VA U.S. Paralympics Monthly Assistance Allowance Program

To promote the lifelong health and to motivate, encourage and sustain participation and competition in adaptive sports from the local level through elite levels among disabled Veterans and disabled members of the Armed Forces through partnerships wit

To provide a monthly training allowance for qualified Veterans with disabilities training and competing in Paralympic and Olympic sports.

To receive an allowance, a disabled Veteran must submit a complete application, as well as established training and competition plans and is responsible for turning in monthly and quarterly reports in order to continue receiving the monthly assistance allowance. The disability of the Veteran may be service-connected or non-service-connected if the veteran meets the minimum military standard or higher in his or her respective Paralympic or Olympic sport at a recognized competition level. The Veteran also must meet eligibility criteria established by the International Paralympic Committee for participants in Paralympic sports or by the International Olympic Committee for participants in Olympic sports.

To receive an allowance, a Veteran must submit a complete application identifying any dependents upon which a higher payable rate of allowance may be based; and the appropriate National Governing Body or equivalent Paralympic or Olympic entity must provide certification of the Veteran's participation in training or competition sponsored by the USOPC, applicable Paralympic or Olympic sport entity for U.S. Commonwealths or Territories, or the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), or residence at a USOPC training center, for a period for which payment is requested. The certification must specify whether the payment is due for training, competition, or residence, and the dates of the training, competition, or residence for which payment is due.

38 USC 322 (d) Monthly Assistance Allowance.-(1) Subject to the availability of appropriations for such purpose, the Secretary may provide a monthly assistance allowance to- (A) a veteran with a disability invited by the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee to compete for a slot on, or selected for, the Paralympic Team for any month in which the veteran is training or competing in any event sanctioned by the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee or who is residing at a United States Olympic Committee training center; and (B) a veteran with a VA service-connected disability rated as 30 percent or greater by the Department of Veterans Affairs who is selected by the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee for the United States Olympic Team for any month in which the veteran is competing in any event sanctioned by the National Governing Bodies of the United States Olympic Sports. (2) The amount of the monthly assistance payable to a veteran under paragraph (1) shall be equal to the monthly amount of subsistence allowance that would be payable to the veteran under chapter 31 of this title if the veteran were eligible for and entitled to rehabilitation under such chapter. (3) In providing assistance under this subsection, the Secretary shall give priority to veterans with service-connected disabilities. (4) There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this subsection the following: (A) For each of fiscal years 2010 through 2023, $2,000,000. (B) For each of fiscal years 2024 through 2027, $2,500,000.

38 USC 322 (d) Monthly Assistance Allowance.-(1) Subject to the availability of appropriations for such purpose, the Secretary may provide a monthly assistance allowance to- (A) a veteran with a disability invited by the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee to compete for a slot on, or selected for, the Paralympic Team for any month in which the veteran is training or competing in any event sanctioned by the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee or who is residing at a United States Olympic Committee training center; and (B) a veteran with a VA service-connected disability rated as 30 percent or greater by the Department of Veterans Affairs who is selected by the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee for the United States Olympic Team for any month in which the veteran is competing in any event sanctioned by the National Governing Bodies of the United States Olympic Sports. (2) The amount of the monthly assistance payable to a veteran under paragraph (1) shall be equal to the monthly amount of subsistence allowance that would be payable to the veteran under chapter 31 of this title if the veteran were eligible for and entitled to rehabilitation under such chapter. (3) In providing assistance under this subsection, the Secretary shall give priority to veterans with service-connected disabilities. (4) There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this subsection the following: (A) For each of fiscal years 2010 through 2023, $2,000,000. (B) For each of fiscal years 2024 through 2027, $2,500,000.

Length-of-time limitations are established in accordance with the Veterans' Benefits Improvements Act of 2008, section 703. Allowance recipients will receive payments electronically through the VA Administrative and Loan Accounting Center (ALAC).

Formal approval of the award of the Monthly Assistance Allowance for Disabled Veterans Training in Paralympic and Olympic Sports is made by first submitting required verification of qualifications and supporting data to the applicable Paralympic or Olympic sport entity. The applicable Paralympic or Olympic sport entity manages the application and ongoing verification of the monthly assistance allowance for Veterans in connection with training in Paralympic or Olympic sport program. The applicable Paralympic or Olympic sport entity submits qualification and rate documentation to the VA for verification and award on a monthly basis.

Subject to the availability of funds, the monthly assistance allowance may be renewed. Allowance recipients are required to submit a renewal training program verification and allowance application within the time frame established in appropriate verification and award cycle.

The overarching monthly allowance program under P.L. 110-389 and 38 U.S.C. 322 is a congressionally mandated to the applicable Paralympic and Olympic sport entities, and subject to compliance with accompanying guidelines. The VA, and applicable Paralympic and Olympic sport entities manage the monthly assistance allowance program in compliance with program directives. Appeals for dependents eligible under this program is under PL 115-55 and the Appeals Modernization Act of 2017.