VA Form 21-8951

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

Reservist / National GuardOfficial VA form on VA.gov

Who fills it

reservist

Journey phase

Keeping Your Award Current

Estimated time

20-30 minutes.

When to file

Annually or whenever drill/training pay is received. File before the beginning of the year for which drill pay applies.

You receive VA disability compensation and also participate in Reserve or National Guard drill and receive drill pay. VA will reduce your compensation for periods where you receive military pay unless you make a waiver election.

Gather before you start

—VA File Number and current compensation rate

—Reserve/Guard unit and drill schedule

—Expected annual drill pay amount

—Decision on which to waive (typically waive drill pay to keep VA comp)

Section I - Veteran Identification

1 field

Blocks 1-5Name, SSN, VA File Number, addressPII

Your identifying information. Include VA File Number so this waiver attaches to your compensation file.

Example

(legal name, SSN, VA file number)

Common mistakes

Not filing until after receiving drill pay - VA may retroactively reduce compensation for periods where you received both.

Section II - Reserve/Guard Service

1 field · 1 citation

Blocks 6-10Reserve/Guard unit, drill schedule, and expected pay

Your Reserve or National Guard unit, scheduled drill periods (including annual training), and estimated drill pay for the year. Include any active-duty orders for training (ADT, ADOS, ADSW) that generate additional military pay.

Example

e.g., 100th Training Division, Fort Knox KY; 48 drill days/year ($3,600 estimated drill pay); Annual Training 06/2026 ($800 estimated).

Common mistakes

Not including annual training periods - these often generate significant military pay that must be addressed.
Not knowing that ADOS/ADSW orders for extended periods generate higher military pay that may be worth keeping over VA comp - calculate both before deciding.

Authority

38 CFR 3.700 - Election between VA compensation and military drill/training pay.

Section III - Waiver Election

1 field · 2 citations

Block 11Which benefit do you elect to waive?

You must choose: (A) WAIVE DRILL/MILITARY PAY - keep full VA compensation, OR (B) WAIVE VA COMPENSATION - receive military pay instead. In most cases, VA compensation is higher and tax-free, making it more advantageous to keep VA comp and waive the drill pay. Calculate both before electing. If you elect to waive VA compensation, your monthly VA payment stops for the period covered.

Example

e.g., I elect to WAIVE military drill pay and retain my full VA disability compensation for all drill periods.

Common mistakes

Waiving VA compensation without calculating the difference - VA compensation is tax-free; drill pay is taxable. Net benefit usually favors VA comp.
Not knowing you can change your election - you can file a new 21-8951 each year; you are not locked in permanently.

Authority

38 CFR 3.700 - Election between VA compensation and military drill/training pay.

38 USC 5304 - VA compensation and military drill/training pay for the same period cannot both be received; one must be waived.

Section IV - Certification

1 field

Blocks 12-13Veteran signature and datePII

Sign and date. File with your Regional Office.

Example

(signature/date)

Common mistakes

Not filing before the drill year begins - retroactive waivers are more complicated.

Statutory & regulatory authority

38 CFR 3.700 - Election between VA compensation and military drill/training pay.

38 USC 5304 - VA compensation and military drill/training pay for the same period cannot both be received; one must be waived.

VA Form 21-8951

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

Reservist / National GuardOfficial VA form on VA.gov

Who fills it

reservist

Journey phase

Keeping Your Award Current

Estimated time

20-30 minutes.

When to file

Annually or whenever drill/training pay is received. File before the beginning of the year for which drill pay applies.

Gather before you start

—VA File Number and current compensation rate

—Reserve/Guard unit and drill schedule

—Expected annual drill pay amount

—Decision on which to waive (typically waive drill pay to keep VA comp)

Section I - Veteran Identification

1 field

Blocks 1-5Name, SSN, VA File Number, addressPII

Your identifying information. Include VA File Number so this waiver attaches to your compensation file.

Example

(legal name, SSN, VA file number)

Common mistakes

Not filing until after receiving drill pay - VA may retroactively reduce compensation for periods where you received both.

Section II - Reserve/Guard Service

1 field · 1 citation

Blocks 6-10Reserve/Guard unit, drill schedule, and expected pay

Example

e.g., 100th Training Division, Fort Knox KY; 48 drill days/year ($3,600 estimated drill pay); Annual Training 06/2026 ($800 estimated).

Common mistakes

Not including annual training periods - these often generate significant military pay that must be addressed.
Not knowing that ADOS/ADSW orders for extended periods generate higher military pay that may be worth keeping over VA comp - calculate both before deciding.

Authority

38 CFR 3.700 - Election between VA compensation and military drill/training pay.

Section III - Waiver Election

1 field · 2 citations

Block 11Which benefit do you elect to waive?

Example

e.g., I elect to WAIVE military drill pay and retain my full VA disability compensation for all drill periods.

Common mistakes

Waiving VA compensation without calculating the difference - VA compensation is tax-free; drill pay is taxable. Net benefit usually favors VA comp.
Not knowing you can change your election - you can file a new 21-8951 each year; you are not locked in permanently.

Authority

38 CFR 3.700 - Election between VA compensation and military drill/training pay.

38 USC 5304 - VA compensation and military drill/training pay for the same period cannot both be received; one must be waived.

Section IV - Certification

1 field

Blocks 12-13Veteran signature and datePII

Sign and date. File with your Regional Office.

Example

(signature/date)

Common mistakes

Not filing before the drill year begins - retroactive waivers are more complicated.

Statutory & regulatory authority

38 CFR 3.700 - Election between VA compensation and military drill/training pay.

38 USC 5304 - VA compensation and military drill/training pay for the same period cannot both be received; one must be waived.

VA Form 21-8951

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

Reservist / National GuardOfficial VA form on VA.gov

Who fills it

reservist

Journey phase

Keeping Your Award Current

Estimated time

20-30 minutes.

When to file

Annually or whenever drill/training pay is received. File before the beginning of the year for which drill pay applies.

Gather before you start

—VA File Number and current compensation rate

—Reserve/Guard unit and drill schedule

—Expected annual drill pay amount

—Decision on which to waive (typically waive drill pay to keep VA comp)

Section I - Veteran Identification

1 field

Blocks 1-5Name, SSN, VA File Number, addressPII

Your identifying information. Include VA File Number so this waiver attaches to your compensation file.

Example

(legal name, SSN, VA file number)

Common mistakes

Not filing until after receiving drill pay - VA may retroactively reduce compensation for periods where you received both.

Section II - Reserve/Guard Service

1 field · 1 citation

Blocks 6-10Reserve/Guard unit, drill schedule, and expected pay

Example

e.g., 100th Training Division, Fort Knox KY; 48 drill days/year ($3,600 estimated drill pay); Annual Training 06/2026 ($800 estimated).

Common mistakes

Not including annual training periods - these often generate significant military pay that must be addressed.
Not knowing that ADOS/ADSW orders for extended periods generate higher military pay that may be worth keeping over VA comp - calculate both before deciding.

Authority

38 CFR 3.700 - Election between VA compensation and military drill/training pay.

Section III - Waiver Election

1 field · 2 citations

Block 11Which benefit do you elect to waive?

Example

e.g., I elect to WAIVE military drill pay and retain my full VA disability compensation for all drill periods.

Common mistakes

Waiving VA compensation without calculating the difference - VA compensation is tax-free; drill pay is taxable. Net benefit usually favors VA comp.
Not knowing you can change your election - you can file a new 21-8951 each year; you are not locked in permanently.

Authority

38 CFR 3.700 - Election between VA compensation and military drill/training pay.

38 USC 5304 - VA compensation and military drill/training pay for the same period cannot both be received; one must be waived.

Section IV - Certification

1 field

Blocks 12-13Veteran signature and datePII

Sign and date. File with your Regional Office.

Example

(signature/date)

Common mistakes

Not filing before the drill year begins - retroactive waivers are more complicated.

Statutory & regulatory authority

38 CFR 3.700 - Election between VA compensation and military drill/training pay.

38 USC 5304 - VA compensation and military drill/training pay for the same period cannot both be received; one must be waived.

VA Form 21-8951

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

Reservist / National GuardOfficial VA form on VA.gov

Who fills it

reservist

Journey phase

Keeping Your Award Current

Estimated time

20-30 minutes.

When to file

Annually or whenever drill/training pay is received. File before the beginning of the year for which drill pay applies.

Gather before you start

—VA File Number and current compensation rate

—Reserve/Guard unit and drill schedule

—Expected annual drill pay amount

—Decision on which to waive (typically waive drill pay to keep VA comp)

Section I - Veteran Identification

1 field

Blocks 1-5Name, SSN, VA File Number, addressPII

Your identifying information. Include VA File Number so this waiver attaches to your compensation file.

Example

(legal name, SSN, VA file number)

Common mistakes

Not filing until after receiving drill pay - VA may retroactively reduce compensation for periods where you received both.

Section II - Reserve/Guard Service

1 field · 1 citation

Blocks 6-10Reserve/Guard unit, drill schedule, and expected pay

Example

e.g., 100th Training Division, Fort Knox KY; 48 drill days/year ($3,600 estimated drill pay); Annual Training 06/2026 ($800 estimated).

Common mistakes

Not including annual training periods - these often generate significant military pay that must be addressed.
Not knowing that ADOS/ADSW orders for extended periods generate higher military pay that may be worth keeping over VA comp - calculate both before deciding.

Authority

38 CFR 3.700 - Election between VA compensation and military drill/training pay.

Section III - Waiver Election

1 field · 2 citations

Block 11Which benefit do you elect to waive?

Example

e.g., I elect to WAIVE military drill pay and retain my full VA disability compensation for all drill periods.

Common mistakes

Waiving VA compensation without calculating the difference - VA compensation is tax-free; drill pay is taxable. Net benefit usually favors VA comp.
Not knowing you can change your election - you can file a new 21-8951 each year; you are not locked in permanently.

Authority

38 CFR 3.700 - Election between VA compensation and military drill/training pay.

38 USC 5304 - VA compensation and military drill/training pay for the same period cannot both be received; one must be waived.

Section IV - Certification

1 field

Blocks 12-13Veteran signature and datePII

Sign and date. File with your Regional Office.

Example

(signature/date)

Common mistakes

Not filing before the drill year begins - retroactive waivers are more complicated.

Statutory & regulatory authority

38 CFR 3.700 - Election between VA compensation and military drill/training pay.

38 USC 5304 - VA compensation and military drill/training pay for the same period cannot both be received; one must be waived.