Veterans Aid and Attendance

Posted: February 1, 2023
by

Rob Costello, Home Instead

It’s widely understood that the Veterans Benefit Administration (VBA) offers Disability Compensation to veterans with disabilities that are from injuries incurred or aggravated during active military service. Many people, however, are unaware that a VA Pension program exists for wartime veterans who do not have a service-connected disability.

The VA Pension helps veterans and their families cope with financial challenges by providing supplemental income. One day of service during wartime is necessary for the Pension program, but the veteran does not need to have served in combat or overseas. Unlike the VA’s Compensation program, veterans do not need to have a disability connected to their military service to be eligible for the VA Pension connected with Aid and Attendance.

The VA’s Compensation program is based on service-connected disabilities rather than the VA’s Pension program.

Those veterans who were discharged without suffering any injuries or sickness due to their military service often do not realize they may be eligible for a pension from the VBA. When the veteran needs the “aid and attendance” of another for activities of daily living, the Pension or Compensation payment is increased by as much as $3536 a month to cover additional costs, like the home health aides provided by Home Instead.

Activities of daily living (ADLs) are routine self-care activities that people tend to do every day without needing assistance. There are six basic ADLs: eating, bathing, dressing, continence (using the toilet), mobility (transferring, walking), and grooming. Non Medical Home care agencies like Home Instead can provide aides who can assist those who need help with activities of daily living. Aid and Attendance benefit can help wartime veterans and spouses pay for assistance with activities of daily living.

Learn more about Home Instead by visiting their page on the Wellness Village ParkinsonsResource.org/HomeInstead, where they became a member in February, 2022.