VA Form 21P-8767: Death Pension Award Attachment Guide

VA Form 21P-8767: Death Pension Award Attachment Guide – If you recently received a VA award letter approving Death Pension (also known as Survivors Pension) benefits, it almost certainly included VA Form 21P-8767, the Death Pension Award Attachment. This official notice from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs explains your payment details, ongoing responsibilities, and opportunities to potentially increase your benefit amount.

VA Form 21P-8767 is not an application you fill out. It is an informational attachment that accompanies the formal award decision. Understanding its contents helps you protect your benefits, avoid overpayments, and take advantage of additional support for which you may qualify.

What Is VA Form 21P-8767?

VA Form 21P-8767 is titled “Death Pension Award Attachment.” The current version carries a revision date of August 2005 and remains the form the VA uses to provide critical information to new recipients of Survivors Pension benefits.

The form is sent automatically with your award letter after the VA processes a claim submitted on VA Form 21P-534EZ (Application for DIC, Survivors Pension, and/or Accrued Benefits) or a related survivors benefits application. Its purpose is to clearly communicate how your pension works, when payments arrive, what changes you must report, and how certain expenses or circumstances can affect (or increase) your monthly payment.

Key Information Provided in VA Form 21P-8767

The form covers several important topics that every recipient should review immediately upon receipt:

Payment Delivery
An initial check covering any retroactive amount is mailed within 15 days of the award. After that, regular monthly payments are delivered at the beginning of each month for the prior month. Many veterans and survivors now receive payments via direct deposit for faster and more secure delivery.

Additional Benefits for the Veteran’s Unmarried Children
You may qualify for a higher pension rate if the veteran’s unmarried children meet specific criteria: under age 18, under age 23 and attending an approved school, or permanently incapable of self-support due to a disability that began before age 18. In some cases, eligible children may receive pension in their own right when there is no surviving spouse.

Aid and Attendance or Housebound Benefits
A surviving spouse who is blind, residing in a nursing home, requires regular aid and attendance of another person, or is permanently housebound due to disability may receive a higher pension rate. The form explains how to request this increased benefit.

Medical and Educational Expenses That Can Increase Your Pension
Unreimbursed family medical expenses (including health insurance premiums for yourself and relatives you are obligated to support) and certain educational or vocational rehabilitation expenses can be deducted from your countable income. When these expenses are high enough, they can raise your monthly pension rate. These are normally reported at year-end with your Eligibility Verification Report (EVR).

Creditor Protection
VA pension payments are generally exempt from claims by most creditors. They are not assignable and are protected from attachment, levy, or seizure except for certain claims by the United States government.

Change of Address
You must notify the VA immediately of any address change to ensure you continue receiving correspondence and payments without interruption.

Conditions That Affect Your Right to Continued Payments
This is one of the most important sections. Your benefits can be affected by changes in family income, net worth, marital status, or dependency status. You are required to report:

  • All income and net worth changes for yourself and your dependents.
  • Changes in marital or dependency status (including the death of a dependent, marriage of a dependent child, or a child leaving school).
  • If you are receiving Aid and Attendance based on nursing home status, when you are no longer a patient.
  • Incarceration in a penal institution (benefits may stop after 60 days following a felony or misdemeanor conviction).

Critical Warning on Remarriage
The form clearly states that entitlement to Survivors Pension is permanently lost if the surviving spouse remarries or enters into a relationship in which the individuals hold themselves out to the public as being married. Reductions or terminations due to marital status changes have specific effective dates outlined in the form.

Other Important Notices
The form warns about penalties for providing false information or failing to furnish requested evidence, and notes that income information is subject to computer matching with other agencies.

Why VA Form 21P-8767 Matters?

This attachment serves as official notice of your rights and responsibilities. VA relies on recipients to report changes promptly. Failure to do so can result in overpayments that the VA will seek to recover. In Board of Veterans’ Appeals decisions, the form has been cited as evidence that the VA properly notified claimants of their duty to report income and status changes.

Practical Tips for VA Death Pension Recipients

  • Read and keep the form. Store a copy with your award letter and other VA documents.
  • Create or log into your VA.gov account. This is the fastest way to update your address, direct deposit information, and view your benefit letters and payment history.
  • Track expenses year-round. Keep receipts and records of unreimbursed medical and educational expenses. These can significantly affect your countable income.
  • Report changes immediately. Do not wait for the annual Eligibility Verification Report. Contact VA by phone, mail, or through VA.gov as soon as a change occurs.
  • Understand the remarriage rule. This is a permanent bar to future Survivors Pension eligibility in most cases.
  • Get help when needed. Work with an accredited Veterans Service Organization (VSO) representative, claims agent, or attorney if your situation involves complex income, assets, or appeals.
  • Check current rates and limits annually. Pension rates and income/net worth limits adjust each December. Review the latest figures on the official VA Survivors Pension rates page.

Download VA Form 21P-8767

VA Form 21P-8767 is an official U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs form. It is normally provided with your award letter, but you can download a reference copy of the current version here:

Download VA Form 21P-8767 Death Pension Award Attachment (PDF)

You can also view the form information page on VA.gov:
VA Form 21P-8767 – Death Pension Award Attachment

Note: Do not submit this form unless specifically instructed by the VA. It is primarily an informational attachment.

Frequently Asked Questions About VA Form 21P-8767

Is VA Form 21P-8767 a form I need to complete and return?
No. It is an informational attachment sent with your award letter. You do not fill it out or return it unless the VA specifically requests additional information.

What happens if I fail to report a change in income or marital status?
You may receive an overpayment that the VA will attempt to recover. Remarriage or holding yourself out as married generally results in permanent loss of Survivors Pension eligibility.

Can unreimbursed medical expenses really increase my monthly pension?
Yes. When qualifying medical or certain educational expenses exceed applicable thresholds, they reduce your countable income and can raise your pension rate. Keep detailed records throughout the year.

Is VA Form 21P-8767 still current?
The form revision date is August 2005, and it continues to be the version referenced and sent by the VA with Death Pension awards. VA policies and rates are updated regularly, so always cross-reference current information on VA.gov.

Where should I send reports of changes?
You can report changes by phone (1-800-827-1000), through your VA.gov account, by mail to the Pension Intake Center or your regional office, or with the assistance of an accredited representative.

Understanding VA Form 21P-8767 helps you stay compliant and get the full benefits you have earned. If you have questions about your specific award or need assistance reporting changes, contact the VA promptly or reach out to a Veterans Service Organization representative for free help.