservist or
guardsman during the fiscal year(s) indicated below. Please verify that the Social Security number shown above is your correct Social
Security number. If it is not, please enter the correct number. Also, please enter your telephone number(s) above.
Active or inactive duty training pay cannot legally be paid concurrently with VA disability compensation or pension benefits (10
U.S.C. 12316 and 38 U.S.C. 5304(c)).
You may elect to keep the training pay you received from the military service department. However, to be legally entitled to keep your
training pay, you must waive VA benefits for a number of days equal to the number of days for which you received training pay. In
most instances, it will be to your advantage to waive VA benefits and keep your training pay.
DMDC records indicate that you received training pay for the following number of days:

FISCAL YEAR

TRAINING DAYS

Please note that reserve components are to report the number of days during the fiscal year for which a reservist/guardsman receives
training pay as one full day’s duty pay for each 4-hour training assembly attended. Therefore, you might be credited with 4 days
training pay on a drill weekend. Most members will be paid for approximately 63 training days during a fiscal year. This normally
consists of 48 armory drills or training sessions and 15 days active training.

If you waive VA benefits to receive training pay, VA will adjust your VA award to withhold future benefits for the same total number
of days waived and at the monthly rate in effect for the fiscal year for which you received training pay. No overpayment will be
created in your account and your normal VA rate will be restored when a sufficient number of days’ benefits have been withheld.
Please fully complete this form and return it to the VA regional office address shown below:

VA FORM
AUG 2011

21-8951

EXISTING STOCKS OF VA FORM 21-8951, MAR 2005,
WILL BE USED.

(Continued on Reverse)

Please complete the appropriate block below, sign this form, secure the signature of your unit commander or designee, and
return the completed form to VA within 60 days. Please check one of the following blocks. If you check neither, we will
assume that you agree with the number of training pay days shown on the front of this form.
I agree that the number of training days shown on the front of this form is correct.
The number of training days shown on the front of this form is not correct. The following is the actual number of
days for which I received training pay. (Enter correct information below).
FISCAL YEAR
TRAINING DAYS
Please check only one of the following blocks:
I elect to waive VA benefits for the days indicated in order to retain my training pay.
I elect to waive military pay and allowances for the days indicated in order to retain my VA compensation or
pension. NOTE: Checking this option will give most veterans LESS money.
I received no military pay and allowances during the fiscal year(s) indicated on the front of this form.
DATE SIGNED

SIGNATURE OF RESERVIST/GUARDSMAN

To the best of my knowledge, the information shown above concerning the member’s training days is correct.

SIGNATURE OF UNIT COMMANDER OR DESIGNEE

DATE SIGNED

NAME AND MAILING ADDRESS OF RESERVE/GUARD UNIT

UNIT TELEPHONE NO. (Including Area Code)

If we do not receive a waiver from you, we will assume that you wish to waive VA compensation or pension for the number of days
printed on the front of the form. However, we will not adjust your award until we have advised you of the specific changes we propose
to make.
NOTE: In the past you may have filed a one-time waiver of disability benefits which was to remain in effect until your reserve/guard
status changed or you withdrew the waiver. That waiver is no longer valid. Annual waivers are again required.
If you have any questions about the information contained on this form or if you need assistance in completing the form, please call
VA’s toll-free number 1-800-827-1000.
PRIVACY ACT INFORMATION: The VA will not disclose information collected on this form to any source other than what has been
authorized under the Privacy Act of 1974 or Title 38, Code of Federal Regulations 1.576 for routine uses (i.e., civil or criminal law
enforcement, congressional communications, epidemiological or research studies, the collection of money owed to the United States,
litigation in which the United States is a party or has an interest, the administration of VA programs and delivery of VA benefits,
verification of identity and status, and personnel administration) as identified in the VA system of records, 58VA21/22/28,
Compensation, Pension, Education, and Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Records - VA, published in the Federal Register.
Your obligation to respond is voluntary. Giving us your SSN account information is mandatory. Applicants are required to provide their
SSN unless the disclosure of the SSN is required by a Federal Statute of law in effect prior to January 1, 1975, and still in effect. The
requested information is considered relevant and necessary to determine maximum benefits under the law. The responses you submit
are considered confidential (38 U.S.C. 5701). Information submitted is subject to verification through computer matching programs
with other agencies.
RESPONDENT BURDEN: We need this information to determine whether you choose to waive your VA compensation or pension or
your military pay and allowances for the days for which you received training pay (10 U.S.C. 12316 and 38 U.S.C.5304(c). Title 38,
United States Code, allows us to ask for this information. We estimate that you will need an average of 10 minutes to review the
instructions, find the information, and complete this form. VA cannot conduct or sponsor a collection of information unless a valid
OMB control number is displayed. You are not required to respond to a collection of information if this number is not displayed. Valid
OMB control numbers can be located on the OMB Internet Page at www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain. If desired, you can call
1-800-827-1000 to get information on where to send comments or suggestions about this form.
PENALTY: The law provides severe penalties which include fine, imprisonment, or both for the willful submission of any statement
of evidence of a material fact, knowing it to be false, or for the fraudulent acceptance of any payment to which you are not entitled.
VA FORM 21-8951, AUG 2011