Who May Be Eligible For Veteran Aid and Attendance?
Veteran Aid and Attendance:
What is Aid and Attendance anyway?
Those who have served our country are respected for their duty by receiving a number of veteran benefits, whether young or aged. However, many may not be aware of all the benefits available to them and their family, including Aid and Assistance (A&A).
Veterans and survivors who’re eligible for a Veterans Affairs (VA) pension, and require the aid and attendance of another person, or are housebound, may be eligible for additional monetary payment to their pension. These benefits are paid in addition to a monthly pension, and they are not paid without eligibility to a pension. So who is eligible?
Eligibility for the Aid & Attendance Pension
Any war-time veteran with 90 days of active duty, one day beginning or ending during a period of war, is eligible to apply for the Aid & Attendance Improved Pension. A surviving spouse (marriage must have ended due to death of veteran) of a war-time veteran may also apply. The individual applying must qualify both medically and financially. To see the periods of war qualified by congress, click here.
To qualify medically, a war-time veteran or surviving spouse must need the assistance of another person to perform daily tasks, such as eating, dressing, undressing, toileting, etc. Being blind or residing in a nursing home for mental or physical incapacity, or residing in an assisted living facility also qualifies.
Eligibility must be proven by filing the proper Veterans Application for Pension or Compensation. This application will require a copy of DD-214 (to request a copy of a DD-214 visit www.vetrec.archives.gov) or separation papers, medical evaluation from a physician, current medical issues, net worth limitations, and net income, along with out-of-pocket medical expenses.
To qualify financially, an applicant must have on average less than $80,000 in assets, excluding their home and vehicles.
Since A&A and housebound allowances increase the pension amount, people who’re not eligible for a basic pension due to excessive income may be eligible for a pension at these increased rates. A veteran or surviving spouse may not receive A&A benefits and housebound benefits at the same time. The housebound increased monthly pension amount may be added to your monthly pension amount when you’re substantially confined to your immediate premises because of permanent disability.
For details about all the benefits available to veterans, please visit the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs website at http://www.va.gov.
BLOG Date: Thursday, November 12, 2015
Writer: Ryan Allen