According to the Department of Veteran’s Affairs, up to $22 billion in pension benefits goes unused every year because veterans eligible for the Aid and Attendance pension benefit do not take advantage of it. The benefit provides up to about $2,000 per month in payments to veterans or their spouses who qualify. Here’s a quick look at what the AA program is and how it can benefit you.
Question one: what is aid and attendance?
Any veteran or spouse of a veteran who meets the Veteran’s Pension program criteria can apply for the Aid and Attendance benefit. The AA benefit is designed to compensate veterans or their spouses for expenses associated with in-home caregivers or nursing home expenses. To qualify, a veteran must meet one of several eligibility criteria.
Question 2: Who is eligible for the aid and attendance pension benefit?
To receive the Aid and Attendance benefit, either you or your spouse must meet any one of four criteria. First, you must be bed ridden or have a disability that requires you to remain in bed apart from any treatment regimen. Second, you must either be blind or have a corrected visual acuity that is less than specified guidelines. Third, you must reside in or be a patient of a nursing home or extended care facility because of a mental or physical incapacity. Fourth, you must require assistance to perform basic day-to-day tasks, such as dressing, eating, using bathroom facilities, adjusting prosthetics, or avoiding hazardous situations.
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