How to apply for Pennsylvania Blind Veterans' Pension ($150 per Month)

Who it's for

Pennsylvania pays a state pension of $150 per month to veterans who lost their vision because of a service-connected injury or disease. The veteran must have been a Pennsylvania resident when entering the military and been discharged honorably or under honorable conditions. Qualifying vision loss means corrected vision of 3/60 or 10/200 or worse in the better eye, or a visual field in the better eye narrowed to 20 degrees or less. The pension is paid on top of any federal VA compensation, and there is no income or asset test. Apply through the County Director of Veterans Affairs in the county of residence.

What you'll need

• DD-214 or other military discharge paperwork
• Documentation of Pennsylvania residency at entry into the military
• VA decision letter documenting the service-connected vision disability

Where to apply

Step by step

1. Confirm eligibility before applying. The vision loss must be service-connected and meet Pennsylvania's standard: corrected visual acuity of 3/60 or 10/200 or equivalent (or worse) in the better eye, or a visual field in the better eye narrowed to 20 degrees or less. The veteran must also have been a Pennsylvania resident when entering the military and must have been discharged honorably or under honorable conditions. The County Director of Veterans Affairs can confirm whether the VA-documented condition meets the standard.
2. Gather your required documents: your DD-214 or other military discharge paperwork, documentation showing Pennsylvania residency at the time of entry into the military, and your VA decision letter documenting the service-connected vision disability.
3. Locate the County Director of Veterans Affairs in your county of residence. Applications are submitted through that office.
4. Apply online through the Pennsylvania application portal for this benefit.
5. Submit your completed application along with all required documents to the County Director of Veterans Affairs.

What to expect: After submitting your application, the County Director of Veterans Affairs will review your documents and determine whether the service-connected vision condition meets Pennsylvania's qualifying standard. Processing times vary, so contact your County Director of Veterans Affairs for an estimate of how long a decision may take. If approved, the $150 monthly pension is paid on top of any federal VA compensation you already receive — there is no income or asset test. This benefit does not have a stated renewal cadence in the program facts, but keep your contact information current with the County Director of Veterans Affairs in case any follow-up is needed.