Veterans Administration Pension Benefits are paid to veterans who were in military service during wartime and who have little or no income. Veterans who have serious disabilities may qualify for Aid and Attendance benefits which are in addition to the pension benefits. Please note that the widow or widower of a wartime veteran who has not remarried, may also qualify for these benefits.
To be eligible for benefits, a veteran:
- Must have served at least 90 days of active military duty where at least 1 day was served during wartime; was on active duty after September 7, 1980 for at least 24 months;
- was not dishonorably discharged;
- family countable income is below a yearly amount set by law; and
- Is age 65 or older – or – is any age but is permanently and totally disabled.
Aid and Attendance benefits are paid in addition to the pension benefit when the veteran qualified for the pension benefit.
The veteran must need assistance to perform activities of daily living such as bathing, dressing, feeding, etc. If the veteran is bedridden, blind, or in a nursing home because of physical or mental incapacity, he is eligible for this benefit.
To apply for veteran’s benefits, go to www.va.gov and select the Benefits link, then go to the Compensation and Pension link. Or you can call the VA at 1-800-827-1000.
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