Aid and Attendance and Housebound

Aid and Attendance and Housebound allowances are made by the Department of Veterans Affairs for both veterans and for their surviving dependents.

VA Aid and Attendance provides financial assistance to those who are eligible for a VA pension and who also require the care of another person at home or in a facility in order to complete daily tasks. Note that meeting eligibility for a VA pension is a mandatory prerequisite for receiving Aid and Attendance or Housebound assistance and that financial assistance will be added to the monthly pension amount.

Veterans Aid and Attendance cannot be received simultaneously with VA Housebound allowances, but the relevant one may be added to the monthly pension received. Completing the VA Aid and Attendance form is a requirement before you can begin receiving the additional funds, so be sure to review the details about the application in the appropriate section below. Understanding the options available to you as a veteran or as the surviving spouse or dependent child of a veteran can make the process of applying for any assistance or making any claims much easier. Make sure you do your research and follow all the steps outlined below.

What is VA Aid and Attendance

Veterans Aid and Attendance benefits enable a veteran or the surviving spouse of a veteran to access additional monthly funds to support the payments for a carer. When an applicant requires additional help at home in order to complete daily tasks or if an applicant is completely housebound due to permanent disability, then the VA can increase the monthly pension amounts to help cover those additional costs.

Related Article: VA Special Monthly Compensation

VA A&A benefits are added to your monthly pension automatically, after being approved to receive them. This means that your increased allowance will be deposited into your bank account, similar to a Social Security payment.

Veterans Aid and Attendance Benefits

VA benefits for A&A or housebound applicants are only financial and are added into the monthly pension already provided by the VA. A carer is not identified or paid through the VA directly, so any applicant in need of Aid and Attendance or Housebound care must acquire those services separately from this application. Applying for A&A is strictly in regards to your eligibility and your need for additional financial assistance on top of your regular pension.

The additional Aid and Attendance benefits could increase your monthly pension by several hundred dollars each month or even more. Therefore, it is important to note that the Aid and Attendance income limit restrictions are raised due to the increase in payments. This means that those who might not be eligible for a basic pension because their income exceeds the permitted limits might qualify under the higher rates with A&A included.

Aid and Attendance Eligibility

The standards for Aid and Attendance qualifications are quite high and you will have to prove your needs in order to access the additional funding. To meet Aid and Attendance eligibility requirements, you must meet any of the following conditions:

• You need the aid or attendance of another person in order to complete your daily tasks. According to the VA, these tasks could include bathing, feeding, dressing, attending to the wants of nature, adjusting prosthetic devices, or protecting yourself from the hazards of your daily environment.
• You are bedridden, meaning that your disabilities require you to stay in bed, with the exception of any treatments or other therapies.
• You are a patient in a nursing home.
• Your eyesight is limited. (The VA specifies the following for vision impairment: Your vision must be limited to a corrected 5/200 visual acuity or less in both eyes, or concentric contraction of the visual field to 5 degrees or less.)

VA Aid and Attendance Application

The VA Aid and Attendance application must be submitted to the Pension Management Center (PMC) for your state. Use the following details to find out which PMC oversees your area:

• Philadelphia VA Regional Office: Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, the Philippines, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, and all other foreign countries that are not listed below under the St. Paul VA Regional Office.
  • Mailing address and fax:

Department of Veterans Affairs

Claims Intake Center

Attention: Philadelphia Pension Center

P.O. Box 5206

Janesville, WI  53547-5206

Fax: 1-844-655-1604

• Milwaukee VA Pension Center: Alabama, Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Ohio, Tennessee and Wisconsin.
  • Mailing address and fax:

Department of Veterans Affairs

Claims Intake Center

Attention: Milwaukee Pension Center

P.O. Box 5192

Janesville, WI 53547-5192

Fax: 1-844-655-1604

• St. Paul VA Regional Office: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, New Mexico, Nevada, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington, Wyoming, Mexico, Central and South America, and the Caribbean.
  • Mailing address and fax:

Department of Veterans Affairs

Claims Intake Center

Attention: St. Paul Pension Center

P.O. BOX 5365

Janesville, WI  53547-5365

Fax: 1-844-655-1604

You may also submit your application for Aid and Attendance in person by visiting your local regional benefit office, which you can locate by using the VA Facility Locator on the VA website. Make sure to bring all of your supporting documentation and evidence with you when you visit the office. You should especially make sure to bring a report from an attending physician indicating the need for such at-home or in-facility care. That report should include the following details:

• The type of physical or mental impairment that affects the applicant
• Conditions that affect the applicant’s ability to complete daily tasks
• Details regarding the applicant’s mobility and current daily activities
• The requirements for additional care in order to meet these daily needs, as recommended by the physician

Related Article: VA Disability Ratings and Compensation Rates

Whether you submit the Aid and Attendance or Housebound application found on the VA website or visit a regional office in person to submit your application in person, be sure to include as much detail as possible to ensure your needs are accurately assessed. The application will ask for a variety of medical details, including a full breakdown of daily tasks and the level of assistance required for each. The more detail you can provide, the better your chances are of quickly receiving the necessary benefits each month.