Aid and Attendance is a special pension program offered to war-time veterans that served at least 90 days of active duty with at least one of those days being served during war time.

“Aid and Attendance” refers to the fact that for this particular pension benefit, the claimant must demonstrate a regular need for the aid and attendance of a caregiver or the need to live in a protected environment because of physical or mental impairment. If the veteran does not require aid and attendance, but has a low household income, they may be eligible for a base pension of a lesser dollar amount.

You already know that you have to be a war-time veteran who served at least 90 days with one of those days being during a war. So if youre a war-time veteran, the requirements are not extremely strict in that area. The rest comes in the way of verifying that you have a medical condition that requires you to have help within the home. You also have to prove that your income is low enough by providing information on all of your income sources.

For 2009 the maximum annual benefit for those qualifying for the Aid & Attendance level of pension is:

Surviving Spouse of a Veteran: $12,681

Veteran with no Spouse or dependent children: $19,736

A married Veteran where the Veteran requires care: $23,396

If the Veteran is healthy, but their Spouse requires care, then the Veteran qualifies for a regular pension only: $15,493

Once a veteran applies for and qualifies for the Aid and Attendance program and starts receiving benefits, assistance that would have otherwise financially been out of reach is now paid for – things like assistance getting dressed, eating, bathing, and all other daily activities are covered.

The Aid and Attendance pension program is certainly unique in that it is specific in what it provides veterans and their spouses. That is why it is important to meet all of the specifications set forth by the VA for the Aid and Attendance program. Unfortunately, there are individuals not aware of this pension program and how it can help them take care of home health and nursing home costs.

Aid and Attendance is a frequently used phrase used to describe a benefit that might be available to a veteran as part of the VA’s disability pension, or to the surviving spouse of a Veteran as part of the VA’s death pension – as long as the veterans served at least 90 days of active duty and at least one of those days was served during war time.

As part of the Veterans Administration’s Pension program, the VA offers additional income for veterans and their surviving spouses who are eligible for the VA’s base pension, but who also either demonstrate a regular need for the aid and attendance of a caregiver or are what the VA refers to as housebound.

You already know that you have to be a war-time veteran who served at least 90 days with one of those days being during a war. So if youre a war-time veteran, the requirements are not extremely strict in that area. The rest comes in the way of verifying that you have a medical condition that requires you to have help within the home. You also have to prove that your income is low enough by providing information on all of your income sources.

For 2009 the maximum annual benefit for those qualifying for the Aid & Attendance level of pension is:

Surviving Spouse of a Veteran: $12,681

Veteran with no Spouse or dependent children: $19,736

A married Veteran where the Veteran requires care: $23,396

If the Veteran is healthy, but their Spouse requires care, then the Veteran qualifies for a regular pension only: $15,493

Once a veteran applies for and qualifies for the Aid and Attendance program and starts receiving benefits, assistance that would have otherwise financially been out of reach is now paid for – things like assistance getting dressed, eating, bathing, and all other daily activities are covered.

The VA Aid and Attendance benefit program is an amazing program that, unfortuneately, isn’t as well known as it should be. The fact that it gives veterans the hope of a dignified existence that otherwise wouldn’t be available is reason enough to make sure all veterans are aware that it exists. Qualifying for the benefit isn’t hard, and with the help of qualified professionals, it can be a painless and simple process.