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Aid and attendance is an additional amount available to eligible veterans and dependents who are entitled to VA pension or VA compensation. A veteran, dependent spouse, or surviving spouse who is a patient in a licensed nursing home because of mental or physical incapacity or otherwise determined to be in need of the regular aid and attendance of another person, may be entitled to higher income limitations or additional benefits, depending on the type of benefit received.

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is reaching out to inform wartime veterans and surviving spouses of deceased wartime veterans about an under-used, special monthly pension benefit called Aid and Attendance.
“Veterans have earned this benefit by their service to our nation,” said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Jim Nicholson. “We want to ensure that every veteran or surviving spouse who qualifies has the chance to apply.”

Although this is not a new program, not everyone is aware of his or her potential eligibility. The Aid and Attendance pension benefit may be available to wartime veterans and surviving spouses who have in-home care or who live in nursing-homes or assisted-living facilities.

To qualify, claimants must be incapable of self support and in need of regular personal assistance. The basic criteria for the Aid and Attendance benefit include the inability to feed oneself, to dress and undress without assistance, or to take care of one’s own bodily needs; as well as those who have a physical or mental injury or illness that requires regular assistance to protect them from hazards or dangers in their daily environment.
Application for Aid and Attendance:

• If you are a nursing home patient, you will need a “nursing home certification” completed by your physician and the nursing home administrator. The certification includes: date admitted to the nursing home, diagnosis, type of care such as skilled or intermediate, total cost of daily care, amount paid out of claimant’s own funds, and if Medicaid is paying all or part of the cost.
• If you are not a nursing home patient, furnish a medical statement covering the findings, diagnosis and prognosis of any recent medical treatment or exam-ination. The doctor’s statement or medical report should describe how your ability to perform the personal functions of daily living, such as dressing, feeding, bathing and attending to the needs of nature, is limited by your medical condition. It should also include the number of hours you spend in bed and describe your posture and general appearance. You may also furnish any other information indicating that you are unable to care for yourself, or walk or travel beyond your home because of your condition.
• You are not required to incur the expense of the physical examination by a private physician to receive consideration. If the detailed medical information about your ability to care for yourself is not available from the doctor’s or hospital’s current records, the VA may arrange for a physical examination.

For additional information, call 1-800-827-1000 or visit: http://www.vba.va.gov/bln/21/pension/vetpen.html

Posted on August 18th, 2007 by jill
Filed under: Healthcare