You may be eligible for the Veterans Pension program if you meet the requirements listed below. Also, VA Aid and Attendance or Housebound benefits provide monthly payments added to the amount of a monthly VA pension for qualified Veterans and survivors. If you need help with daily activities, or you’re housebound, find out if you qualify.
Both of these must be true:
- You didn’t receive a dishonorable discharge (or you have your discharge upgraded), and
- Your yearly family income and net worth meet certain limits set by Congress. Your net worth includes all personal property you own (except your house, your car, and most home furnishings), minus any debt you owe. Your net worth includes the net worth of your spouse.
Get Veterans Pension (MAPR) rates here.
And at least one of these must be true about your service. You:
- Started on active duty before September 8, 1980, and you served at least 90 days on active duty with at least 1 day during wartime, or
- Started on active duty as an enlisted person after September 7, 1980, and served at least 24 months or the full period for which you were called or ordered to active duty (with some exceptions) with at least 1 day during wartime, or
- Were an officer and started on active duty after October 16, 1981, and you hadn’t previously served on active duty for at least 24 months
And at least one of these must be true. You:
- Are at least 65 years old, or
- Have a permanent and total disability, or
- Are a patient in a nursing home for long-term care because of a disability, or
- Are getting Social Security Disability Insurance or Supplemental Security Income
And, if you are applying for Aid and Attendance or Housebound Benefits (beyond the basic pension), at least one of the following must also be true:
- You need another person to help you perform daily activities, like bathing, feeding, and dressing, or
- You have to stay in bed—or spend a large portion of the day in bed—because of illness, or
- You are a patient in a nursing home due to the loss of mental or physical abilities related to a disability, or
- Your eyesight is limited (even with glasses or contact lenses you have only 5/200 or less in both eyes; or concentric contraction of the visual field to 5 degrees or less)
Housebound benefits eligibility
You may be eligible for this benefit if you get a VA pension and you spend most of your time in your home because of a permanent disability (a disability that doesn’t go away). Note: You can’t get Aid and Attendance benefits and Housebound benefits at the same time.
Applications:
Veterans Application for Pension (Form 21P-527EZ) or apply online.
Survivors Application for Pension (Form 21P-534EZ) or apply online.
VA BLOG POSTS
Social Security Disability versus Veteran’s Disability
The word disability doesn’t have the same meaning in all contexts. If you have a disability insurance policy, you could qualify for benefits if you have a covered condition even if you could still work. If you are a veteran, you might qualify for disability if you have specific conditions. Social Security disability, however, requires […]
Marriage, Living in Sin and Common Law Marriage
Obviously, if you follow the law, get a license and have the event officiated, you’re married. See O.C.G.A. § 19-3-1 (Requiring parties able to contract, an actual contract and consummation according to law). And with marriage goes the benefits and liabilities. Although not a traditional case, Justice Kennedy concluded Obergfell v. Hodges with the following […]
VA Updates Adjudication Procedures Manual to Allow Payment of Claims Where Appointment of Fiduciary was Pending at Tome of Death
During the week of May 1, 2023, the VA updated its Adjudication Procedures Manual to clarify that a claim in which funds were withheld pending a fiduciary appointment is a claim pending at the time of death and may be paid as accrued benefits. The updated section is M21-1, Part XI, Subpart ii, Chapter 3, […]
VA Announces Legal and Financial Planning Services are Now Available for Family Caregivers
On April 25, 2023, the VA issued the following announcement: The Caregiver Support Program (CSP) is introducing a new nationwide service offering comprehensive legal and financial planning services to Primary Family Caregivers enrolled in the Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers (PCAFC). A network of licensed attorneys and certified financial counselors are readily accessible […]
VA posts regarding its Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers
On April 5, 2023, the VA posted (presumably to remind everyone) regarding its comprensive assistance for family caregivers. The VA said “Support for caregivers means making sure you’re informed about the programs, resources, and services available to you. The Caregiver Support Program (CSP) provides clinical services to caregivers of Veterans who are enrolled in the […]
VA Aid & Attendance Benefit Rates for 2023
The new Aid and Attendance enhanced pension rates for 2023 are: Surviving Spouse $1,432 Monthly / $17,184 per year Single Veteran $2,229 Monthly / $26,748 per year Married Veteran $2,642 Monthly / $31,704 per year Two Vets Married $3,536 Monthly / $42,432 per year If you qualify for these benefits, the VA will base your […]
Elder Law and Special Needs Law News Roundup – 8-26-2022
We regularly post links to news articles and other resources related to Elder Law and Special Needs Law. We focus on general news, health and healthcare news, special needs news, events, government sources, financial and retirement news and legal news. Some cited resources are for professionals, but most are news or other helpful articles we […]
Elder Law and Special Needs Law News Roundup – 8-12-2022
We regularly post links to news articles and other resources related to Elder Law and Special Needs Law. We focus on general news, health and healthcare news, special needs news, events, government sources, financial and retirement news and legal news. Some cited resources are for professionals, but most are news or other helpful articles we […]
Resources for Older Veterans
In an August 2022 blog post, the VA urged Veterans to check out resources for Older Veterans. The post states, whether your an older Veteran, a family member or caregiver for a Veteran of any age, or you serve Veterans, check out these resources: VA Caregiver Support– Resources and programs for family caregivers VA Mental Health– […]
Elder Law and Special Needs Law News Roundup – 5-20-2022
We regularly post links to news articles and other resources related to Elder Law and Special Needs Law. We focus on general news, health and healthcare news, special needs news, events, government sources, financial and retirement news and legal news. Some cited resources are for professionals, but most are news or other helpful articles we […]
