21-8951-2

Notice of Waiver of VA Compensation or Pension to Receive Military Pay and Allowances

Agency
VA
Revision
January 2026
Fillable fields
41
Pages
2
Official source
VA form page
Checked
October 20, 2026
Fill 21-8951-2 online
Page 1 of form 21-8951-2

VA Form 21-8951-2: Notice of Waiver of VA Compensation or Pension for Military Pay

VA Form 21-8951-2 is the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Notice of Waiver of VA Compensation or Pension to Receive Military Pay and Allowances. VA's page lists it under the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA). The form says VA needs the information to determine whether you choose to waive your VA compensation or pension, or your military pay and allowances, for the days for which you received inactive duty or annual active duty training pay, citing 10 U.S.C. 12316 and 38 U.S.C. 5304(c).

The form explains that the Defense Manpower Data Center (DMDC) identified the Veteran as a reservist or guard member during the fiscal year shown, and that by law training pay cannot be paid at the same time as VA disability compensation or pension payments. It is two pages: Section I identification, Section II training pay information, Section III the election notice, Section IV the certification and signature, and Section V the commander or designee's signature. VA's page offers the PDF and lists no online version. You can fill out the PDF free in your browser on this page and download the result without an account.

Top of page 1 of VA Form 21-8951-2: Notice of Waiver of VA Compensation or Pension for Military Pay, as printed by VA

What's on VA Form 21-8951-2

Section I: identification

Items 1 to 7 ask for the Veteran's name, one of the Social Security number, EDIPI or ICN, the VA file number and service number if applicable, date of birth, telephone number and email address.

Section II: training pay information

The form explains that inactive duty training pay may include drills, schooling, conferences, preparation for inspections, additional flight training, muster duty or funeral honors duty. Item 8 shows the fiscal year and training pay days.

How training days are counted

The form says the National Guard and Reserves report one full day's duty pay for each 4-hour unit training assembly, so a 2-day drill weekend may count as 4 days, and pay most members for about 48 inactive duty training days and 15 annual active duty training days per FY.

Section III, Items 9 and 10: the day count

Check Correct or Not Correct for the number of days in Item 8. A member who disagrees enters the corrected number of training pay days in Item 10.

Item 11: the election

Choose one: waive VA pay for the Item 8 days, waive VA pay for the Item 10 days to retain training pay, waive military pay and allowances to retain VA pay, or state that no military pay was received. The form notes the third option generally results in less money for most veterans.

Sections IV and V: signatures

The reservist or guardsman's certification, signature and date in Items 12A and 12B, then the commander or designee's signature, date, unit name, mailing address and telephone in Items 13A to 13D.

How to complete VA Form 21-8951-2

  1. 1

    Fill in Section I

    Enter your identification and contact details. The form says to complete only one of Items 2A, 2B or 2C.

  2. 2

    Review the days in Item 8

    Item 8 shows the fiscal year and the number of training pay days that Section III asks about. The form notes an FY runs from October 1 through September 30.

  3. 3

    Check Item 9 and, if needed, Item 10

    The form says that if neither box in Item 9 is selected, VA will assume you agree with the number of days shown in Item 8.

  4. 4

    Make one election in Item 11

    The form says that if Item 11 is not checked, VA will assume you wish to waive VA pay for the days shown, and that an election to waive VA pay results in automatic adjustments of any future training pay.

  5. 5

    Sign and get any commander signature

    Sign and date Items 12A and 12B. If you disagree with the Item 8 days, the unit commander or designee completes Section V.

  6. 6

    Return it within 30 days

    Section III says to return the completed form within 30 days to the address listed on page 1, the Evidence Intake Center in Janesville, Wisconsin.

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Where to send it and getting help

By mail

Department of Veterans Affairs, Evidence Intake Center, P.O. Box 4444, Janesville, WI, 53547-4444.

Time frame

The Section III instructions say to return the completed form within 30 days to the address listed on page 1.

Questions

The form points to Ask VA at https://ask.va.gov/ and the toll-free number 1-800-698-2411 (TTY:711).

Edition

The JAN 2026 edition supersedes the MAR 2023 edition. It carries OMB Approved No. 2900-0463, which expires 01/31/2029, and a respondent burden of 10 minutes.

Related forms

Who uses VA Form 21-8951-2?

  • Reservists and guard members DMDC identified

    Section II says that, based on the SSN, EDIPI or ICN, DMDC identified the Veteran as a reservist or guard member during the fiscal year shown. The reservist or guardsman signs Item 12A, marked required.

  • Members who disagree with the day count

    Item 9 has a Not Correct box for a member who disagrees with the number of training pay days in Item 8, with the corrected number entered in Item 10.

  • The unit commander or designee

    Section V is signed by the unit commander or designee. The form says this signature is only required if you disagree with the number of days listed in Item 8, and Item 11 calls for it when the Item 10 number is lower.

  • Members who received no military pay

    Item 11 includes a box for a member who did not receive any military pay or allowances during the fiscal year shown in Item 8.

The form names who completes and signs each section.

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Questions about Form 21-8951-2

What is VA Form 21-8951-2 for?

The form says VA uses it to determine whether you choose to waive your VA compensation or pension, or your military pay and allowances, for the days you received inactive duty or annual active duty training pay.

Can VA pay and training pay cover the same days?

The form says that by law, inactive duty or annual active duty training pay cannot be paid at the same time you are receiving VA disability compensation or pension payments.

What happens if I leave Item 9 or Item 11 blank?

The form says VA will assume you agree with the days in Item 8 if Item 9 is blank, and that you wish to waive VA pay for the days shown if Item 11 is not checked.

When does my unit commander sign?

Section V says the commander or designee's signature is only required if you disagree with the number of days listed in Item 8.

How long do I have to return it?

The Section III instructions say to return the completed form within 30 days to the Evidence Intake Center address on page 1.

Which fiscal year does Item 8 mean?

The form says an FY runs from October 1 through September 30. For example, FY 2026 runs from October 1, 2025, through September 30, 2026.