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VA Aid & Attendance Award
Many individuals are not aware that there is a special pension available to eligible applicants. This special pension is called the Aid & Attendance Award. The Aid & Attendance Award provides benefits of up to $1,519 per month to a veteran, $976 per month to a surviving spouse, or $1,801 per month to a couple. For many, this award can make the difference between a comfortable retirement and constant worries about making ends meet.
In order to determine whether a veteran, surviving spouse, or qualifying dependent is eligible for the Aid & Attendance Award:
- The veteran must have been discharged under ‘Honorable’ or ‘General Under Honorable’ conditions in order to be eligible.
- The veteran served at least one day during the following periods and had 90 days of continuous military service:
A. World War II
B. Korean War
C. Vietnam War
D. Gulf War
- To qualify financially, a married couple must have less than approximately $80,000 in assets, excluding their home and vehicles; while a single individual must have less than $50,000 in countable assets.
- Determining eligibility from an income standpoint: Veteran: a veteran alone must have countable income less than $18,654 per year. A veteran with a spouse must have countable income less than $22,113 per year. Surviving Spouse: A surviving spouse alone must have countable income less than $11,985 per year. A spouse with a dependent must have countable income less than $14,298 per year. These amounts are increased with inflation each year.
The VA will require that your physician fill out a form establishing that the claimant requires daily assistance from others in order to dress, bathe, cook, eat, leave home, etc. The claimant does not have to require help in all areas. There simply must be adequate medical evidence that the claimant cannot function without assistance.
Please note that you will need the following paperwork to attach to your claim: the veteran’s discharge papers (please go to www.vetrecs.archives.gov to request them if not readily available); the veteran’s death certificate (if surviving spouse is claimant); the veteran’s marriage certificate; a physician’s form for the claimant; a nursing home form filled out by the assisted living facility or nursing home, if applicable; and a letter from the home health care provider stating frequency of visits and cost per month (if applicable).
This process may seem daunting if done alone, but County Service Officers are available to help guide you through this process, which you can access at the following link. Please contact your local Officer in order to assist you in applying for the Aid & Attendance Award. For more information, please refer to www.vetassist.org, http://veteranaid.org, or contact the Indiana VA Regional Office, 575 North Pennsylvania Street, Indianapolis, Indiana 46204-1526, Fax (317) 226-7422.
Nicole R. McVicker
March 2008
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