The Truth about 6 VA Aid and Attendance Benefit Myths

Aid and Attendance is a special VA (Veterans Administration), tax-free benefit for wartime veterans and their spouses (current or surviving) who need help with some of the activities of daily living. This pension that can greatly reduce the cost of long-term care, whether at home or in a care facility.

The Aid and Attendance is a little-known pension, mostly due to misinformation about the eligibility requirements.

Here is the truth about some common myths about Aid and Attendance eligibility criteria.

Myth #1 – The veteran must have served in a combat zone.

The truth is this is NOT a requirement. To qualify for this pension, the veteran must have served for 90 days of active duty, with at least 1 day during an eligible period of war, as per wartime periods established by Congress.

Myth #2 – The veteran must have been injured or fallen ill during service.

This is also NOT a requirement. If a veteran is injured or falls ill during military service, s/he may be eligible for VA disability compensation, or service-connected disability compensation.

Aid and Attendance is a non-service-connected pension which doesn’t require the veteran to be disabled or receiving VA disability compensation to qualify.

Myth #3 – The veteran must already be receiving a basic pension to apply for Aid and Attendance.

This is NOT a requirement. The VA Basic Pension provides supplemental income to veterans who meet the requirements. The Aid and Attendance benefit is an enhanced pension that includes the VA’s Basic Pension as well as an additional monetary compensation for people who need help with daily living activities (ADLs).

Myth #4 – The veteran must be in the VA system to apply for Aid and Attendance

This is also NOT a requirement. When you submit an Aid and Attendance application, it automatically puts you in the system. You do not have to be enrolled in the VA healthcare system to file the Aid and Attendance claim.

Myth #5 – Aid and Attendance applies only for an Assisted Living Facility

The truth is the Aid and Attendance benefit is a reimbursement for home care as well as facility care. Home care refers to help with ADLs, such as cooking and bathing, and mobility.

Myth #6 – Getting the Aid and Attendance benefit will make me lose my Social Security benefit.

Your Aid and Attendance pension will not affect your monthly Social Security payments. You can receive both benefits at the same time. But Social Security is counted as income when determining Aid and Attendance eligibility.

To learn more about workers compensation veteran health care, energy worker home health care, or coal miner home health care, call CNS (Critical Nurse Staffing) at 877-259-9001.

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Critical Nurse Staffing Joined: July 30th, 2019