Pension Insider
By David Austin
September 19, 2018
Discover programs within the VA that will pay you and your surviving spouse in all matters financial. As you explore these programs, keep in mind, it may be in your best interest to see an accredited VSO or a qualified attorney familiar with VA law should you elect in pursuing any of the programs.
Hidden VA Money
- Any veteran who is a senior citizen or his/her surviving dependents may be eligible to receive over $2,000 per month ($24,000 per year) in tax free income. The payments include annual cost of living increases.
- A veteran can easily qualify for a VA Pension even if his annual income exceeds the limits set by the VA. For this program, a veteran may need a highly qualified VA attorney to help.
- Recurring, non-reimbursed medical expenses of a veteran and the surviving spouse are deductible from gross income.
Veteran family members can be paid as caregivers, which is also a tax deductible expense.
- If a veteran resides in an Assisted Living Facility the entire amount paid for the service is a deductible expense.
Veterans 65 years-old or older, are presumed to be disabled. It does not have to be proven. - There are many federal VA nursing homes, and private nursing homes with a federal VA Contract who will admit veterans for care even if the veteran does not meet the service connected disability requirements.
- Veterans who are 100% service-connected IU may be eligible for an additional monthly entitlement of $62.50/mo. for catastrophic injury.
- DMAVA and the department of education jointly launched a program on October 5, 2002 to honor world war two era veterans who left school to join the military and have never received a high school diploma.
- Veteran family members can be paid as caregivers, which is also a tax deductible expense.
- If a veteran resides in an Assisted Living Facility the entire amount paid for the service is a deductible expense.
- If the veteran is deceased and the surviving spouse is applying for low income pension, the spouse can be of ANY age and does NOT have to be disabled.
- Reports indicate that a pension with aid and attendance is easier to obtain then Household Benefits.
- A veteran who is healthy but has a spouse who is disabled, may be eligible for Improved Pension (Low Income Pension).
- In order to receive service-connected disability rating a veteran’s disability does not have to be related to combat.
- A VA rating of 70% or higher will allow a veteran-claimant to reside in a federal VA nursing home, at no charge. Other stipulations may arise resulting in minimal fees.
- When a veteran is rated at 100% disability or if rated as individual unemployability (IU), the veteran will receive the highest rating and the highest pay. Additionally, if a veteran is in need of additional aid of another person to help with activities of daily living (walking, bathing, dressing, toileting, etc.) there is an added supplemental compensation called “aid and attendance”.
Those That
Serving
Served
Highlight Example
Type of Claim VA Will Approve
A veteran served in the U.S. Air Force for three years. He did not deploy overseas during his service. During physical training he seriously injured his right knee which resulted in a surgery by medical personnel on base and also went through physical therapy. Many years later, after Honorable military service, he had another major surgery on that same knee and also developed arthritis in this knee. This was a successful claim for compensation based on a documented in-service injury as well as development of a secondary medical issue from the injured knee while active in service.