VA Program Assists Those With Long Term Care Needs

The VA's Aid and Attendance (A&A) program provides monthly financial help to wartime veterans or their surviving spouses who require long term care. Qualification is income-based, with those who have the greatest financial need taking priority. The A&A program provides a cash payment over and above other compensation or pension payments.

This special pension benefit is for eligible veterans, is not dependent on service-related injuries, and can help pay for in-home care, assisted living, or nursing home care. Payments are calculated to bring participants up to an established income level, which is referred to as the "income threshold." Although the benefit is tied to a person's current income level, people with large medical expenses, including nursing home costs, still may be eligible for payments due to the method used to determine financial need.

If a veteran or surviving spouse meets all eligibility requirements, the VA determines the A&A benefit by subtracting unreimbursed medical expenses from total household income. If this remaining net income amount falls below established annual income thresholds, the VA pays the difference between a veteran's net household income and the A&A income threshold amount, which changes every year. Current annual threshold amounts are:

• $18,234 for a veteran only;
• $21,615 for a veteran with one dependent;
• $11,715 for a surviving spouse;
• $13,976 for a surviving spouse and one child; and
• $1,866 for each additional child

To qualify for the VA's A&A program, you must be a wartime veteran who has at least 90 days of active military service, served at least one day during a period of war, and were discharged under conditions other than dishonorable.

Wartime veterans who entered active duty on or after Sept. 8, 1980, (officers as of Oct. 16, 1981) must have completed at least 24 continuous months of military service or the total period for which they were ordered to active duty.

Applicants must be incapable of self-support and be in need of regular personal assistance. The veteran or surviving spouse must require the aid of another person to perform functions of everyday living. This would include activities such as bathing, feeding, dressing, toileting, transferring, and assisting in the adjustment of prosthetic/orthopedic devices. It also could include situations such as the inability to protect against hazards in the environment, being bedridden, blindness, various forms of dementia, or residency in a nursing facility due to mental or physical incapacity.
Applications can take months to process, and payments are retroactive to the date of receipt by the VA for applicants who are approved. The A&A payments are made by direct deposit to the beneficiary's account.

Applying for and receiving A&A benefits can be a complex process. MOAA recommends veterans seek guidance with their applications by contacting a chartered Veterans Service Organization (VSO) such as the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), American Legion, and Disabled American Veterans (DAV).The VA Web site also has a list of other chartered VSO's that can help you at: http://www1.va.gov/vso , and applications can be submitted online. http://vabenefits.vba.va.gov/vonapp/main.asp
You may find it helpful to review the A&A Examination Worksheet http://www.vba.va.gov/bln/21/benefits/exams/disexm02.htm , which can help you better understand the qualification requirements used to determine eligibility. You also can call (800) 827-1000 for additional information and assistance regarding A&A, or contact MOAA at 1-800-234-6622 if you have further questions.

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