VA Homecare

 

Veterans and survivors who are eligible for a VA pension and require the aid and attendance of another person, or are housebound, may be eligible for additional monetary payment. These benefits are paid in addition to monthly pension, and they are not paid without eligibility to Pension.

Since Aide and Attendance and Housebound allowances increase the pension amount, people who are not eligible for a basic pension due to excessive income may be eligible for pension at these increased rates. A Veteran or surviving spouse may not receive Aide and Attendance benefits and Housebound benefits at the same time.

 

Aide & Attendance (A&A)

The Aide & Attendance (A&A) increased monthly pension amount may be added to your monthly pension amount if you meet one of the following conditions:

• You require the aid of another person in order to perform personal functions required in everyday living, such as bathing, feeding, dressing, attending to the wants of nature, adjusting prosthetic devices, or protecting yourself from the hazards of your daily environment

• You are bedridden, in that your disability or disabilities requires that you remain in bed apart from any prescribed course of convalescence or treatment

• You are a patient in a nursing home due to mental or physical incapacity

• Your eyesight is limited to a corrected 5/200 visual acuity or less in both eyes; or concentric contraction of the visual field to 5 degrees or less

 

Housebound

This increased monthly pension amount may be added to your monthly pension amount when you are substantially confined to your immediate premises because of permanent disability.

 

What Does the Benefit Mean to You?

• With the benefit in hand, you are able to afford the care you need.

• You never have to pay it back and it is completely tax free.

• Like Social Security, this pension is dependable and is paid directly to you by the Department of the Treasury.

• This benefit can be used for in-home care, board and care, assisted living communities, and private-pay nursing home.

 

 

 

DO YOU QUALIFY FOR CARE?

 

 The “3 M’s”?

MILITARY: Are you a veteran or the surviving spouse of a veteran who served at least 90 days on active 

duty, at least one day during wartime, with an honorable discharge.

 

MEDICAL: Do you have a non service- connected medical condition causing you to need assistance with activities of daily living?

 

MONEY: Do you have limited income and assets?

 

 

Eligible Wartime Periods

 

Under current law, VA recognizes the following wartime periods to determine eligibility for VA Pension benefits:

• Mexican Border Period (May 9, 1916 – April 5, 1917 for Veterans who served in Mexico, on its borders, or adjacent waters)

• World War I (April 6, 1917 – November 11, 1918)

• World War II (December 7, 1941 – December 31, 1946)

• Korean conflict (June 27, 1950 – January 31, 1955)

• Vietnam era (February 28, 1961 – May 7, 1975 for Veterans who served in the Republic of Vietnam during that period; otherwise August 5, 1964 – May 7, 1975)

• Gulf War (August 2, 1990 – through a future date to be set by law or Presidential Proclamation)