VA Information

US Military Veteran’s
Aid and Attendance Pension Benefits
Planning

 

There are special pension benefits available to help Veterans and Widows of Veterans pay for their medical care.  Qualification for benefits is subject to income and net worth limits that must not be exceeded.   For purposes of this discussion, the person applying for benefits shall be called the Claimant.

Aid and Attendance (A&A) Benefits for Veterans

ASSET/ INCOME LIMITS AND BENEFITS

A Veteran or the Widow of a Veteran may qualify for a special pension.  The Veteran can, also qualify for medical supplies and medicines if the service and financial qualifications are met. 

MAXIMUM A&A PENSION AMOUNTS

 

Maximum Net Income

Max Monthly Benefit

Married

$23,400

$1,950

Single

$19,736

$1,645

Widow

$12,672

$1,056

These amounts may change each year based on cost of living

A&A Rules for Qualification

There are two qualification levels.  The first level is the hardest to meet because it is fact based.  The Claimant must satisfy all of the qualifications.  There are no actions the Claimant can take that will help them qualify.  The second level is different.  The Claimant may be able to make changes that would allow the Claimant to qualify, such as gifting away assets, reducing income, increasing medical expenses, etc.

The first level of Qualifications for the Veteran or the Widow of the Veteran is:

  1. The Veteran must have served 90 consecutive days on active military duty.
  2. The Veteran must have received a better than dishonorable discharge.
  3. The Veteran must have served at least 1 day of active duty during a war period (there is no requirement that any service be performed in a combat zone).
  4. The Widow must not have divorced the Veteran or remarried after the Veteran’s death.
  5. The Claimant must be certified by a doctor as needing assistance with their daily living activities.

The second level of qualification for the Claimant (actions which can be done to change the Claimant’s situation that will allow qualification):

  1. The household cannot have more than the Allowable countable assets (approximately $80,000 but subject to the discretion of the VA adjudicator)
  2. The Adjusted Household Income must be less than the A&A Pension Benefit (Adjusted Household Income is 105% of the Gross Household Income less all unreimbursed recurring medical expenses). 

PLANNING

Veterans Aid and Attendance

In order to qualify for VA Aid and Attendance (A&A) Benefits, the unreimbursed gross income and the net worth must be below the Threshold Limits.  With proper planning, the Veteran or the Veteran’s Widow can qualify for A&A Pension moneys and other assistance while preserving some of the household assets.  This will aid the family in paying for medical care and postpone the depletion of the Claimant’s assets.  The goal is to stretch the Claimant’s assets so the Claimant can postpone the need to rely upon Medicaid for their care.

At the present time, unlike Medicaid the VA does not have any rules that restrict the gifting away of assets to reduce the net worth of the Claimant before qualifying for Aid & Attendance. 

Albert G. Hehr III, Attorney at Law, Principal of Hehr & Hehr, Co. L.P.A.

  • Over 12 years experience helping Families and Business protect their assets from unnecessary expense, taxes, and liabilities.
  • Graduate of Cleveland Marshall College of Law
  • Degree in Political Science, and Law Enforcement
  • Member of Wealth Counsel, LLC, a National Association of Wealth Preservation Attorneys
  • Member of Elder Counsel, LLC
  • National Academy of Elderlaw Attorneys
  • 15 years of Public Service as a police officer
  • Member of the Cleveland, and Ohio Bar Associations
  • Member of the Estate planning section of the Ohio Bar Association
  • Member of the Corporate Law Section of the Ohio Bar Association
  • Member of the Cleveland Estate Planning Council
  • Frequent speaker to Senior Groups, Civic Clubs, Support Groups, Business Associations, and other professional associations

PLEASE CALL IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN LEARNING MORE ABOUT THE INFORMATION PROVIDED OR WOULD LIKE TO SCHEDULE A SPEAKER FOR YOUR ORGANIZATION

WHAT CAN YOU DO?

If you have any questions or know anyone that may qualify for these benefits, please pass this information to them.

You can also set up speaking engagements for me to talk to civic groups/clubs, church groups, professional groups, elderly groups/clubs, over 55 groups/clubs, Medical Support Groups, Veteran Clubs, and to any group that is interested in helping the Elderly on this or other Topics of Interest.