LITTLE-KNOWN BENEFIT
AIDS VETERANS of WAR
Those who serve
during conflict
are eligible for up
to $19,000 a year.
By Paula Burkes
Published:
February 8, 2009
http://newsok.com/article/3344150
A little-known
veterans’ benefit
for long-term care
expenses is
available to wartime
veterans and
their spouses.
But the benefit is
being overlooked by
thousands of
families, industry
observers say.
The
Special Pension
for Veterans’ Aid
and Attendance
pays up to $1,644 a
month, $19,736
annually,
toward assisted
living, nursing
homes or in-home
care for veterans 65
and older who served
at least 90 days
and one day during
wartime — stateside
or overseas.
Veterans and their
spouses can receive
up to $23,396
annually
and
spouses of
deceased
veterans,
$12,681.
Yet,
an estimated $22
billion a year goes
unclaimed. In 2007,
only
134,000 seniors
nationwide received
the benefit,
which was
established in 1952.
INTRODUCTION TO THE
VETERANS' AID AND
ATTENDANCE SPECIAL
PENSION
The Veterans'
Administration
offers a Special
Pension with Aid and
Attendance (A&A)
benefit that is
largely unknown.
This Special Pension
(part of the VA
Improved Pension
program) allows for
Veterans and
surviving spouses
who require the
regular attendance
of another person to
assist in eating,
bathing, dressing,
undressing or taking
care of the needs of
nature to receive
additional monetary
benefits. It also
includes individuals
who are blind or a
patient in a nursing
home because of
mental or physical
incapacity.
Assisted care in an
assisted living
facility also
qualifies.
This is a
"pension benefit"
and is
not
dependent upon
service-related
injuries for
compensation.
Most Veterans
who are in need of
assistance qualify
for this pension.
Aid and Attendance
can help pay for
care in the home,
nursing home or
assisted living
facility.
The Aid and
Attendance Benefit
is considered to be
the third tier of a
VA program called
Improved Pension.
The other two tiers
are Basic and
Housebound.
Each tier has its
own level of
benefits and
qualifications. If
you or your loved
one does not qualify
for Aid and
Attendance, you may
want to check to see
if you qualify for
another level of the
Pension.
THE AID & ATTENDANCE
PROGRAM
Eligibility must be
proven by filing the
proper Veterans
Application for
Pension or
Compensation. This
application will
require a copy of
DD-214 (see below
for more
information) or
separation papers,
Medical Evaluation
from a physician,
current medical
issues, net worth
limitations, and net
income, along with
out-of-pocket
Medical Expenses.
For
more general
information about
the Aid & Attendance
Special Pension,
please see
http://www.vetassist.org/faq.htm
Q.
How do I know that I
qualify for Aid &
Attendance?
A.
The VA will require
that
your physician
fill out a form
establishing that
the claimant
requires daily
assistance from
others in order to
dress, bathe, cook,
eat, leave home,
etc. The claimant
does
NOT
have to require help
in ALL these areas.
There simply must be
adequate medical
evidence that the
claimant cannot
function alone.
http://www.vetassist.org/eligibility.htm
The veteran served
at least
one day
during the following
periods
and had 90 days of
continuous military
service.
|
|
World War
II:
December 7,
1941 through
December 31,
1946
|
|
[ ]
|
Korean War:
June 27,
1950 through
January 31,
1955 |
|
[ ]
|
Vietnam War:
August 5,
1964 (February
28, 1961,
for veterans
who served
“in country”
before
August 5,
1964),
through May
7, 1975 |
|
[ ]
|
Gulf War:
August 2,
1990,
through a
date to be
set by law
of
Presidential
Proclamation. |
As a rule of thumb,
assets should not
exceed $80,000.
That
amount drops
depending on the age
of claimant.
Also
included is
spousal income.
SUMMARY: If the
claimant meets the
income criteria, the
service criteria,
and the net worth
criteria, he or she
is likely eligible
for one of the
Improved Pensions
(A&A, Housebound or
Basic Pension).
It is not necessary
to request the
“Basic Pension” or
“Housebound.”
Simply
fill out the form as
though you are
requesting the full
Aid & Attendance
benefit. The VA will
determine which
level of the
Improved Pension is
appropriate to your
situation.
VA Form
21-526 (claim for a
living veteran) or
VA Form 21-534
(claim for death
Pension from a
surviving spouse). You
can ask
VA
to help you fill out
the
form
by
calling or visiting
a regional office.
