VA "Aid and Attendance" Payments: An Under-Used Benefit

There is an under-used, special monthly pension benefit available to Georgia's wartime veterans and surviving spouses of deceased wartime veterans incapable of self-support and in need of regular personal assistance.

“Many wartime veterans and surviving spouses whose incomes are above the federally mandated limit for a basic VA pension may still be eligible for pension at the higher housebound or Aid and Attendance rate,” points out Georgia Commissioner of Veterans Affairs Pete Wheeler. “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 any wartime veterans and surviving spouses who have in-home care or who live in nursing-homes or assisted-living facilities.

“Especially helpful if they have large medical expenses that they may not receive reimbursement,” noted Commissioner Wheeler.

For a wartime veteran or surviving spouse to qualify for this special monthly pension, the veteran must have served at least 90 days of active military service, one day of which was during a period of war, and be discharged under conditions other than dishonorable. 

Wartime veterans who entered active duty on or after September 8, 1980, (October 16, 1981, for officers) must have completed at least 24 continuous months of military service or the period for which they were ordered to active duty.

The maximum amount of Aid and Attendance compensation the veteran can receive is based on the number of dependents and annual household income. The Aid and Attendance income threshold for a veteran without dependents is now $19,736 annually. The threshold increases to $23,396 if a veteran has one dependent, and by $2,020 for each additional dependent. The annual Aid and Attendance threshold for a surviving spouse alone is $12,681. This threshold increases to $15,128 if there is one dependent child and by $2,020 for each additional child.

Commissioner Wheeler encourages those veterans or spouses who feel they may be eligible to contact the department’s field office nearest to where they live for more information and assistance on how to go about filing for this benefit.

“All our benefits counselors stay ready to advise and assist with this and all matters pertaining to veterans and their dependents,” explains Commissioner Wheeler. “Because like most all entitlements, veterans benefits are not awarded automatically, they must be applied for.”

Contact information of the nearest field office can be found in the local phone book in the state government section under Department of Veterans Service or through the department’s website, www.sdvs.georgia.gov. All offices are opened from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Mondays through Fridays, except on approved state-recognized holidays.