Older-Adult Caregivers Should Know About Aid and Attendance
Are you a family member or friend who cares for an older adult? Are you a professional caregiver? If so, have you checked into a benefit from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) that could help the person in your care?
There is a little-known pension available to wartime veterans or their surviving spouses who are low-income and disabled. If this applies, you should check into the Non-Service Connected Pension with Aid and Attendance. The Aid and Attendance benefit provides financial support for veterans or their surviving spouses who meet certain criteria get the help they need with activities of daily living.
Here are three signs that this particular pension may actually be the perfect solution for a disabled adult.
Sign #1: Military service during a war
The veteran must have served at least 90 days in the military with at least one day during a war and have been honorably discharged. Serving in combat or overseas isn’t required. War times include:
- World War II: December 7, 1941– December 31, 1946
- Korean War: June 27, 1950 — January 31, 1955
- Vietnam Era: August 5, 1964– May 7, 1975 (Or beginning February 28, 1961 if the service was in Vietnam)
If the military service was during the Gulf War, a minimum of two years’ active duty is required.
The surviving spouse must have been married to the veteran at the time of the veteran’s death.
Sign #2: Minimal assets and income
The veteran or spouse must have minimal assets and a limited income. Unreimbursed, ongoing medical expenses, such as medical alert devices, home care and incontinence supplies, may reduce the countable income for VA purposes.
Sign #3: Help with daily activities
For this particular pension, the veteran in question must have a non-service connected disability (which means a disability that wasn’t caused or worsened during military service). An impairment that limits a person from independently: moving around, walking, using the toilet, dressing, bathing and eating are considered disabilities.
If these three signs apply, it’s time to look closer at the Aid and Attendance pension and consider applying for it as soon as possible.
For more information and to learn about Veterans Aid and Attendance, contact Veteran’s Home Care at (888) 314-6075.
