Many of our veterans, their spouses, and their families may not be aware of their potential eligibility for financial assistance from the government. At Your Key To Senior Living Options, we are dedicated to helping individuals eligible for VA Aid and Attendance benefits and other forms of financial support take full advantage of these resources.
The following information is intended to guide you in determining if you are eligible. However, we can best help you with this evaluation by setting up a planning meeting to discuss in greater detail your financial circumstances.
Aid and Attendance Pension
The Aid and Attendance Pension, and the Housebound Pension provide veterans (or their surviving spouses) with supplemental income. This cash benefit is paid monthly and is tax-free and can be used for any purpose such as paying for home care, home modifications like stair-lifts or walk-in tubs, or assisted living.
Calculating the pension benefit amount for a veteran or surviving spouse is complicated, as one’s current monthly income is considered, along with an applicant’s unreimbursed medical expenses. The period from 12/1/2019– 11/30/2020, the Maximum Annual Pension Rate (MAPR), are as follows:
Aid & Attendance Pension for Veterans / Surviving Spouses
The A&A Pension is a monetary “add on” to the Basic Veterans / Survivors Pension.
| Veterans with no spouse | $1,912 |
| A veteran with a spouse | $2,266 |
| Benefit for surviving spouse of a veteran | $1,230 |
Housebound Pension for Veterans / Surviving Spouses
The Housebound Pension is a cash “add on” to the Basic Veterans / Survivors Pension.
| Veterans with no spouse | $1,400 |
| A veteran with a spouse | $1,755 |
| Benefit for surviving spouse of a veteran | $939 |
Eligibility Requirements for VA Pensions.
Military Service Requirements: A veteran must have been discharged from the military, air, or naval service, and served a minimum of 90 days of active service (full-time duty) with a minimum of 1 day served during a time of war).
War Time Periods
| May 9, 1916, through April 5, 1917 – Mexican Border Period (Veterans who served in Mexico, the borders of Mexico, or adjacent waters) |
| April 6, 1917, through November 11, 1918 – World War I |
| December 7, 1941, through December 31, 1946 – World War II |
| June 27, 1950, through January 31, 1955 – Korean Conflict |
| February 28, 1961, through May 7, 1975 – Vietnam Era (The above dates are for veterans who served in the Republic of Vietnam. If they didn’t, the valid dates are August 5, 1964 through May 7, 1975.) |
| August 2, 1990, through currently undetermined – Gulf War |
Countable Income Requirements for 2020
One’s “countable income” must be less than the Maximum Annual Pension Rate. In simple terms, a veteran or surviving spouse cannot have an annual income greater than the maximum annual VA pension benefit amount he/she potentially can receive. Please note, when a veteran is married, his / her spouse’s income is also counted.
“Countable income” includes most income that a veteran or surviving spouse receives. Examples include earnings, retirement and pension payments, social security, and social security disability payments. However, one’s “countable income” could be reduced by subtracting Unreimbursed Medical Expenses (UMEs) from his / her annual income. Examples of UMEs include the cost of home health services, dentures, hearing aids, wheelchairs, premiums for health insurance, and prescription drugs. While UMEs can be deducted to lower one’s countable income, increasing one’s pension benefit amount, it isn’t as straightforward as it sounds. In order for UMEs to be deducted, the total must be greater than 5% of the MAPR. Stated simply, after income calculations (deducting UMEs from MAPR), if one’s income is less than the MAPR, he/she is income eligible.
Net Worth Requirements for 2020
To be eligible, a veteran or surviving spouses’ net worth (assets) must be limited. It is projected with reasonable confidence for 2020, the limit will be $129,094. Net worth includes savings and checking accounts, mutual funds, stocks, and vacation homes. One’s primary home does not count towards the asset limit.
If an applicant is over the asset limit, this does not mean he/she cannot still meet the net worth limit. We can work with you to help determine if there is a workaround to this issue. There will be a 36 month look-back period for asset transfers to prevent veterans and survivors from gifting assets in an attempt to meet the new VA net worth limit of $129,094.
Disability / Age Requirements
The disability criteria vary depending on the specific VA pension from which the applicant is seeking assistance.
Basic Pension: To meet the disability requirement, a veteran must meet ONE of the following conditions:
- Be a minimum of 65 years old
- Have a permanent (there is not a chance or is very little chance the disability will improve) and total (100% disability rating) non-service-connected disability
- Reside in a nursing home facility
- Be a recipient of disability benefits from Social Security
Aid & Attendance Requirements: For A&A Pension, a veteran or survivor must meet ONE of the conditions below:
- Need assistance with Activities of Daily Living (ADLs): as bathing, grooming, dressing, eating, or mobility.
- Be bedridden (confined to one’s bed)
- Be a resident of a nursing home facility due to the inability to function physically or mentally
- Have profound visual impairment (both eyes have equal or less than 5/200 visual acuity OR the visual field has concentric contraction equal to 5 degrees or less)
Housebound Requirements
- To be eligible for the Housebound Pension, a veteran or his / her surviving spouse must be “substantially confined” to his / her home due to a disability that is permanent.
Application Process
A veteran or surviving spouse cannot be eligible for the Aid & Attendance Pension or the Homebound Pension without being eligible for the Basic Veterans Pension or the Survivors Basic Pension (Death Pension).
To apply for the Basic VA Pension, veterans must fill out form VA Form 21P-527EZ (Application for Pension), and for the Basic Survivor Pension, surviving spouses must fill out VA Form 21P-534EZ (Application for DIC, Death Pension, and / or Accrued Benefits). Please note, to apply for the Aid & Attendance or Housebound Pension, additional paperwork is required.
If you’re uncertain about eligibility status, it is advised you seek professional consul prior to applying. Incomplete or partially qualified applicants can experience processing delays lasting many months or even years.
