Friday, October 8, 2010

Veterans benefits may be available

I was surprised to learn that there are veterans benefits available to provide for disabled veterans OR their spouses.   Called the Aid and Attendance Pension, it's intended to help vets and their families when they are unable to care for themselves. 

Here's the text from the VA web site.  To see more follow this link: http://www.veteranaid.org/program.php

THE AID & ATTENDANCE PENSION

The Aid and Attendance (A&A) Pension provides benefits for veterans and surviving spouses who require the regular attendance of another person to assist in eating, bathing, dressing and undressing or taking care of the needs of nature. It also includes individuals who are blind or a patient in a nursing home because of mental or physical incapacity. Assisted care in an assisting living facility also qualifies.
To qualify for A&A it needs to be established by your physician that you require daily assistance by others to dress, undress, bathing, cooking, eating, taking on or off of prosthetics, leave home etc. You DO NOT have to require assistance with all of these. There simply needs to be adequate medical evidence that you cannot function completely on your own.
The A&A Pension can provide up to $1,632 per month to a veteran, $1,055 per month to a surviving spouse, or $1,949 per month to a couple*.
Eligibility must be proven by filing the proper Veterans Application for Pension or Compensation. (Form 21-534 surviving spouse) (Form 21-526 Veteran.) 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.


Can my Mom get veterans benefits for my dad's service?  How can we get veterans benefits for my dad?

1 comment:

  1. Lynn, MiaMadre here, glad to see that you learned about the Aid and Attendance program. It really IS a little known program, even if you call the VA office, THEY don't seem to know about it??? How can that be!! I mention it ALL the time on the agingcare.com website, since so many don't seem to know anything about it!

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