Question 1: What is the veteran’s AA pension?
The veteran’s Aid and Attendance pension program, also referred to as veteran’s AA, is a disability pension aimed at assisting disabled veterans or their spouses who live on limited income. The program provides monthly payments to veterans or their spouses who require in-home caregivers or who live in a nursing home or assisted living environment. If you are a permanently or totally disabled veteran, or a veteran age 65 or older, you may qualify for this program.
Question 2: What are the program requirements?
Any veteran can qualify for the AA benefit as long as he or she first meets basic VA pension requirements. These include being discharged in any manner other than dishonorable, as well as meeting specific income guidelines. You must also have served at least 90 days of active duty and at least one day during a period of war. However, those who enlisted after September 7, 1980 can still qualify if they served at least 24 months or served the full time period for which they were called to active duty.
Veterans must also be disabled in some way. To meet this requirement, either you or your spouse must require assistance to perform basic living tasks, be bedridden, reside in a nursing home because of a mental or physical incapacity, or be blind or have corrected visual acuity of 5/200 or less.
Question 3: How much can I receive?
The aid assistance payment varies significantly depending on circumstances. A single veteran can receive up to as much as $1,700 per month or more, while surviving spouse may receive up to about $1,100. Veterans with disabled spouses may be able to receive more.
Michael Robinson, Estate Planning Attorney
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