VA Pension Benefits Are the Reward for Service in Retirement

This pension program is income-based. A potential applicant can very easily earn too much through Social Security, other retirement benefits or even investment income to qualify.

A key component of this Non-Service Connected Disability Pension is termed “Aid & Attendance.” Regular Aid & Attendance is a provision for reimbursement of certain qualified, otherwise un-reimbursed medical expenses, usually involving long-term care in assisted living communities, in-home care and in some instances, independent living communities.

These amounts are the maximum awards. Although the majority of applicants receive the maximum benefit, eligibility depends upon financial qualification. Any type of current disability benefits being paid from the VA (including Death Indemnity Compensation for surviving spouses) are not added to these amounts.

Aid & Attendance Award

For 2015/2016, the maximum Aid & Attendance benefit amounts are:

            Two Veterans Spouse (both require care)                                    $2,837 per month

            Married Veteran (veteran requires care)                                       $2,120 per month

            Married Veteran (spouse requires care)                                       $1,404 per month

            Single Veteran                                                                            $1,788 per month

            Surviving Spouse                                                                       $1,149 per month

A veteran who is currently receiving a Service-Connected Disability compensation can still receive the Non-Service-Connected Disability Pension with Aid & Attendance as long as the Disability Compensation is less than the Air & Attendance Benefit. If eligible, the VA will grant the difference up to the maximum allowable under Aid & Attendance. However, if the Disability Compensation is greater than what he/she is entitled under Aid & Attendance, then no more money is available.

If a Surviving Spouse is receiving a Death Indemnity Compensation (DIC), which means the veteran died in service or due to service-connected disabilities, then the surviving spouse could be receiving as much as $1,215 a month. This means the most that would be available under the Non-Service-Connected Disability compensation is an additional $301 for 2013.

Richard Schulze contributed content to this press release.

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