Fifty Plus (50+) - Little Known VA "Wartime Service" Benefit

"Wartime Service" is broadly defined. I would qualify. Just something to know about - or perhaps a friend of yours needs this?

“Aid and Attendance” refers to the fact that in order to qualify for this higher level of Pension, the Veteran or surviving spouse must demonstrate a regular need for the assistance of a caregiver or the need to live in a protected environment because of physical or mental impairment. If the Veteran does not require Aid and Attendance, but has a low household income, they may be eligible for a base pension of a lesser dollar amount. 2012 the maximum monthly benefits for those qualifying for the Aid & Attendance level of Pension is:


Surviving Spouse of a Veteran: $1,094
Veteran with no Spouse or dependent children: $1,703
Married couple where the Veteran requires care: $2,019
Veteran is healthy but Spouse requires care, Veteran qualifies for Income Improvement Pension: $1,337



http://www.veteransfinancial.com/aid-and-attendance-main/aid-and-attendance-eligibility/

Aid & Attendance Eligibility

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) reviews the following four areas to determine eligibility:
1. Military Service

•Veteran must have served a minimum of 90 days of active duty. 1 of those days must be during a period of war:
◦World War II – 12/7/41 through 12/31/46
◦Korean Conflict – 6/27/50 through 1/31/55
◦Vietnam – 8/5/64 through 5/7/75*
◦The Veteran must have received a discharge from active duty under conditions other than dishonorable
*also Veterans who served in the Republic of Vietnam – 2/28/61-5/7/75

2. Health

•The need for assistance with Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) – bathing, dressing, cooking, medication management etc. or
•The claimant is legally blind or nearly blind, or
•A diagnosis by a doctor of Alzheimer’s disease or Dementia, or
•The need for a “protected environment” to protect the claimant from the hazards and dangers of his or her daily life may be accepted
3. Income versus Medical Expenses

The VA compares the relationship between a claimant’s income (Social Security, pension(s) and all other fixed income) and medical expenses (assisted living, home care, skilled nursing, adult day, and health insurance premiums). If the claimant spends all of their income on countable medical expenses, they should be entitled to the maximum monthly income from the Department of Veterans Affairs. If the claimant spends a portion of their income on care related medical expenses, they may be eligible for a partial benefit from the Department of Veterans Affairs.

4. Savings/Net Worth

The VA does not designate a specific dollar figure to determine if someone is eligible for the benefit. The number is different for every person/family who applies. The VA looks at every claim individually and makes a net worth determination based on the facts and circumstance of the case. If there are significant assets, benefits may still be awarded depending on care expenses,

Denver, good post, thank you.

Also, I would like to point out that here in New Jersey, wartime veterans, defined pretty much the same as you did above, and including myself, receive a $250/yr reduction on their property tax. It could be that other states do something similar.

Best regards

Thanks Denver, going to print that out for a friend that qualifies. Might just help him out.

Bill

Wow! I didn't know about that. Will have to check into it a lot more. Who knows what kinds of benefits we have earned, but are ignorant about. The only one I really have used is the CalVet home loan program. My lady friend is very concerned about assistant living costs as she gets to the point where she needs it. It's quite expensive. Thanks for letting us know about this.

And ... thank you to all my cycling brethren, (and women), who served our country under difficult circumstances.

From the title, I was kind of expecting that the VA was giving out bicycles to senior veterans. ;)

From the title, I was kind of expecting that the VA was giving out bicycles to senior veterans. ;)

And that would be the Wounded Warrior Project. Bikes are custom fitted and modified to suit the disabilities of the rider/veteran. You should see these guys and gals, they will make you think twice about whining that something aches or you are to tired to ride. Di2 and EPS have been godsends to these riders with missing or disabled arms/hands. I try to steer any charitable donation that can be assigned to them. My Road ID charity was Wounded Warrior.

Bill

in texas depending on your disablity rating they lower the tax values on your home and freezes them where they can't go up

"Wartime Service" is broadly defined. I would qualify.


◦Vietnam – 8/5/64 through 5/7/75*



I went in 11/75, and even though I do not qualify for this, I did qualify for Vietnam Era Educational benefits, for which I am grateful.

Denver,

Thanks for this post. I'm a Vietnam vet but don't qualify just yet. However, my father-in-law was in WWII and does. I'll have to show this to my wife.

"Wartime Service" is broadly defined. I would qualify. Just something to know about - or perhaps a friend of yours needs this?

“Aid and Attendance” refers to the fact that in order to qualify for this higher level of Pension, the Veteran or surviving spouse must demonstrate a regular need for the assistance of a caregiver or the need to live in a protected environment because of physical or mental impairment. If the Veteran does not require Aid and Attendance, but has a low household income, they may be eligible for a base pension of a lesser dollar amount. 2012 the maximum monthly benefits for those qualifying for the Aid & Attendance level of Pension is:


Surviving Spouse of a Veteran: $1,094
Veteran with no Spouse or dependent children: $1,703
Married couple where the Veteran requires care: $2,019
Veteran is healthy but Spouse requires care, Veteran qualifies for Income Improvement Pension: $1,337



http://www.veteransfinancial.com/aid-and-attendance-main/aid-and-attendance-eligibility/

Aid & Attendance Eligibility

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) reviews the following four areas to determine eligibility:
1. Military Service

•Veteran must have served a minimum of 90 days of active duty. 1 of those days must be during a period of war:
◦World War II – 12/7/41 through 12/31/46
◦Korean Conflict – 6/27/50 through 1/31/55
◦Vietnam – 8/5/64 through 5/7/75*
◦The Veteran must have received a discharge from active duty under conditions other than dishonorable
*also Veterans who served in the Republic of Vietnam – 2/28/61-5/7/75

2. Health

•The need for assistance with Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) – bathing, dressing, cooking, medication management etc. or
•The claimant is legally blind or nearly blind, or
•A diagnosis by a doctor of Alzheimer’s disease or Dementia, or
•The need for a “protected environment” to protect the claimant from the hazards and dangers of his or her daily life may be accepted
3. Income versus Medical Expenses

The VA compares the relationship between a claimant’s income (Social Security, pension(s) and all other fixed income) and medical expenses (assisted living, home care, skilled nursing, adult day, and health insurance premiums). If the claimant spends all of their income on countable medical expenses, they should be entitled to the maximum monthly income from the Department of Veterans Affairs. If the claimant spends a portion of their income on care related medical expenses, they may be eligible for a partial benefit from the Department of Veterans Affairs.

4. Savings/Net Worth

The VA does not designate a specific dollar figure to determine if someone is eligible for the benefit. The number is different for every person/family who applies. The VA looks at every claim individually and makes a net worth determination based on the facts and circumstance of the case. If there are significant assets, benefits may still be awarded depending on care expenses,

That's what Mrs. Grouch does. She works for a private company that helps vets jump through the income/medical expense hoop.

"Wartime Service" is broadly defined. I would qualify. Just something to know about - or perhaps a friend of yours needs this?

“Aid and Attendance” refers to the fact that in order to qualify for this higher level of Pension, the Veteran or surviving spouse must demonstrate a regular need for the assistance of a caregiver or the need to live in a protected environment because of physical or mental impairment. If the Veteran does not require Aid and Attendance, but has a low household income, they may be eligible for a base pension of a lesser dollar amount. 2012 the maximum monthly benefits for those qualifying for the Aid & Attendance level of Pension is:


Surviving Spouse of a Veteran: $1,094
Veteran with no Spouse or dependent children: $1,703
Married couple where the Veteran requires care: $2,019
Veteran is healthy but Spouse requires care, Veteran qualifies for Income Improvement Pension: $1,337



http://www.veteransfinancial.com/aid-and-attendance-main/aid-and-attendance-eligibility/

Aid & Attendance Eligibility

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) reviews the following four areas to determine eligibility:
1. Military Service

•Veteran must have served a minimum of 90 days of active duty. 1 of those days must be during a period of war:
◦World War II – 12/7/41 through 12/31/46
◦Korean Conflict – 6/27/50 through 1/31/55
◦Vietnam – 8/5/64 through 5/7/75*
◦The Veteran must have received a discharge from active duty under conditions other than dishonorable
*also Veterans who served in the Republic of Vietnam – 2/28/61-5/7/75

2. Health

•The need for assistance with Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) – bathing, dressing, cooking, medication management etc. or
•The claimant is legally blind or nearly blind, or
•A diagnosis by a doctor of Alzheimer’s disease or Dementia, or
•The need for a “protected environment” to protect the claimant from the hazards and dangers of his or her daily life may be accepted
3. Income versus Medical Expenses

The VA compares the relationship between a claimant’s income (Social Security, pension(s) and all other fixed income) and medical expenses (assisted living, home care, skilled nursing, adult day, and health insurance premiums). If the claimant spends all of their income on countable medical expenses, they should be entitled to the maximum monthly income from the Department of Veterans Affairs. If the claimant spends a portion of their income on care related medical expenses, they may be eligible for a partial benefit from the Department of Veterans Affairs.

4. Savings/Net Worth

The VA does not designate a specific dollar figure to determine if someone is eligible for the benefit. The number is different for every person/family who applies. The VA looks at every claim individually and makes a net worth determination based on the facts and circumstance of the case. If there are significant assets, benefits may still be awarded depending on care expenses,

My mother in law was a WAVE in WW2. She has been receiving Aid and Attendance for several years now.

Denver,

Thanks for this post. I'm a Vietnam vet but don't qualify just yet. However, my father-in-law was in WWII and does. I'll have to show this to my wife.

We hired a lawyer who specializes in elder and family law to help us navigate the VA and document her case for receiving aid and attendance.

One or two actions in Central America, while not classified as "Wartime Service" are called "Conflicts" and do qualify veterans for certain benefits. In Georgia, I found that I, as a "Wartime Service" veteran, am qualified for a no charge driver's liscense this year. Every little bit helps!

My 97 year old father-in-law is in assisted living and receives the $1703/mo. Benefit. It has been a huge help but beware of the red tape and yearly justification. It can be frustrating and time consuming. One big hint...keep copies of ALL documentation.

the VA is one of the hardest goverment institutions to navigate through the red tape polices and finding what benefits are aviliable to the veteran or veterans family. if you need help for benefits and are not sure where to look or how to source the exactness of what you need contact disable veterans, veterans of foreign wars, order of the purple heart, parayalized veterans, Vietnam Veterans of America to name a few. the majority of your Veteran Affairs larger hospitals have a satelite office on the premises that is a direct connection to that states specific Veteran Affiars regonal office with VA guidance counselors to help you

Go away troll, spam some where else

and who is that in reference to?

qpc, I don't see any issues here. What are you concerned about?

qpc, I don't see any issues here. What are you concerned about?

I believe th particular post has been deleted.

Okay, I deleted my post. There was a spammer early that morning posting about Viet Nam bicycle trips with non-sense replies.
Sorry if I offended, the mods usually delete the accusing post too. My bad for not checking back.

Bill

"Wartime Service" is broadly defined.
1. Military Service

•Veteran must have served a minimum of 90 days of active duty. 1 of those days must be during a period of war...

So if you were a supply clerk in Poughkeepsie at the right time, you might qualify, but if you got shot at in the Taiwan Straits or Dominican Republic, you don't? Gotta love Congress!

VFW membership is based on campaign citations (they have quite a long list (http://www.vfw.org/resources/pdf/eligibility05.pdf) - my goodness, what a contentious country we are) but basically consider any service personnel who ever received Hostile Fire or Imminent Danger pay as a veteran of 'wartime'. That's strikes me as a better way to define it, but then I'm not Congress.

So if you were a supply clerk in Poughkeepsie at the right time, you might qualify, but if you got shot at in the Taiwan Straits or Dominican Republic, you don't? Gotta love Congress!

VFW membership is based on campaign citations (they have quite a long list (http://www.vfw.org/resources/pdf/eligibility05.pdf) - my goodness, what a contentious country we are) but basically consider any service personnel who ever received Hostile Fire or Imminent Danger pay as a veteran of 'wartime'. That's strikes me as a better way to define it, but then I'm not Congress.

I agree, but it's usually easier to say what's wrong than it is to say what's right.