“Aid and Attendance” is a commonly used term for a benefit that may be available to veterans as part of the VA’s disability pension, or to the surviving spouse of a veteran as part of the VA’s death pension.
What Aid and Attendance provides veterans and their spouses with is the ability to pay for assistance that may be needed in the home. Certain income requirements must be met, which basically means that low income veterans will be able to benefit from Aid and Attendance significantly, as well as veterans who properly structure their assets. Even if nursing home assistance is needed, the VA Aid and Attendance program will be able to pay for that. All you have to do is qualify.
As long as the veteran meets the service requirements for the Aid and Attendance program, and it has been determined there is a medical need for care, the veteran can apply for the Aid and Attendance program. There are however financial restrictions on those who qualify for the program, and many times veterans with higher levels of assets will need to seek help with asset structuring to qualify for the program.
For 2009 the maximum annual benefit for those qualifying for the Aid & Attendance level of pension is:
Surviving Spouse of a Veteran: $12,681
Veteran with no Spouse or dependent children: $19,736
A married Veteran where the Veteran requires care: $23,396
If the Veteran is healthy, but their Spouse requires care, then the Veteran qualifies for a regular pension only: $15,493
The ultimate purpose of the Aid & Attendance pension benefit is to provide veterans or their surviving spouses with additional resources so that they can afford care in their time of need.
The Aid and Attendance pension program is certainly unique in that it is specific in what it provides veterans and their spouses. That is why it is important to meet all of the specifications set forth by the VA for the Aid and Attendance program. Unfortunately, there are individuals not aware of this pension program and how it can help them take care of home health and nursing home costs.
