VA Aid & Attendance Special Pension

Often overlooked VA benefit can pay
wartime veterans up to an additional $1,554 per month for
in-home care, assisted living and nursing home care

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (the VA) offers a Special Pension with Aid and Attendance (A&A) benefit that is paid in addition to other VA pension benefits. Largely unknown, the A&A Special Pension can help pay for care in the home, in an assisted living facility, or in a nursing home. The A&A Special Pension is not dependent upon service-related injuries.

To qualify, a veteran, or his or her spouse or widow must:

• require the regular assistance of another person to perform everyday functions and activities that people usually do without help. These include dressing and undressing, eating, bathing, and toileting; OR
• be bedridden or need help to adjust to special prosthetic or orthopedic devices; OR
• have a physical or mental injury or illness that requires regular assistance to protect them from hazards or dangers in their daily living environment.

Furthermore, veterans who entered active duty before September 8, 1980 (October 16, 1981 for officers):

• must have served at least 90 days of active military service, ONE day of which was during a period of war, AND
• must NOT have been dishonorably discharged.

Veterans who entered active duty on or after September 8, 1980 (October 16, 1981 for officers):

• must have served at least 24 continuous months of active military service (or the period for which they were ordered to active duty if less than 24 months), ONE day of which was during a period of war, AND
• must NOT have been dishonorably discharged.

Most wartime veterans who satisfy these requirements will be eligible for the A&A Special Pension that provides up to:

• $1,554 per month for a wartime veteran; OR
• $998 per month for a surviving spouse; OR
• $1,842 per month for a qualifying couple.

Note: These amounts apply only to 2008; benefits are adjusted each year based on increases in the cost of living.

Because of the A&A Special Pension, many veterans will not have to live out their lives in Medicaid or VA nursing homes. Instead, assisted living will be an affordable option.

— How to apply for the A&A Special Pension —

You can call the VA using their toll-free number, or you can complete an application online through the VA's website. But, if you apply through the VA, you may have a long wait before finding out if you will receive the A&A Special Pension. The VA is overwhelmed with the lengthy applications and other work.

We strongly recommend that you work with the experts at Veterans-Express.com. They are much more knowledgeable than the so-called "experts" at the Veterans Administration and will guide you step-by-step through the application process. They also help veterans find affordable housing. Best of all, their help is FREE, with absolutely no strings attached.

BE CAREFUL: Other people and businesses claim to offer the same help for a fee of up to $1,200. But, they are no more successful than Veterans-Express.com.

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