Aid and Attendance Application | VeteransFinancial.com”

The Aid and Attendance Pension Benefit — How to Apply

The application process for the VA's Aid and Attendance Pension benefit is quite extensive, but that is to be expected considering the assistance that is being offered through this program. You will need to gather up quite a few documents for the application process to be a success.

Following is a list of forms and papers you will need:

Military separation papers form DD-214. The VA is now requiring a certified copy or an original in most cases. We recommend that you order a copy from the National Archives. To request a copy visit www.archives.gov/veterans. You can also request a copy using Standard Form 180. It is typical for them to tell you that many records were lost in the St Louis fire of 1973. However, in most cases they will eventually be able to provide you with a valid certificate of service.
Married veterans and surviving spouses will need to provide a copy of your marriage certificate
Surviving spouses will need to provide a copy of the veteran's death certificate
A copy of your current Social Security Award letter. This shows the monthly amount of your Social Security benefit. Additionally, if you get a monthly statement from a private pension program, it is best to provide it as well, although many claims get approved without these documents.
If you are a court-appointed guardian of the applicant, you will need to provide a copy of the court order
A copy of your monthly health insurance bill as well as your home care, assisted living, or nursing home bill if paid out-of-pocket and not reimbursed by a long term care insurance policy or Medicaid
A physician statement that provides all information about your diagnosis, your current medical status, the prognosis, travel ability, and your ability to care for yourself and your need for assistance with activities of daily living
You will need to provide a voided check for direct deposit of the monthly payment. The benefit is paid directly to the claimant the way their Social Security benefit is paid.
You will need to have a list of doctors and hospitals you have visited in the past year

When you have gathered all of the supporting documentation, you will need to complete VA Form 21-526 for veterans or a VA Form 21-534 for surviving spouses. From here, follow the instructions on the form and submit the entire packet to one of the VA's three Pension Maintenance centers. To learn where to submit your application, call the VA at 1-800-827-1000. If you need help, the VA and many service organizations such as the VFW or American Legion can provide assistance. Some representatives of these organizations are well versed and willing to help, others are not. Be prepared to seek out alternative help if you feel you are not getting good advice. A word of caution, it is illegal for anyone — including attorneys — to charge for assistance with an initial claim for benefits.

Once your forms are submitted, the next step is to wait. You should receive a letter from the VA within 30-45 days acknowledging receipt of the application and providing the VA file number. After that, you should expect correspondence every 60-90 days. If you don't receive it, call the VA to make sure they still have your claim, as some get lost and copies of the original claim need to be resubmitted. It is not uncommon for claims to take six to nine months. After about six months, you may consider getting your Congressperson involved.

Yes, the Aid and Attendance Pension Benefit application process is extensive, but it is worth it — $1,056 - $1,949 will go a long way towards providing your necessary care.

Click here to learn more about the VA's Aid and Attendance Pension Benefit. There is no cost or obligation to speak with someone from Veterans Financial, Inc.

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