Woburn Veterans Aid and Attendance Eligibility Guidelines
If you are a veteran of the Armed Forces, or a surviving spouse of one, your country owes you a debt of gratitude for your service and/or sacrifice that can never fully be repaid. You may already know, however, about some of the benefits to which you may be entitled as a veteran or survivor. One benefit program that you may not already know about though offers an additional monthly monetary benefit that may come in very handy. To help ensure that you are receiving all the benefits you deserve, please read through the following Woburn Veterans Aid and Attendance eligibility guidelines.
What Does the VA&A Program Do?
The Veteran’s Aid & Attendance program is intended to provide additional monetary assistance above and beyond that provided by the VA pension program. The additional assistance is aimed at helping veterans who need help with daily tasks of living, such as dressing, bathing, or cooking by providing the financial resources to hire someone to help.
Who Is Eligible for VA&A Benefits?
You may qualify for Veteran’s Aid and Attendance benefits if you are a veteran, or survivor, who is eligible for a VA pension and you require the “aid and attendance” of another person on a regular basis. If you are housebound you may also be eligible for monetary benefits each month.
To be eligible for VA&A benefits, the following must apply:
- You must be eligible for pension or, if you are a surviving spouse you must be eligible for Dependency and Indemnity Compensation, or DIC.
- One of the following requirements must be met:
- You require the aid of another person in order to perform personal functions required in everyday living, such as bathing, feeding, dressing, attending to the wants of nature, adjusting prosthetic devices, or protecting yourself from the hazards of your daily environment.
- You are bedridden, in that your disability or disabilities requires that you remain in bed apart from any prescribed course of convalescence or treatment.
- You are a patient in a nursing home due to mental or physical incapacity
- Your eyesight is limited to a corrected 5/200 visual acuity or less in both eyes; or concentric contraction of the visual field to 5 degrees or less.
- You must be at least 65 or officially disabled if younger.
- Veterans must be considered “wartime veterans” meaning they served at least 90 days and served at least 1 day during the wartime dates below, but not necessarily in combat.
- World War II: Dec 7, 1941 – Dec 31, 1946
- Korean War: Jun 27, 1950 – Jan 31, 1955
- Vietnam War: Aug 5, 1964 – May 7, 1975 (or Feb 28, 1961 – May 7, 1975 for Veterans who served in Vietnam)
- Gulf War: Aug 2, 1990 – Undetermined
- You, or your spouse, cannot have been dishonorably discharged.
- You are not required to be disabled; however, a higher benefit is available to those who are disabled.
- If you are a surviving spouse, you must have been living with the veteran at the time of their death and must be single at time of claim.
- You must also not exceed the current income limit which is subject to change each year.
Who Is Eligible for Housebound Benefits?
Another benefit that is similar to the VA&A benefit is the “Housebound” benefit. To be eligible for Housebound benefits, you must be substantially confined to your immediate premises because of a permanent disability. Be prepared to provide supporting documentation, such as a report from your attending physician or a report from a long-term care facility (LTC), indicating that you suffer from a physical and/or mental impairment to the extent that you are confined to your immediate premises and you need assistance from someone outside your home, or the LTC facility, to be able to complete the simple daily tasks of living.
How Do I Apply for VA & A Benefits?
To apply for VA&A benefits you can write to the Pension Management Center (PMC) serving your state, the address for which can be located on the VA website. You can also apply by visiting your local regional benefit office.
Contact a Woburn Veterans Aid and Attendance Attorney
For more information, please download our FREE estate planning worksheet. If you have additional questions or concerns about the Veterans Aid and Attendance program, contact the experienced Woburn elder law attorneys at DeBruyckere Law Offices by calling (603) 894-4141 or (978) 969-0331 to schedule an appointment.
Daniel DeBruyckere
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