Protecting Your Right To Veterans Aid

Howie Law Office will assist you with your VA benefits review.

Veterans Aid and Attendance is a pension benefit for veterans and their surviving spouses who require the regular attendance of another person to assist in two of the following five activities of daily living: eating, bathing, dressing, continence and transferring. It includes an individual receiving home care services at home, living in an assisted living facility or a patient in a nursing home.

It is helpful if you have the following information when we meet:

• Monthly gross income from all sources, including interest, dividends, IRA distributions, capital gains
• Monthly health and/or long term care insurance premiums
• Understanding of applicant’s assets including IRA’s

This benefit can help pay for home care services, assisted living facility or nursing home.

A Veteran with a spouse may qualify for as much as $2,020 per month.
A single Veteran may qualify for as much as $1,704 per month.
A well Veteran with an ill spouse may qualify for as much as $1,291 per month
A surviving spouse may qualify for as much as $1,095 per month.

Any war veteran with at least 90 days of active duty, 1 day beginning or ending during a period of war, who so meets the financial and medical criteria is eligible for this benefit.

Eligibility must be proven by filing the proper VA forms for Pension. This application will require a (preferably certified) copy of DD-214 or separation papers, medical evaluation from a physician with diagnosis, prognosis, and assistance needs, proof of all assets and gross income, along with recurring out-of-pocket medical expenses.

Benefits can take 6-10 months to receive and are retroactive to the date of application.

The information provided herein is for general purposes only and does not purport to give specific advice on individual matters. If you want individual advice, contact Mary Howie, an Elder Law and Estate Planning attorney practicing in New Hampshire and Massachusetts. Attorney Howie also holds a master’s degree in business administration and finance. Call her at 603-893-8008.