For a long time, veterans were considered pariahs in the United States. After the Vietnam War, some of the soldiers were treated disrespectfully and abused, both physically and emotionally. Today, fortunately, the tide has turned and they are getting the respect they deserve. However, even though there are a number of pensions through the VA and other agencies that provide support to veterans from all walks of life, some of them can be extremely confusing.
One of these pensions that can be confusing is called the Aid and Attendance Benefit.
This is a pension that was initially developed after World War I to help soldiers who had been injured and disabled during battle. When they returned home, this pension provided financial assistance so they could receive care and support at home.
Over the years this pension was expanded to provide support to veterans from all walks of life, whether they were injured or disabled during battle or their time of service or afterward. It also expanded to include veterans of all ages, and yet not many veterans even know about it, much less have clarity on what it offers and for whom.
Who can qualify?
The individual needs to be considered a wartime veteran. What does this mean? With regard to the Aid and Attendance Benefit, the veteran needs to have served at least 90 days active duty in one of the major branches of the United States military and at least one day of service needs to have overlapped a time of official combat. That would basically include World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, and the Gulf War. If a veteran served any time during the Gulf War, their minimum time of service needs to have been two years.
Also, the veteran needs to be able to prove home care support is necessary.
This can be extremely difficult for some men or women. A doctor’s recommendation can be beneficial, but what if they don’t have that? They need to be able to show the approval committee that they are either unsafe when doing or incapable of performing basic tasks of everyday life.
Finally, their income and assets need to fall under a specific threshold.
Currently, that threshold is $119,000, combined. Also, the Aid and Attendance Benefit could provide financial support to a veteran’s dependents, including spouse or other individuals, who a need home care support right now. Even a widow of a qualifying veterans might be able to receive the financial support he or she needs to get home care, if required.
Yes, it can be confusing, but the more people who learn about this and other pensions, and the more they share it, the more it will benefit those who need support most.
Our VetAssist® Program can help you apply for the VA’s Aid and Attendance benefit and access the home care you need. For more information and to learn about The VetAssist Program, contact Veteran’s Home Care at (888) 314-6075.
