Serving our country in the military was the ultimate sacrifice for many of our seniors. For such noble and brave effort, these citizens and their spouses may be rewarded by the U.S. Government with benefits applied toward in-home care services. If you are a veteran or surviving spouse of a veteran requiring in-home care or the assistance of a Home Instead Senior Care CAREGiver in your daily life, you may be eligible to receive pension benefits from the Veterans Administration.
More About the Benefit
The Veteran's Administration offers a Special Pension with an Aid and Attendance (A&A) benefit that is largely unknown. This special pension (part of the VA Improved Pension program) allows for veterans and surviving spouses to receive additional monetary benefits to help pay for in-home care services. The in-home care is defined as the regular attendance of another person to assist in Activites of Daily Living (ADLs), such as eating, bathing, dressing, undressing, homemaker tasks, and other personal care needs. It also includes individuals who are blind or a patient who, because of mental or physical incapacity, is residing in a nursing home.
This most important benefit is overlooked by many families with Veterans or surviving spouses who need additional monies to help care for ailing parents or loved ones. This is a pension benefit and is not dependent upon service-related injuries for compensation. Most veterans who are in need of assistance qualify for this pension. Aid and Attendance can help pay for care in the home, nursing home, or assisted living facility.
A Veteran is eligible for up to $1,519 per month, while a surviving spouse is eligible for up to $976 per month. A couple is eligible for up to $1,801 per month.
Often it is this extra income that can make or break someone's ability to live in assisted living or get the care he or she needs. Don't delay in researcing if your loved one is eligible for the A&A benefit.
Additional information, including a clear explanation of the benefit and how to qualify and apply, can be found at: www.veteranaid.org.
Please contact your Chicago - West Suburbs, Schaumburg and Surrounding Areas Home Instead Senior Care office at (847) 690-9825 for more information on this special pension benefit.
I was very wary of having someone outside the family providing care for my Father, a WWII Veteran, but we had little choice in the matter given the level of attention and personal care my Father required. After meeting Mark for the first time I was very impressed. After the first week all concerns of having him help Father vanished. The heartfelt care Mark showed on a daily basis went above and beyond the call of duty.
- Ed, Schaumburg
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