By Chris Sherwood
An aid and attendance plan, or A&A, is a special pension available to veterans in addition to a regular monthly pension. This additional plan is meant to help the caregivers of veterans who are now housebound or in nursing care pay the extra costs associated with the conditions surrounding the veteran's care.
There are strict eligibility requirements to be a candidate for A&A pension benefits: being blind (must be less than 5/200 in both eyes), currently residing in a nursing home due to physical or mental disability, being bedridden due to disability, and needing additional help to do basic daily tasks such as using the bathroom, bathing, eating or dressing.
Applying for an A&A pension starts by writing to your local Veterans' Administration office that has jurisdiction where you live. This is the same office in which you file for regular pension benefits, as they will have administrative authority over your pension. In your letter of request, you will need to supply any evidence that you meet the eligibility requirements, such as physician records that prove your need for household care. The report must be detailed as to the exact disorders or disabilities that affect you, and must be backed by medical proof. The report must also list whether or not you are housebound, and if not, how often you are able to get around and in what manner.
Once the request has been sent to the correct office, it will be looked over by and administrative official. If the request is granted, an additional pension will be added to your regular pension. This process may take up to a year to be completed. If you are denied the additional pension, you can work with a knowledgeable consultant who specializes in A&A pension benefits to see if you can reapply (see Resources below).
http://www.lenderva.com
No comments:
Post a Comment