| The basics of an oft-misunderstood VA pension | | | | benefit is a lower dollar amount. |
| benefit that is available for veterans and their widowed | | | | Applying for the pension benefit is not difficult. |
| surviving spouses. | | | | It requires you to complete a long application and |
| Wartime veterans and their surviving spouse with | | | | provide documentation. The VA is picky on how the |
| limited incomes, who are totally and permanently | | | | documentation looks and what it states. Of particular |
| disabled for reasons not traceable to their service, | | | | confusion is the medical documentation. The VA has |
| may be eligible to receive compensation under the | | | | three different medical forms and none of them are |
| NSC (non-service connected) VA disability program. | | | | doctor friendly. |
| There are two disability programs available through the | | | | The real difficulty with applying for the VA disability |
| VA that pays monthly benefits to disabled veterans. | | | | pension benefit is understanding what the VA really |
| They are: | | | | wants, in what format and when. Add to that the really |
| 1. Disability Compensation (service related disabilities) | | | | confusing multiple letters you will get during the claim |
| 2. Disability Pension (non-service related disabilities) | | | | processing. |
| This article will focus on the Disability Pension. Under | | | | Here is an example. You send in everything that is |
| this Pension there are three pension benefit levels. | | | | required in the right format and on the right forms. You |
| They are: | | | | then receive a letter from the VA that lists that they |
| 1. Disabled Veteran unable to work | | | | need this huge list of information and documents to |
| 2. Housebound disabled veteran or surviving spouse | | | | support the claim and to further process the |
| 3. Disabled Veteran or surviving spouse who needs aid | | | | application. It is not until the 4th or 5th page of this letter |
| & attendance care | | | | that you see a small list of items they have received |
| Let's focus and drill down more on the Aid and | | | | with your claim application. |
| Attendance Pension Benefit Provision. | | | | Confused? You bet. |
| Most VSO (Veterans Service Organizations) and | | | | Do you still need to send in additional information? Was |
| VCO (Veterans Commission Offices) provide very | | | | what you sent them okay, or do they want more? |
| little information on the aid & attendance provision | | | | To add to the confusion there is this form called the |
| of the disability pension. This lack of communication | | | | "VCAA Notice Response" and it has only two boxes |
| along with the large government bureaucracy and | | | | to check. One box asks if you want an additional 60 |
| run-around most veterans or surviving spouses | | | | days to send in supporting information. The other box |
| experience when dealing with the VA has led to many | | | | says they will adjudicate your claim immediately |
| eligible individuals to not fully receive the benefits they | | | | because you don't want to send in any more |
| earned and are entitled. | | | | supporting information. |
| This benefit provided by the Veteran's Administration | | | | What to do? Panic and self-doubt sets in. Nothing in |
| (VA) is the "Improved Pension Disability Pension with | | | | the letter tells you what to do. It sounds like they want |
| Aid and Attendance entitlement" but often called just | | | | more information. Why did they send all these |
| the Aid and Attendance VA Benefit. | | | | additional forms to fill out? |
| It is available to certain wartime veterans who are | | | | Should you sign this form that wants you to Authorize |
| totally disabled because of a non-service connected | | | | Release of Medical Information? You sent in the |
| condition; who are in financial need; and who need the | | | | doctor's evaluation with the original application, wasn't |
| aid and attendance of another person in order to avoid | | | | that good enough? |
| the hazards of the daily environment. | | | | The vast majority of people wish they knew how to |
| This Improved Pension program allows for Veterans | | | | respond and understand these confusing letters from |
| who require the regular attendance of another person | | | | the VA. |
| to assist in eating, bathing, dressing, undressing or taking | | | | Why do they make it so hard to get this financial |
| care of the needs of nature to receive financial | | | | assistance? |
| benefits paid to them monthly. | | | | Hundreds of people have turned to an Aid and |
| An improved pension benefit is also available for the | | | | Attendance Handbook from Veterans Care Advisors |
| surviving spouse of the wartime veteran. The spouse | | | | to get these answers, and more. Understanding what |
| is only eligible for this VA financial assistance when he | | | | the VA wants when you apply for the Aid and |
| or she is a widow and has not remarried. This | | | | Attendance (just one of the little-known veteran |
| improved pension is called the "Improved Death | | | | benefits) can make the difference between a faster |
| Pension Benefit with Aid and Attendance entitlement." | | | | approval or even getting approved. |
| The eligibility requirements are identical but the monthly | | | | |