A valuable benefit some veterans never heard of: The VA Pension Program
If you're not familiar with the VA Pension program, you're not alone. Even many veterans don't know it exists.
But if you served in the Persian Gulf War, Vietnam War, Korean War or World War II - or if your spouse did - you may be eligible to collect up to $2,127 per month.
Called the "VA Improved Pension," the program was created to help ailing, low-income veterans and their spouses, widows and widowers. It provides a tax-free monthly benefit to vets with small incomes and large medical expenses. And it's not tied to service-related injuries.
Are you eligible?
In order to qualify, veterans must have served at least one day during a war period, served at least 90 days of active duty, and received a better than dishonorable discharge.
Claimants must be over age 65 or permanently or totally disabled. They must need help with some of their daily living requirements, and their monthly medical expenses must exceed their monthly income.
Surviving spouses of veterans who didn't remarry are eligible, too.
Understanding the benefits
There are three levels of benefits. These depend on medical needs and the level of assistance needed. They are:
• A basic improved pension
• Pension with housebound benefit, which provides an additional monetary benefit for shut-ins.
• Pension with aid and attendance benefit, which provides an additional monetary benefit for those who need help with everyday personal activities, are bedridden, or are receiving care in a nursing home.
For 2017, the monthly basic improved pension benefit is $721 for a widow, $1,077 for a single veteran, and $1,408 for a veteran and spouse. The monthly housebound benefit is $881 for a widow, $1,314 for a single veteran, and $1,794 for a veteran and spouse. And the monthly aid and attendance benefit is $1,153 for a widow, $1,794 for a single veteran, and $2,127 for a veteran and spouse.
How to apply
There is no fee for completing an application.
To begin to learn more about the veteran pension benefits, visit www.benefits.va.gov/pension/.
If you want help with the process, working with an attorney may be beneficial since he can determine how the VA pension will affect a person's Medicare/Medicaid benefits, income tax, etc.
• Marty Fogarty is a holistic elder care attorney. He is the founder of the Heartland Law Firm (www.HeartlandLawFirm.com) in Glenview and also the founder of ElderSmart, which provides elder care planning solutions, information and resources. For a free review of your eligibility for the VA benefit, phone him at (847) 729-3300.