Veteran's Administration Pension Planning

US Military Veteran’s Aid & Attendance Pension --A Vastly Under-Used Benefit

The VA has financial help to pay for medical expenses for US military war period veterans’ and their widows, but it is often underutilized.

 

WRNicholsLaw.com offers planning assistance to help veterans who served during a war period and/or their Widows (”Claimant”) qualify for War Veteran’s Aid and Attendance to pay for their medical care.

 

Planning is important because therre are asset and income limits to qualify for these benefits.  The Claimant may qualify for this benefit if the service, financial and medical qualifications are met.  The Veteran can also qualify for medical supplies and medicines from the Department of Veteran’s Affairs (VA).  This benefit is called Aid and Attendance Pension (”A&A”).  A&A is not a pension.  A&A is a non- service connected disability.

 

The household must have significantly less than $80,000 in Allowable Countable Assets, subject to the VA’s discretion.  The Adjusted Household Income must be less than the A&A Benefit.

A&A Rules for Qualification

The War Veteran must have:

• Served 90 consecutive days on active military duty

• Received a better than dishonorable discharge

• served at least one (1) day of active duty during a war period.  (There is no requirement that any service be performed in a combat zone)

Max A&A Benefit for 2011

Married		$1,949
Single		$1,644
Widow(er)		1,056

 

Widow(er) Household

To qualify:

• The Widow(er) must not have divorced the veteran or remarried after the Veteran’s death to qualify.

• Claimant must be certified by a doctor as need assistance with their daily living activities.