Determines that disability compensation or benefits received by veterans from the VA are not to be treated as income or resources for purposes of determining eligibility for means-tested programs

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Rob Ortt and 1 co-sponsor

Summary of S 3093: Disability Compensation Exemption for Veterans Purpose and IntentThis bill aims to exclude disability compensation and benefits received from the Department of V

REFERRED TO VETERANS, HOMELAND SECURITY AND MILITARY AFFAIRS

Purpose and Intent

This bill aims to exclude disability compensation and benefits received from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) from being counted as income or resources when determining eligibility for means-tested federal assistance programs. The goal is to ensure that veterans are not penalized or denied access to critical support services due to the disability payments they receive from the VA.

Key Provisions

Specifies that any disability compensation or pension payments from the VA shall not be included as income or resources for the purposes of determining eligibility for any federal, state, or local public assistance program that has an income or resource limit.

This exemption applies to a wide range of programs, including Medicaid, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF).

Ensures that veterans receiving VA disability benefits will not have those payments counted against them when applying for or maintaining eligibility for other government aid programs based on financial need.

Impact and Affected Parties

This bill would directly benefit disabled veterans and their families by preserving their access to critical social safety net programs, even if their VA disability payments would otherwise make them ineligible.

It aims to remove a potential disincentive for veterans to seek the disability benefits they have earned through their service, by ensuring those payments do not jeopardize their eligibility for other assistance.

The legislation would impact the eligibility determinations and administrative processes of various federal, state, and local assistance programs that currently count VA disability payments as income or resources.

Procedural and Timeline Aspects

S 3093 was introduced in the Senate on November 3, 2025 and has been referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, Homeland Security and Military Affairs.

This is not the first time similar legislation has been proposed, with prior bills S 7472 and S 1226 addressing the same issue in earlier congressional sessions.

If enacted, the provisions of this bill would apply prospectively, exempting VA disability payments from eligibility calculations going forward, but would not require retroactive adjustments to past program determinations.