Aid and Attendance Pension for Veterans
A little known benefit that veterans of the United States Military may be eligible for is The Aid and Attendance Pension or more commonly referred to as “Aid and Attendance benefits”. This pension provides veterans and their surviving spouses benefits for everyday needs such as eating, bathing, dressing, etc. that the individual is unable to do on his or her own and needs assistance from another individual in doing. Aid and Attendance benefits are usually provided to those individuals still residing in their home, but these benefits are also available to those individuals who are blind, or residing in a nursing home due to mental or physical incapacity. Aid and Attendance benefits are also available to those individuals residing in an assisted living facility.
Any wartime veteran with 90 days of active duty, with one day beginning or ending during a period of war is eligible to apply for Aid and Attendance benefits. A surviving spouse of a wartime veteran is also eligible to apply for Aid and Attendance benefits so long as the marriage ended due to the death of the veteran.
The individual applying for Aid and Attendance benefits must establish through verification of the individual’s physician that the individual requires daily assistance with such things as eating, cooking, bathing, dressing, etc.
The individual applying for Aid and Attendance benefits must have less than $80,000 in assets, excluding the individual’s residence and vehicles.
Eligibility must be verified by completing the Veterans Application for Pension or Compensation form. This application also requires a copy of the DD-214, medical evaluation for the individual’s physician, current medical issues, net worth limitations and net income, and out-of-pocket medical expenses.
A veteran that is approved for Aid and Attendance is entitled to receive up to $1,632 a month in benefits, while a veteran’s surviving spouse is eligible to receive up to $1,055 per month in benefits and a couple is entitled to receive up to $1,949 per month in benefits.
For more information on Aid and Attendance benefits, visit the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs at www.va.gov.
