Veterans Benefits

General Qualifications for Non-Service Connected

Aid and Attendance

Veteran, Widowed Spouse, and Dependent or Disabled Child

(Any May be a Claimant)

• Veteran Must have Served at Least Ninety Days Active Duty with One Day of the Ninety During a Qualified War Period (Ninety Days Must Generally be Consecutive, with Some Exceptions)

• Veteran Must have had an “Other Than Dishonorable Discharge”

• Claimant’s Physician Must Declare Him/Her as Housebound and in Need of Assistance from Another Individual, Which May Include Services Offered by Assisted Living

• Claimant Should have Less than $80,000.00 in Household Assets; Excluding Primary Home, Car, and Personal Belongings (If Assets are Jointly Owned by Other than Spouse, Only the Claimant’s Share is Generally Countable.  In the Case of a Married Veteran, Both His/Her Assets are Countable.  Although $80k is Typically the Asset Cap, the VA May Also Consider the Claimant’s Life Expectancy and Demand Lower Total Assets.  In the Case of Excessive Assets, It May be Best to Consult an Elder Law Attorney)

• Claimant’s Household Out-of-Pocket Yearly Medical Expenses Must Exceed or Come Close to His/Her Total Yearly Household Gross Income (Total Yearly Cost of Assisted Living is Typically Considered a Medical Expense)

• Widowed Spouse Must have been Married to the Veteran for at Least One Year, OR have had Children by the Veteran if Married Less than One Year, AND Never Remarried

• Widowed Spouse Must have been Living with the Veteran at the Time of the Veteran’s Death, Unless the Separation was Due to Medical or Military Reasons (There May be Some Exceptions Related to Separations Due to Abuse)

• Minor or Disabled Adult Children May Qualify for Limited Benefits on Their Own

2012 Maximum Pension Rates for Aid and Attendance

Single Veteran                                     $1,704.00 Per Month or

Married Veteran                                   $2,020.00 Per Month

Widowed Spouse                                  $1,095.00 Per Month

Veteran Married to Veteran                  $2,631.00 Per Month

Barron Law Firm

209 E. Main St. Whitesboro, Texas 76273

or

1400 Preston Rd., Suite 400, Plano, Texas 75093

903-564-3663 or 800-939-9093

www.TexasElderLawAttorney.com

**Note:  Each VA Claim is Unique and the Above Criteria is Generic in Nature and May Not be Applicable to Each Claimant.