General Qualifications for VA Non-Service Connected Pension Benefits Plus Aid and Attendance Supplement 

Veteran, Widowed Spouse and Dependent or Disabled Child (Any May be a Claimant)

• Veterans Must Typically Have Served Ninety Days Active Duty with One Day During Wartime (Those Who Enlisted After September 7, 1980 Have Additional Time Requirements)

• Veteran Cannot Have Had a Dishonorable Discharge

• Claimant’s Physician Must Declare Him/Her as in Need of Personal Assistance from Another Individual AND/OR in Need of a “Protective Environment” Which May Include Services Offered by a Care Facility

• Claimant Should have Limited Household Assets; Excluding Primary Home, Car, and Personal Belongings. If Assets are Jointly Owned by Other than Dependent, Only the Claimant’s Share is Generally Countable. In the Case of a Married Veteran, Both His/Her Assets are Countable. The VA Now Considers the Claimant’s Life Expectancy in Determining How Much a Claimant can Have. In the Case of Assets Over $50k, It May be Best to Consult an Elder Law Attorney. One Should Never Transfer Assets or Add a Name to an Account without the Proper Legal/Professional Advice.

• Claimant’s Household Out-of-Pocket Annual Medical Expenses Must Exceed or Come Close to His/Her Total Annual Household Gross Income (Total Annual Cost of a Care Facility May be Considered a Medical Expense if the Doctor States the Need) (Note: Independent Living Requires a Third Party Caregiver).

• Surviving Spouse Must have been Married to the Veteran for at Least One Year OR have had a Child by the Veteran if Married Less than One Year and Never Remarried (with Possibly One Exception). Surviving Spouse Must Typically have been Living with the Veteran at the Time of the Veteran’s Death; However, There are Some Exceptions.

2018 Maximum Pension Rates for Pension Plus Aid and Attendance

• Single Veteran $1,830.00 Per Month or $21,962.00 Per Year
• Married Veteran $2,169.00 Per Month or $26,036.00 Per Year
• Surviving Spouse $1,176.00 Per Month or $14,113.00 Per Year
• Veteran Married to Veteran (Both A & A) $ 2,903.00 Per Month or $34,837.00 Per Year

Once Awarded Aid and Attendance or Housebound Status, a Veteran May Obtain Free Medications, Medical Equipment, Incontinence Supplies, Glasses, and Hearing Aids from the VA Hospital/Clinic via Home Delivery. A Separate Application Must be Made Through the VA Health Care System on Form 10-10EZ.

* Note: Each VA Claim is Unique and the Above Criteria is Generic in Nature and May Not be Applicable to Each Claimant. There are Never Any Guarantees that Any Claim or Specific Benefit Amount will be Awarded and Regulations are subject to change at any Time.

**Base Pension With or Without Housebound May Be Awarded Instead of Pension Plus A&A

Shared with permission of Veterans Information Services, Inc. and the Creators of VisPro Software …www.info4vets.com

Copyright © Veterans Information Services, Inc.

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For additional information concerning VA compensation and pension benefits, visit:

VA Compensation and Pension Benefits

For additional information concerning Medicaid and public benefits planning, visit:

NJ Medicaid and Public Benefits Planning