---
kind: "section"
citation: "38 U.S.C. § 1722"
title: "38"
title_heading: "Veterans’ Benefits"
number: "1722"
heading: "Determination of inability to defray necessary expenses; income thresholds"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/38/1722"
units:
  - "Part II — General Benefits"
  - "Chapter 17 — Hospital, Nursing Home, Domiciliary, and Medical Care"
  - "Subchapter III — Miscellaneous Provisions Relating to Hospital and Nursing Home Care and Medical Treatment of Veterans"
---

# §1722. Determination of inability to defray necessary expenses; income thresholds

- (a) For the purposes of [section 1710(a)(2)(G) of this title](/usc/38/1710.md?p=a-2-G), a [veteran](/usc/38/1101.md?p=1) shall be considered to be unable to defray the expenses of necessary care if—
  - (1) the [veteran](/usc/38/1101.md?p=1) is eligible to receive medical assistance under a [State](/usc/38/101.md?p=20) plan approved under title XIX of the Social Security Act ([42 U.S.C. 1396](/usc/42/1396.md) et seq.);
  - (2) the [veteran](/usc/38/1101.md?p=1) is in receipt of [pension](/usc/38/101.md?p=15) under [section 1521 of this title](/usc/38/1521.md); or
  - (3) the [veteran](/usc/38/1101.md?p=1)’s attributable income is not greater than the amount set forth in [subsection (b)](#b).
- (b)
  - (1) For purposes of [subsection (a)(3)](#a-3), the income threshold for the calendar year beginning on January 1, 1990, is—
    - (A) $17,240 in the case of a [veteran](/usc/38/1101.md?p=1) with no [dependents](/usc/38/3452.md?p=d); and
    - (B) $20,688 in the case of a [veteran](/usc/38/1101.md?p=1) with one [dependent](/usc/38/3452.md?p=d), plus $1,150 for each additional [dependent](/usc/38/3452.md?p=d).
  - (2) For a calendar year beginning after December 31, 1990, the amounts in effect for purposes of this subsection shall be the amounts in effect for the preceding calendar year as adjusted under [subsection (c)](#c) of this section.
- (c) Effective on January 1 of each year, the amounts in effect under [subsection (b)](#b) of this section shall be increased by the percentage by which the maximum rates of [pension](/usc/38/101.md?p=15) were increased under [section 5312(a) of this title](/usc/38/5312.md?p=a) during the preceding calendar year.
- (d)
  - (1) Notwithstanding the attributable income of a [veteran](/usc/38/1101.md?p=1), the [Secretary](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) may refuse to make a determination described in paragraph (2) of this subsection if the corpus of the estate of the [veteran](/usc/38/1101.md?p=1) is such that under all the circumstances it is reasonable that some part of the corpus of the estate of the [veteran](/usc/38/1101.md?p=1) be consumed for the [veteran](/usc/38/1101.md?p=1)’s maintenance.
  - (2) A determination described in this paragraph is a determination that for purposes of [subsection (a)(3)](#a-3) of this section a [veteran](/usc/38/1101.md?p=1)’s attributable income is not greater than the amount determined under [subsection (b)](#b) of this section.
  - (3) For the purposes of paragraph (1) of this subsection, the corpus of the estate of a [veteran](/usc/38/1101.md?p=1) shall be determined in the same manner as the manner in which determinations are made of the corpus of the estates of persons under [section 1522 of this title](/usc/38/1522.md).
- (e)
  - (1) In order to avoid a hardship to a [veteran](/usc/38/1101.md?p=1) described in paragraph (2) of this subsection, the [Secretary](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) may deem the [veteran](/usc/38/1101.md?p=1) to have an attributable income during the previous year not greater than the amount determined under [subsection (b)](#b) of this section.
  - (2) A [veteran](/usc/38/1101.md?p=1) is described in this paragraph for the purposes of [subsection (a)](#a) of this section if—
    - (A) the [veteran](/usc/38/1101.md?p=1) has an attributable income greater than the amount determined under [subsection (b)](#b) of this section; and
    - (B) the current projections of such [veteran](/usc/38/1101.md?p=1)’s income for the current year are that the [veteran](/usc/38/1101.md?p=1)’s income for such year will be substantially below the amount determined under [subsection (b)](#b).
- (f) For purposes of this section:
  - (1) The term “attributable income” means the income of a [veteran](/usc/38/1101.md?p=1) for the most recent year for which information is available determined in the same manner as the manner in which a determination is made of the total amount of income by which the rate of [pension](/usc/38/101.md?p=15) for such [veteran](/usc/38/1101.md?p=1) under [section 1521 of this title](/usc/38/1521.md) would be reduced if such [veteran](/usc/38/1101.md?p=1) were eligible for [pension](/usc/38/101.md?p=15) under that section.
  - (2) The term “corpus of the estate of the [veteran](/usc/38/1101.md?p=1)” includes the corpus of the estates of the [veteran](/usc/38/1101.md?p=1)’s [spouse](/usc/38/101.md?p=31) and [dependent](/usc/38/3452.md?p=d) children, if any.
  - (3) The term “previous year” means the calendar year preceding the year in which the [veteran](/usc/38/1101.md?p=1) applies for care or services under [section 1710(a) of this title](/usc/38/1710.md?p=a).
- (g) For the purposes of [section 1724(c) of this title](/usc/38/1724.md?p=c), the fact that a [veteran](/usc/38/1101.md?p=1) is—
  - (1) eligible to receive medical assistance under a [State](/usc/38/101.md?p=20) plan approved under title XIX of the Social Security Act ([42 U.S.C. 1396](/usc/42/1396.md) et seq.);
  - (2) a [veteran](/usc/38/1101.md?p=1) with a [service-connected](/usc/38/101.md?p=16) [disability](/usc/38/1701.md?p=1); or
  - (3) in receipt of [pension](/usc/38/101.md?p=15) under any law administered by the [Secretary](/usc/38/101.md?p=1),

  shall be accepted as sufficient evidence of such [veteran](/usc/38/1101.md?p=1)’s inability to defray necessary expenses.


## Source credit

(Pub. L. 85–857, Sept. 2, 1958, 72 Stat. 1144, § 622; Pub. L. 89–612, § 1, Sept. 30, 1966, 80 Stat. 859; Pub. L. 91–500, § 1, Oct. 22, 1970, 84 Stat. 1096; Pub. L. 94–581, title II, §§ 202(k), 210(a)(9), Oct. 21, 1976, 90 Stat. 2856, 2863; Pub. L. 96–330, title IV, § 401(a), Aug. 26, 1980, 94 Stat. 1051; Pub. L. 99–272, title XIX, § 19011(c)(1), Apr. 7, 1986, 100 Stat. 376; Pub. L. 100–322, title I, § 102(b), May 20, 1988, 102 Stat. 493; Pub. L. 101–508, title VIII, § 8013(c), Nov. 5, 1990, 104 Stat. 1388–346; Pub. L. 102–40, title IV, § 402(d)(1), May 7, 1991, 105 Stat. 239; renumbered § 1722 and amended Pub. L. 102–83, §§ 4(a)(1), (b)(1), (2)(E), 5(a), (c)(1), Aug. 6, 1991, 105 Stat. 403–406; Pub. L. 104–262, title I, § 101(d)(9), Oct. 9, 1996, 110 Stat. 3180; Pub. L. 112–154, title VII, § 705, Aug. 6, 2012, 126 Stat. 1206.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### References in Text

The Social Security Act, referred to in subsecs. (a)(1) and (g)(1), is act Aug. 14, 1935, ch. 531, 49 Stat. 620. Title XIX of the Social Security Act is classified generally to subchapter XIX (§ 1396 et seq.) of chapter 7 of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see section 1305 of Title 42 and Tables.

### Prior Provisions

Prior section 1722, Pub. L. 85–857, Sept. 2, 1958, 72 Stat. 1196, related to change of program by eligible person, prior to repeal by Pub. L. 92–540, title IV, § 402(2), Oct. 24, 1972, 86 Stat. 1090. See section 3691 of this title.

### Amendments

2012—Subsec. (f)(1). Pub. L. 112–154 substituted “the most recent year for which information is available” for “the previous year”.

1996—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 104–262, § 101(d)(9)(A), substituted “section 1710(a)(2)(G)” for “section 1710(a)(1)(I)” in introductory provisions.

Subsec. (f)(3). Pub. L. 104–262, § 101(d)(9)(B), struck out “or 1712(f)” before “of this title”.

1991—Pub. L. 102–83, § 5(a), renumbered section 622 of this title as this section.

Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 102–83, § 5(c)(1), substituted “1710(a)(1)(I)” for “610(a)(1)(I)” in introductory provisions and “1521” for “521” in par. (2).

Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 102–40 substituted “5312(a)” for “3112(a)”.

Subsec. (d)(1). Pub. L. 102–83, § 4(b)(1), (2)(E), substituted “Secretary” for “Administrator”.

Subsec. (d)(3). Pub. L. 102–83, § 5(c)(1), substituted “1522” for “522”.

Subsec. (e)(1). Pub. L. 102–83, § 4(b)(1), (2)(E), substituted “Secretary” for “Administrator”.

Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 102–83, § 5(c)(1), substituted “1521” for “521” in par. (1) and “1710(a) or 1712(f)” for “610(a) or 612(f)” in par. (3).

Subsec. (g). Pub. L. 102–83, § 5(c)(1), substituted “1724(c)” for “624(c)” in introductory provisions.

Pub. L. 102–83, § 4(a)(1), substituted “administered by the Secretary” for “administered by the Veterans’ Administration” in par. (3).

1990—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 101–508, § 8013(c)(1), designated par. (1) as entire subsec. (a), redesignated cls. (A) to (C) as pars. (1) to (3), respectively, substituted “amount set forth in subsection (b)” for “Category A threshold” in par. (3), and struck out former par. (2) which read as follows: “For the purposes of section 610(a)(2)(A) of this title, a veteran’s income level is described in this paragraph if the veteran’s attributable income is not greater than the Category B threshold.”

Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 101–508, § 8013(c)(2), amended subsec. (b) generally. Prior to amendment, subsec. (b) read as follows: “For the purposes of this section:

“(1) The Category A threshold—

“(A) for the calendar year beginning on January 1, 1986, is—

“(i) $15,000 in the case of a veteran with no dependents; and

“(ii) $18,000 in the case of a veteran with one dependent, plus $1,000 for each additional dependent; and

“(B) for a calendar year beginning after December 31, 1986, is the amount in effect for purposes of this paragraph for the preceding calendar year as adjusted under subsection (c) of this subsection.

“(2) The Category B threshold—

“(A) for the calendar year beginning on January 1, 1986, is—

“(i) $20,000 in the case of a veteran with no dependents; and

“(ii) $25,000 in the case of a veteran with one dependent, plus $1,000 for each additional dependent; and

“(B) for a calendar year beginning after December 31, 1986, is the amount in effect for purposes of this paragraph for the preceding calendar year as adjusted under subsection (c) of this subsection.”

Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 101–508, § 8013(c)(3), struck out “paragraphs (1) and (2) of” before “subsection (b) of this section”.

Subsec. (d)(2). Pub. L. 101–508, § 8013(c)(4), amended par. (2) generally. Prior to amendment, par. (2) read as follows: “A determination described in this paragraph is a determination—

“(A) that for the purposes of subsection (a)(1)(C) of this section a veteran’s attributable income is not greater than the Category A threshold; or

“(B) that for the purposes of subsection (a)(2) of this section a veteran’s attributable income is not greater than the Category B threshold.”

Subsec. (e)(1). Pub. L. 101–508, § 8013(c)(5)(A), substituted “the amount determined under subsection (b) of this section” for “the Category A threshold or the Category B threshold, as appropriate”.

Subsec. (e)(2). Pub. L. 101–508, § 8013(c)(5)(B), added par. (2) and struck out former par. (2) which read as follows:

“(A) A veteran is described in this paragraph for the purposes of subsection (a)(1) of this section if—

“(i) the veteran has an attributable income greater than the Category A threshold; and

“(ii) the current projections of such veteran’s income for the current year are that the veteran’s income for such year will be substantially below such threshold.

“(B) A veteran is described in this paragraph for the purposes of subsection (a)(2) of this section if—

“(i) the veteran has an attributable income greater than the Category B threshold; and

“(ii) the current projections of such veteran’s income for the current year are that the veteran’s income for such year will be substantially below such threshold.”

1988—Subsec. (g). Pub. L. 100–322 substituted “section” for “sections 610(b)(2) and”.

1986—Pub. L. 99–272 amended section generally, revising and restating existing provisions as subsec. (g) and adding subsecs. (a) to (f).

1980—Pub. L. 96–330 substituted provisions relating to the facts that will be accepted as sufficient evidence of an individual’s inability to defray necessary expenses for provisions relating to the use of statements under oath to establish the inability to defray necessary expenses.

1976—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 94–581, § 202(k), substituted “610(a)(1)(B)” for “610(a)(1)” and “632(a)(2)” for “632(b)”.

Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 94–581, § 210(a)(9), substituted “such veteran’s inability” for “his inability”.

1970—Pub. L. 91–500 designated existing provisions as subsec. (a) and added subsec. (b).

1966—Pub. L. 89–612 inserted reference to section 632(b) of this title.

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date of 1990 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 101–508 to remain in effect through the period covered by Pub. L. 102–145, see section 111 of Pub. L. 102–145, set out as a note under section 1710 of this title.

Amendment by Pub. L. 101–508 to remain in effect through the period covered by Pub. L. 102–109, see section 111 of Pub. L. 102–109, set out as a note under section 1710 of this title.

Amendment by Pub. L. 101–508 applicable with respect to hospital care and medical services received after Nov. 5, 1990, see section 8013(d) of Pub. L. 101–508, as amended, set out as a note under section 1710 of this title.

### Effective Date of 1986 Amendment

Provisions of this section as in effect on the day before Apr. 7, 1986, applicable with respect to hospital and nursing home care furnished on or after July 1, 1986, to veterans furnished such care or services on June 30, 1986, but only to the extent that such care is furnished with respect to the same episode of care for which it was furnished on June 30, 1986, see section 19011(f) of Pub. L. 99–272, set out as a note under section 1710 of this title.

### Effective Date of 1976 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 94–581 effective Oct. 21, 1976, see section 211 of Pub. L. 94–581, set out as a note under section 111 of this title.

### Initial Increase Under Subsection (c)

Pub. L. 99–272, title XIX, § 19011(c)(3), Apr. 7, 1986, 100 Stat. 378, provided that the first increase under subsection (c) of this section, as added by section 19011(c)(1) of Pub. L. 99–272, was to take effect on Jan. 1, 1987.