Veterans Aid and AttendanceThere are probably many questions people have when they start looking into certain pensions or other programs. For veterans who may require home care support, those who have limited financial means might not think there are options available to them. They might turn to family and friends, but what if they don’t have a strong support system nearby?
Some of these veterans may struggle and do whatever they can, but they likely put themselves at unnecessary risk of slipping, falling, being injured, or facing another emergency situation.
One of the most common questions veterans have about this pension is whether or not they earn too much.
“Do I earn too much money?”
It’s a simple question and has significant repercussions, especially with regard to the Aid and Attendance Benefit. That’s because there are income and asset threshold limits that need to be considered before applying.
Currently, $119,000 is the income and asset threshold the VA has set forth for approval of this particular pension. If a veteran is receiving a pension through the VA for something else, that has no bearing on this one.
Basically, this means an elderly or disabled veteran needs to have assets and earned income below $119,000 at the time they apply for this particular pension. If they own a house, that doesn’t necessarily disqualify them because a primary residence may not be included in these calculations.
In the past, the VA was arbitrary in their approval process.
Even up to last year, some veterans who would have qualified were being denied because the VA determined their income and asset level was too high while another veteran in another part of the country was approved, having pretty much the same income and asset level. This threshold now establishes consistency across the country.
When applying for this pension, start early.
As soon as a veteran realizes he or she could benefit from a home care aide, visiting nurse, or other professional coming to their house to support them, they should begin the application for the Aid and Attendance Benefit. That’s because approval can take many months.
In the meantime, some veterans may be able to get the support they need at home through an agency. The VA does offer reimbursement for home care services provided while the application is pending. It’s important, though, to be clear on whether or not the veteran will qualify for this pension before taking those steps.
