how to apply for va aid and attendance benefits

by Prof. Kenny Brakus IV Published 3 years ago Updated 2 years ago

There are three main steps in the VA Aid and Attendance (A&A) application process:

Learn which documents you’ll need to send to the VA
Fill out the correct VA application forms
Mail your printed application forms and all the documents to the correct pension processing center

Full Answer

Who qualifies for VA aid and attendance?

Veterans who served on active duty for at least 90 consecutive days, including at least one full day during a time of war, may be eligible for Aid and Attendance if they also qualify for the basic Veterans Pension and meet the clinical and financial requirements. Service in a combat zone is not a requirement.

How does a veteran qualify for aid and attendance?

The veteran needs help from some other person in order to perform basic activities of daily living. ...
The veteran is bedridden because of a disabling condition that prevents him from remaining in bed. ...
The veteran becomes a patient in a nursing home as a result of mental incapacity or because of physical incapacity.

More items...

Who qualifies for aid and attendance benefits?

Age 65 or older
Permanently and totally disabled (not due to personal misconduct)
Patient in a nursing home receiving skilled nursing care
Receiving Social Security disability benefits

How much is aid and attendance for veterans?

The basic MAPR is that amount that does not include any allowances for aid and attendance or housebound. For example, for a single veteran applicant, the basic annual MAPR in 2020 is $13,752 and the deductible is $687. For a veteran applicant with one dependent the basic MAPR in 2020 is $18.008 and the deductible is $900.

How do you qualify for aid and attendance through the VA?

Eligibility Requirements: Wartime Service First and foremost, a Veteran must have served in active duty for a minimum of 90 days. At least one of those days must have been during a period of war. Veterans also need to have been granted either an honorable discharge or one that's classified as other than dishonorable.

How much does the VA pay for aid and attendance benefits?

The 2022 Veterans Aid and Attendance Benefit rates are: A Veteran with a spouse may qualify for as much as $2,431 per month. A single Veteran may qualify for as much as $2,050 per month. A well Veteran with an ill spouse may qualify for as much as $1,608 per month.

Is VA pension and aid and attendance the same thing?

The VA Aid and Attendance Benefit has various nicknames: VA Enhanced Pension, VA Improved Pension, VA A&A Pension, VA Special Pension, and VA Special Monthly Pension. They all refer to the same thing: the Aid and Attendance benefit.

How long does it take to get VA aid and attendance?

How long does it take before you receive the Veterans' Aid & Attendance benefit? Broadly, it can take anywhere from three months (90 days) to six months. But the VA will expedite your application if you are over 90 years old or in hospice so you can receive this monetary pension benefit more quickly.

Will the VA pay my wife to be my caregiver?

Spouses, unfortunately, cannot be paid to provide care, as their income is also considered when calculating a veteran's pension amount. However, other relatives, such as adult children, nieces and nephews, and grandchildren, can be paid to be caregivers.

Does aid and attendance have to be service connected?

Aid & Attendance (A&A) – for veterans over the age of 65 that require assistance with their activities of daily living. Housebound – for veterans with a disability rating of 100% that prevents them from leaving their home, but does not have to be related to their military service.

Which pays more housebound or aid and attendance?

Housebound is based on a higher maximum income level, which is why its pension is lower than that of Aid and Attendance. Connect with us today to find out if you're eligible for the Aid and Attendance pension benefit.

Is VA aid and attendance permanent?

Veterans who meet the following criteria are able to qualify for this additional benefit: The veteran has a single, permanent disability evaluated as 100 percent disabling. The veteran is permanently confined to their home (or immediate location) due to this disability.

What is the difference between aid and attendance and housebound?

If a DIC beneficiary is receiving the aid and attendance of another person or the beneficiary is considered housebound, meaning he or she is basically confined to living quarters for life, there are additional payments available as monetary allowances.

Does the VA back pay for aid and attendance?

Once the VA confirms a veteran or their surviving spouse is eligible for Aid and Attendance, they'll receive retroactive payments covering the previous months when the application was pending. For a veteran to receive retroactive payments, they'll need to fill out an Intent to File form.

Am I eligible for VA Aid and Attendance or Housebound benefits as a Veteran or survivor?

VA Aid and Attendance eligibility You may be eligible for this benefit if you get a VA pension and you meet at least one of these requirements. At...

How do I get this benefit?

You can apply for VA Aid and Attendance or Housebound benefits in one of these ways: Send a completed VA form to your pension management center (PM...

How long does it take VA to make a decision?

It depends. We process claims in the order we receive them, unless a claim requires priority processing.

Step 3: Mail the application

Keep copies of every item in the application packet as well as any other correspondence with the VA. We highly recommend that you send your completed application via USPS Certified Mail Return Receipt to confirm that the VA receives your application.

What to Expect When You Apply for A&A

The workload at your region’s pension center will determine how quickly your application is processed. Sending a carefully completed application with no missing forms or documents can speed up the process.

Aid & Attendance and Housebound

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.

Aid & Attendance (A&A)

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

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.

How to Apply

You may apply for Aid and Attendance or Housebound benefits by submitting the prescribed VA form (s) to the Pension Management Center (PMC) that serves your state. You may also visit your local regional benefit office to file your request. You can locate your local regional benefit office using the VA Facility Locator.

What is VA Aid and Attendance?

VA Aid and Attendance is a lesser-known benefit. Aid and Attendance is a bit of a misnomer when it comes to this pension benefit; the term itself is a medical rating that allows for additional allowances in the event that the Veteran or surviving family member is housebound and/or needs the regular aid and attendance of another person.

What are the requirements for VA aid?

Final requirements for qualifying for VA Aid and Allowance include income limits. A Veteran’s household income, or that of their spouse, has to be below the Maximum Allowable Pension Rate (MAPR) as defined by the VA.

How much is Aid and Attendance 2020?

Income payments made to Aid and Attendance recipients can vary greatly. In 2020, monthly payments started at $768 and ended at $2,266, depending on the type of claim and the type of medical rating the applicant meets. Generally, income payments depend on the type of claim and the medical rating involved. Many people don't even know of the existence ...

What is considered a period of war for the VA?

The VA defines “period of war” the following way: World War II: December 7, 1941 – December 31, 1946.

How much does a disabled veteran earn in 2019?

These are variable, according to your circumstances; for example, a disabled Veteran without any dependents that also meets the “aid and attendance” medical rating can earn as much as $22,939 a year under the 2019-20 MAPR. Rates change all the time, however, so this figure may not always be accurate.

What is the VA net worth limit for 2019-20?

The 2019-20 net worth limit is $129,094, though this limit is increased by a percentage every year that coincides with Social Security’s annual COLA increase. As far as the VA is concerned, a Veteran’s “new worth” is the entirety of a Veteran’s assets plus what the VA calls “income for VA purposes” (IVAP).

Is the life of a US armed service member Veteran easy?

The life of a US armed service member Veteran isn't necessarily an easy one. Veterans and their families face unique challenges. For many Veterans, the US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is there to provide the support they may need. One of the ways that the VA provides this much-needed support is through a benefits program known as VA Aid and Attendance.

How many days of active duty can you get for aid and attendance?

Here are the general guidelines to help you decide whether to apply for Aid and Attendance. Veterans who served on active duty for at least 90 consecutive days, including at least one full day during a time of war, may be eligible for Aid and Attendance if they also qualify for the basic Veterans Pension and meet the clinical ...

When did the wartime veterans get their aid and attendance?

Congress defines the wartime dates that the VA uses to decide which veterans qualify for benefits like Aid and Attendance: 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;

How long is the look back period for VA?

The VA also implemented a three-year lookback period to see if assets were sold below market value or gifted in a way that reduced net worth below the upper eligibility limit. If so, that may delay (but not necessarily prohibit) the start of VA pension benefit payments.

How to apply for VA education benefits?

The best way to apply for your education benefits is by going to www.va.gov/education/how-to-apply/. You can also apply for education benefits by doing any of the following options: By mail. Call 888-442-4551, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. ET, to request that we send the application to you.

How to apply for VA benefits?

You can apply for this benefit in any of these ways: 1 Mail the form to the Pension Management Center (PMC) for your state.#N#Find your PMC 2 Work with an accredited representative.#N#Get help filing your claim 3 Go to a VA regional office and get help from a VA employee.#N#Find a VA regional office near you

Where to apply for VA pension?

You can apply for pension benefits online at www.va.gov/pension. To submit a paper application Pension benefits, download and complete VA Form 21P-527EZ, "Application for Pension" and mail it to the Pension Management Center that serves your state.

What to do before leaving the military?

If you are a member of the armed forces serving on either active duty or full-time National Guard duty, you should apply through the VA Pre-discharge claim program before leaving service. Veteran Readiness and Employment benefits for service members and Veterans.

Why is it important to submit an application for VA pension?

Missing documents or errors on the application can delay a decision for up to a year because of the required notification and response times from VA for handling claims .

What happens if a veteran dies during the period of application?

If the veteran dies during the period of application and the application was not approved prior to the death, there may be accrued benefits. If the regional office had all of the information in its possession that would have led to an approval, then there is an accrued benefit payable. Otherwise there is none.

How much does a veteran pay for a single veteran?

For a single veteran it is $22,939 a year. Without aid and attendance or housebound allowance the maximum couple's rate is $18,008 a year and for a single veteran it is $13,752 a year. Survivor Pension rates are lower. People seeking a benefit with adjusted incomes greater than these levels will be denied.

Does VA allow room and board for assisted living?

If the beneficiary receiving care in assisted living has received a rating for aid and attendance or housebound, VA will allow expenses paid to assisted living for aid and attendance or housebound including room and board to be counted as unreimbursed medical expenses .

Can VA medical expenses be counted as unreimbursed?

If the beneficiary receiving care in the home has received a rating for aid and attendance or housebound, VA will allow expenses paid to a family member for care to be counted as unreimbursed medical expenses to qualify for the benefit.

Who is the VA fiduciary?

A federal fiduciary is an individual appointed for this purpose, usually a spouse or a family member .

Does the VA require medical evidence?

Medical evidence is required unless someone is a patient in a nursing home, and then the requirement is waived. The rating allows VA to pay an additional monthly amount of Pension or Compensation to a veteran or a surviving spouse for additional costs associated with this disability.

How Does VA Aid And Attendance Work?

The Veteran’s Administration Aid And Attendance benefits (also known as Housebound benefits) gives an additional monthly income to financially needy military vets who also are housebound, disabled, or who need home care services such as someone to assist them with ADLs (activities of daily living).

How Do I Qualify For Veterans Aid And Attendance Benefits?

To qualify for Aid and Attendance, your countable income and MAPR must qualify you for a VA pension. Also, this VA benefit has a net worth limit of $130,773 in 2021. If you meet all these financial requirements, you qualify for Aid and Attendance, whether you’re a Veteran or a surviving spouse.