Veteran's Aid and Attendance Pension Benefits – 3 Facts

According to the Department of Veterans Affairs, about 2 million or more veterans qualify for the Veterans Aid and Assistance pension benefit program, yet few of them take advantage of it. The program was created to provide monthly payments to elderly or disabled veterans who require full or part-time care provided by an in-home caregiver or a nursing home facility. The program also allows veteran surviving spouses to receive payments, and the veteran need not have become disabled or infirm as a result of his or her service. Here’s a quick rundown of how the Veteran’s Aid and Attendance program works.

Fact 1: Veteran’s AA provides additional benefits.

The Veteran’s Aid and Assistance program provides additional compensation to any veteran who already qualifies for the Veteran’s Pension program. The AA program provides assistance to wartime veterans who have a limited income, who are disabled, or who are 65 or older. In order to qualify for Veteran’s AA a veteran must first qualify for veteran’s pension.

Fact 2: Veteran’s AA applicants must meet specific criteria.

If you already qualify for Veteran’s Pension, you still need to meet the Aid and Attendance criteria. To meet these requirements, either you or spouse must either be bed ridden, be mentally or physically incapacitated and reside in a care facility, be blind or have significant visual acuity loss, or require someone else’s assistance to perform basic living tasks such as bathing, dressing, eating, or using the bathroom.

Fact 3: Payments differ depending on circumstances.

Veteran’s Aid and Attendance payments are made monthly and can be as much as $2,000 or more, depending on your circumstances. Payments are determined based on whether you are a veteran, surviving spouses of veterans, as well as what your current income level is.

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Timothy P. Murphy

Timothy P. Murphy is an estate planning and elder law attorney whose practice emphasizes helping people to build, preserve and pass on their wealth. He works with his clients to accomplish their goals while avoiding unnecessary court proceedings and minimizing or eliminating exposure to death taxes.

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