Memorial Day is a time when we honor those who served on behalf of our nation’s Armed Forces. Many of the veterans we think of during Memorial Day are those who served in World War II, coined The Greatest Generation by Tom Brokaw’s book of the same name. Those veterans are aging seniors, often in need of assistance in their activities of daily living. One of the most beneficial, but little-known ways our veterans are honored throughout the year is through a special pension program administered by the Veterans Administration (VA). This special pension program has an Aid and Attendance benefit designed to help pay for those assisted living services seniors often need.
The pension is available for veterans, or the surviving spouse of a veteran. There are very few restrictions on the eligibility requirements, and most veterans in need of such assistance qualify for this entitlement benefit. The pension must be applied for, as it’s not automatic. The monthly pension is not dependent upon service-related injuries for compensation, like most VA programs, and the benefit for veterans can be up to $1,632 per month. A surviving spouse is eligible for up to $1,055 per month and a couple is eligible for up to $1,949 per month. However, the approval process can be slow and waiting up to 6 months for the pension to start is not uncommon.
This pension benefit is often overlooked by many families with veterans or surviving spouses who need additional funds to help care for ailing parents or loved ones. The most common reason it’s overlooked is a lack of awareness the pension exists. The second most common reason it’s overlooked is the assumption that the veteran has adequate financial resources so they wouldn’t be eligible, which is often not the case.
This Memorial Day, help honor the veterans you know by making sure they are aware this pension benefit exists as an entitlement from a grateful nation for their selfless service. In addition to the VA pension, there are also other resources now available to help pay for assisted living services.
For additional information on the VA pension program or the wide range of other financial assistance available, visit Pacifica Senior Living at Santa Clarita at 24305 W. Lyons Avenue, or visit www.pacificasantaclarita.com . You can also call 661-255-3100 or e-mail santaclaritamkg@islllc.com for more details.