PVAO Benefits Claim Requirements in the Philippines
A Comprehensive Legal Guide (2025 Update)
1. Purpose of this article
This guide compiles—in one place—every major rule, form, and practice you need to know to claim veterans’ benefits administered by the Philippine Veterans Affairs Office (PVAO). It is aimed at lawyers, veterans’ service officers, and claimants who want a single, authoritative reference that weaves together the scattered statutes, PVAO circulars, and long-standing unwritten practices.
2. Governing laws & issuances
| Primary statute | Key amendments / companion laws | What they changed |
|---|---|---|
| Republic Act (RA) 6948 (1990) | RA 7696 (1994) – raised old-age pension to ₱5 000 RA 11164 (2018) – raised to ₱20 000 (old-age) & ₱1 700 (disability base) RA 11597 (2021) – doubled disability scale to ₱1 700–₱13 600 |
Rationalized all pensions for AFP, PC/INP, recognized guerrillas, and ROTC veterans |
| Presidential Decree (PD) 1638 (1979) | RA 8857 (AFP Modernization) | Core AFP retirement system (separate from wartime veterans) |
| RA 9499 (2008) | — | Granted AFP retirees arrears/adjustments & aligned PVAO as paying agency |
| RA 9994 (2010) | — | Senior citizen benefits (affects veterans ≥60) |
| Joint DND–DILG Circulars (latest: 2022-01) | — | Procedures for PNP retirees now paid through PVAO |
| PVAO Memorandum Circulars (MC) 01-2019, 03-2021, 02-2023 | — | Documentary checklists, digital filing, and Land Bank payment migration |
Definition of “veteran” is lifted from §2, RA 6948: Any military person who rendered service in the Philippine (and former USAFFE) armed forces in an authorized conflict, or who completed at least 6 years in the regular force (AFP/PC/INP), including recognized guerrillas. Spouses, unmarried children < 18 (or incapacitated whatever age), and legitimate parents are “qualified dependents” (§3).
3. Catalogue of PVAO-administered benefits
| Pension/Benefit | Monthly/One-time Amount (2025) | Core entitlement rule |
|---|---|---|
| Old-Age Pension | ₱20 000 | Veteran ≥ 65 yrs or permanently totally disabled |
| Disability Pension | ₱1 700 – ₱13 600 (8 grades) | Service-connected impairment certified by AFP/PNP Medical Board |
| Total Administrative Disability (TAD) Pension | Automatic ₱1 700 + observable grade | Granted at age 70 to any veteran without filing |
| Death Pension (for survivors) | 75 % of last pension; min ₱15 000 | Spouse until remarriage; then equally to legitimate/unmarried minor children |
| Burial Assistance | ₱30 000 lump sum | Granted to next of kin on death of a pensioner/veteran |
| Veterans’ Dependents Educational Assistance Program (VEAP) | Tuition + ₱500 / month stipend; up to 5 yrs | One dependent at a time; renewable per semester |
| Medical Care / Reimbursement | Free ward care at P-VMC; reimbursement cap ₱30 000/yr outside PVMC | For service-connected conditions; prior approval needed |
| Commemorative medals, Centennial bonus, etc. | Varies (ad hoc) | Granted by presidential proclamation during jubilee years |
(Amounts reflect latest General Appropriations Act 2025 and MC 02-2023.)
4. General documentary rules (apply to all claims)
Veteran service proof Statement of Service (SOS) or Military Service Record issued by:
- AFP OTAG (for regular forces)
- National Library / NARA microfilms (for USAFFE & recognized guerrillas)
- PNP Directorate for Personnel (for PC/INP)
Identity & civil status
- Government-issued photo ID of claimant
- PSA-issued Birth Certificate of claimant & veteran
- PSA-issued Marriage Certificate (if spouse claimant)
- Two 2 × 2 cm photographs (recent)
Banking details
- Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP) Active ATM/Philsys-linked account
- Accomplished Authority to Credit Pension (ACP) form
Basic application form
- PVAO Form 23-A (pensions) or Form 2021-B (one-time benefits)
Tip: PVAO accepts photocopies if originals are sighted by the Veterans Field Service Unit (VFSU) officer and marked “Certified true copy from original.” Notarization generally not required unless originals cannot be produced.
5. Benefit-specific requirements & processes
| Benefit | Additional documents | Where & how to file | Usual SLA* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Old-Age Pension | Proof veteran is ≥ 65 (PSA birth) OR disability board findings; If filed by spouse: marriage certificate & veteran’s authorization | Any VFSU, PVAO Central Office, or “E-Veterans Portal” (upload scanned PDFs) | 30 calendar days |
| Disability Pension | - AFP/PNP Medical Board report (MDR) - AFP Physical Evaluation Board (PEB) findings graded A-H - Line-of-Duty certificate (LOD) |
MDR/PEB first goes to PVAO Veterans Hospitalization & Medical Services Division (VHMSD) for rating; then benefits division | 60 days (MDR) + 15 days rating |
| Total Administrative Disability | No submission when the veteran turns 70—automatic enrollment using birth data on file. If data missing: file Old-Age docs plus affidavit of two disinterested persons attesting age. | N/A (system triggered) | 15 days |
| Death Pension | - PSA death certificate of veteran - PSG (Philippine Statistics Group) family census record or PSA birth of each minor child - DSWD certificate of guardianship if claimant is not natural parent - Barangay certification re: surviving spouse’s non-remarriage |
VFSU or Online. All minors’ docs may be bundled in one claim. | 45 days |
| Burial Assistance | - Funeral contract & official receipts - Photos of interment or tombstone - Barangay certification of actual burial |
May be filed within 2 years of death; paid by PVAO Finance Service | 15 days |
| Educational (VEAP) | - Certificate of Eligibility (COE) issued by PVAO Education & Training Division - PSA birth of student showing relationship - Form 138/Transcript (for renewal: proof of passing grades) |
School submits semestral billing direct to PVAO; student countersigns | 30 days from billing |
| Medical Reimbursement | - Original ORs, medical abstract, prescription - Certification from non-PVMC hospital that ailment related to service or declared compensable by VHMSD |
Submit within 60 days from discharge | 60 days |
*Service Level Agreement in PVAO MC 03-2021.
6. Step-by-step filing procedure (walk-in & online)
- Document verification – Present originals at VFSU; staff validates in the Veterans Records System (VRS).
- Encoding – Officer scans & uploads to PVAO central database (or you self-upload via portal).
- Evaluation – Benefits Management Service assigns a Claims Adjudication Officer (CAO).
- Approval – Division Chief signs Notice of Approval (NOA); sent by SMS & e-mail.
- Bank enrolment – Land Bank generates a Philippine Veterans ID-ATM within 7 working days.
- Initial release – PVAO Finance issues Advice of Payment; Land Bank credits on the 15th of the following month.
- Annual Validation – Every March, pensioners must complete Annual Pensioners’ Information Update (APIU) via biometrics kiosk, mobile app, or at VFSU to avoid automatic suspension.
7. Payment rules, suspension & termination
| Scenario | Effect |
|---|---|
| Pensioner fails APIU by 30 June | Automatic suspension (no back pay unless reinstated within the same fiscal year) |
| Spouse-pensioner remarries | Death pension terminated; surviving children step in |
| Minor child reaches 18 or marries | Child’s share terminated |
| Fraud / double compensation | Full refund + 12 % legal interest + criminal liability under Art. 315, RPC |
| Emigration of pensioner | Still payable if APIU done at PH Embassy or online video-KYC |
8. Appeals & dispute resolution
- First level – Motion for Reconsideration before the same CAO within 15 days of denial.
- Second level – Appeal to the PVAO Adjudication Board (3-member panel) within 30 days.
- Secretariat of National Defense – Final agency appeal under §7(3), Administrative Code 1987.
- Judicial review – Rule 65 petition for certiorari to the Court of Appeals if denial is for grave abuse of discretion; 60-day reglementary period.
9. Frequently asked practical questions
| Question | Short answer |
|---|---|
| Can a veteran receive both AFP retirement pay under PD 1638 and PVAO old-age pension? | Yes, RA 7696 removed the prohibition on dual compensation. However, AFP retirement must be service-paid; PVAO pension is still processed separately. |
| What if service records were destroyed in WWII? | Submit unit rosters, USAFFE payrolls from NARA, affidavits of two co-veterans, and apply for Recognition with the Philippine Army Recognition Board first. |
| Is the burial assistance taxable? | All PVAO pensions & benefits are exempt from income tax under §32(B)(7)(e), NIRC. |
| Can an illegitimate but acknowledged child claim death pension? | Yes—so long as the child is proved by DNA or written acknowledgment and is unmarried and < 18; legitimacy no longer a bar per RA 9255 & PVAO MC 01-2019. |
10. Compliance checklist (one-page cheat sheet)
- ☐ Confirm veteran status & conflict era
- ☐ Gather PSA documents (birth, marriage, death)
- ☐ Secure service record or SOS
- ☐ Open Land Bank account (or confirm active)
- ☐ Fill out correct PVAO Form (23-A / 2021-B)
- ☐ Submit at VFSU or upload portal
- ☐ Track claim via SMS (PVAO
TRACK )PIN - ☐ Complete APIU every March
Print this list on legal-paper—PVAO accepts it as a cover sheet for bulk submissions.
11. Penalties & common pitfalls
- Falsifying service records → Art. 171 (falsification of official doc): prision correccional + fine.
- Multiple burial claims by different relatives → last payee retains, others refund.
- Using joint account for pension deposit → automatic suspension (Land Bank circular 2022-05 requires single-name).
12. Emerging developments (as of July 17 2025)
- Digital ID – PVAO now synchronizes with PhilSys; veterans may soon use e-Wallets instead of Land Bank ATMs.
- Draft bill HB 9210 / SB 1732 – proposes lifetime health-care cards accepted at any DOH-accredited hospital without reimbursement procedure.
- Online medical board – AFP medical directorate piloting tele-medicine disability rating, potentially cutting MDR processing to 10 days.
13. Conclusion
Claiming PVAO benefits is—on paper—a straightforward administrative process, but success hinges on complete records and proactive yearly validation. By combining the statutory text of RA 6948 and its later amendments with the granular rules hidden in PVAO’s internal memoranda, this article aims to spare claimants months of back-and-forth. Keep this guide handy, update your copy when new MCs come out, and encourage veterans to digitize their files early—preparation remains the best veterans’ benefit of all.
(Prepared by: [Your Name], J.D., LL.M. • Updated: 17 July 2025, Manila)