A confusing aspect of Aid and Attendance pension benefits which provide home care services, made available for qualifying veterans through the VA, involves how and when the individual was disabled or injured. Some people incorrectly assume a veteran has to be injured and/or disabled during their active duty service to qualify for Aid and Attendance benefits. That is simply not true.
When the pension was first developed following World War I, it was meant to help soldiers who had been injured during combat. The intention was to help them receive home care services when they returned stateside.
In the years since, over a century later, the same pension now provides financial assistance to veterans of all ages who may benefit from or require home care.
But veterans don’t need to have been injured during active duty service?
No. Veterans under 65 need to be considered completely disabled to be eligible for Aid and Attendance benefits. They would need significant assistance with a wide range of Activities of Daily Life (ADLs). Veterans 65 and over need to show a documentable requirement for in-home care support, most commonly provided through a doctor’s recommendation.
What other qualifications must be met?
A veteran needs to have limited income and assets to qualify for Aid and Attendance benefits. The threshold value can change from one year to the next, so the veteran needs to check with the VA on what their combined threshold limits are at any given time.
Another common misunderstanding people have when it comes to Aid and Attendance benefits and this income/asset threshold is that the VA only counts assets that can be quickly converted into cash. They don’t consider a primary residence as a calculable asset, either.
Another qualification is that the individual needs to be considered a wartime veteran.
What is a wartime veteran?
This doesn’t mean the person saw direct combat during their time of service. It simply means that at least one day of their active duty service (with a minimum of 90 days of active duty service for this pension) must have fallen during a time when the United States was engaged in combat somewhere in the world. These would be official combat periods, including World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam Conflict, and the Gulf War.
How long does the approval process take?
If a veteran qualifies for Aid and Attendance benefits, the application process could take many months. In some situations, there have been reports of the approval process taking nine months. If there is a backlog at the VA, that wait time could be even longer.
For veterans who need immediate home care assistance, if they are completely confident they will be approved for these benefits, the VA does offer reimbursements for services provided while the application was pending, so long as the application is ultimately approved.
For any veteran who requires home care support but can’t afford it on their own, if they served any time of their active duty service when the United States was officially engaged in combat, they should apply for Aid and Attendance benefits.
If you or an aging loved one is considering Home Care Services in Towson MD please get in touch with the caring staff at Vital Sign Home Care today. (410) 814-0258
A Trusted Skilled Medical and Non-Medical senior home care provider in Annapolis, Arnold, Severn, Guilford, Towson, Brooklandville, Catonsville, Cockeysville, Bel Air, Ellicott City, Columbia MD, and surrounding areas.
Venus had a stroke in 2018, she had no movement on the right side of her body and was unable to speak. Venus has made great progress since then and shows up everyday doing her best. She takes pride in overcoming obstacles and never giving up, which has allowed her to obtain a level of success in healthcare.
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