VA Aid & Attendance Pension Benefit

The Veterans Benefits Administration, a branch of the VA, provides tax-free monthly payments to eligible wartime veterans and their survivors who are in financial need. This Pension is intended for veterans without service-connected disabilities related to their military service.

Additionally, an extra monetary benefit known as Aid and Attendance can be added to the VA Pension. This increased amount is available to individuals who require assistance from another person to perform daily living activities on a permanent basis. Examples of those activities include housekeeping, cooking and preparing meals, running errands, doctor apoinments, dressing, bathing, and more.

To be eligible for the VetAssist Program and the VA pension with Aid and Attendance, a veteran or the surviving spouse of a veteran must meet the following requirements:

1.) Military Service: The individual must be a veteran or the surviving spouse of a veteran who served a minimum of 90 days on active duty, with at least one day during a wartime period, and received an honorable or general discharge. (Persian Gulf War veterans must have completed two years of active duty or the full period for which they were called to active duty.)

2.) Medical Condition: The individual must have a non-service connected medical condition that necessitates assistance with daily living activities.

3.) Financial Status: The individual's net worth must be $155,356 or less (as per the VA net worth limit set by Congress in December 2022). The primary residence and automobile are not included in this net worth calculation. Additionally, ongoing unreimbursed medical and long-term care expenses can reduce countable income.

• World War II: December 7, 1941-December 31, 1946

• Korean Conflict: June 27, 1950-January 31, 1955

• Vietnam Era: Nov 1, 1955-May 7, 1975. Veterans that served after August 5, 1964 may have served outside the Republic of Vietnam.

• Persian Gulf War: August 2, 1990- date to be prescribed by Presidential Proclamation or law. Must have served active duty for two years or the full period of which the veteran was called for active duty.

Many are familiar with the Veterans Benefit Administration (VBA) offering Disability Compensation, which provides tax-free funds to veterans whose disabilities stem from diseases or injuries incurred or worsened during active duty. However, less known is the VA Pension program, designed to assist wartime veterans without service-connected disabilities by providing supplementary income to help with financial difficulties.

For the Pension program, a veteran needs only to have served one day during a wartime period, without the requirement of combat or overseas service. Unlike the Compensation program, eligibility for the VA Pension with Aid and Attendance does not require a disability connected to military service.

The VA’s Compensation program, focused on service-connected disabilities, is more widely recognized than the VA’s Pension program. Veterans discharged without service-related injuries or illnesses often overlook their potential eligibility for a pension from the VBA. When veterans require assistance with daily living activities, the Pension or Compensation payment can be increased with an additional Aid and Attendance amount.

Yes.

The Aid and Attendance pension is considered non-taxed income, but it is offset when used for medical expenses like home care.

If the Claimant has paid their listed medical costs out of pocket, the VA reimburses for those medical expenses each month. Form FV13 defines these monthly medical costs. Call us for more detail.

If the VA discovers the benefits have been used for anything other than the stated medical expenses they will expect to be repaid in full.