Veteran’s Affairs Aid & Attendance Special Pension

The U.S. Department of Veteran’s Affairs (the VA) offers a special pension with Aid & Attendance (A&A) benefit that is paid in addition to other VA pension benefits.

This largely unknown benefit can help to pay for in-home care, assisted living or nursing home care. This benefit is NOT dependent on service related injuries.

To qualify, a veteran, or his or her spouse or widow must:

• be 65 years old  or permanently and totally disabled from a non-service related injury or condition (not the result of willful misconduct)
• require the regular assistance of another person to perform everyday functions and activities that people usually do without help. These include dressing and undressing, eating, bathing, and toileting; OR
• be bedridden or need help to adjust to special prosthetic or orthopedic devices; OR
• have a physical or mental injury or illness that requires regular assistance to protect them from hazards or dangers in their daily living environment.

Veterans who entered active duty before September 8, 1980 (October 16, 1981 for officers):

• must have served at least 90 days of active military service, ONE day of which was during a period of war, AND
• must NOT have been dishonorably discharged.

Veterans who entered active duty on or after September 8, 1980 (October 16, 1981 for officers):

• must have served at least 24 continuous months of active military service (or the period for which they were ordered to active duty if less than 24 months), ONE day of which was during a period of war, AND
• must NOT have been dishonorably discharged.

Most wartime veterans who satisfy these requirements will be eligible for the A&A Special Pension that may provide up to:

• $1,644 per month for a wartime veteran; OR
• $1,056 per month for a surviving spouse; OR
• $1,949 per month for a qualifying couple.

Note: These amounts apply only to 2009; benefits are adjusted each year based on increases in the cost of living.

Once approved for Aid & Attendance, Veteran’s, spouses or widows may qualify for additional benefits such as:

• Free medications
• Medical equipment
• Hearing aids
• Incontinence supplies

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How do unreimbursed medical expenses affect the amount of a Veteran’s pension? Medical expenses may be used to reduce the countable income in order to increase the amount of pension benefits.  In order to deduct medical expenses, they must exceed 5% of the VA Maximum Annual Pension Rate (MAPR).
2. What are the requirements for the surviving spouse to receive a Veteran’s Pension? The surviving spouse of a veteran who satisfied the service requirement or who, at the time of death, was entitled to compensation for a service related disability, is entitled to a pension.
3. If I disagree with a Veteran’s Administration decision with regard to my benefit, what appeal rights do I have? Every claimant has the right to written notice of all decisions made on his or her claim and the right to a hearing on adverse actions.  If the initial decision is unfavorable, the veteran may appeal the decision to the Board of Veteran’s Appeals (BVA) within 1 year.  If the board’s decision is unfavorable, the veteran may appeal to the Court of Veteran’s Appeals, within 120 days.  The U.S. Federal Circuit Court of Appeals has the final decision, should the Court of Veteran’s Appeals decision be contested.

For more information please consult the Department of Veteran’s Affairs

www.va.gov

Please call us at (910) 487-0405 or Email Us Here.