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Military Veterans

    Through a partnership with the Veterans Affairs, the VA National Veterans Sport Programs & Special Events Office helps to provide a monthly assistance allowance for disabled Veterans of the Armed Forces, as authorized by section 703 of the Veterans’ Benefits Improvement Act of 2008.


    Through the program, the VA will pay a monthly allowance to a Veteran with a service-connected or non-service-connected disability if the veteran is classified in the sport and meets the minimum military standard or any higher standard (i.e. emerging, national team) in his/her respective sport at a recognized competition.


    In order to be eligible for the VA monthly assistance allowance an athlete must be classified nationally or internationally in the sport. To find information on U.S. Paralympics and International Paralympic Committee classifications, please follow the links below:

    To learn more about the specific sport standards or the monthly assistance allowance, contact the U.S. Paralympics division via email at VAstipend@usopc.org.

    Athletes must achieve a qualifying score at a sanctioned regional event or World Para Powerlifting sanctioned competition. A list of eligible events may be found here.


    Powerlifting qualifying scores follow:

    VMAA Standards

    VMAA Standards for Para Powerlifting

    Men Men Women Women
    Weight Class (kg) VMAA Standard (kg) Weight Class (kg) VMAA Standard (kg)
    49 137 41 85
    54 145 45 89
    59 162 50 94
    65 169 55 109
    72 160 61 114
    80 187 67 105
    88 188 73 116
    97 194 79 116
    107 203 86 115
    107+ 201 86+ 123
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