Aid & Attendance and Housebound Pension Programs

Aid & Attendance (A&A) benefits and Housebound benefits are monthly payments which are added to a veteran’s Pension benefits because of his or her disabilities and need for additional assistance with everyday life. These disabilities do not have to be related to military service. In fact, veterans who are disabled as a result of a service-related injury or disease should apply for VA disability benefits, rather than Pension benefits. If you happen to qualify for both programs, the VA will pay you benefits from the program which entitles you to receive the most money.

ELIGIBILITY GUIDELINES

If you receive a monthly Pension from the VA, you can apply for A&A benefits or Housebound allowances. You may be eligible for Aid & Attendance benefits if:

• You need assistance from another person to perform daily activities, like bathing, feeding, and dressing, OR
• You have to stay in bed—or spend a large portion of the day in bed—because of an illness, OR
• You are a patient in a nursing home due to the loss of mental or physical abilities related to a disability, OR
• You have limited eyesight (even with glasses or contact lenses you have only 5/200 or less in both eyes; or concentric contraction of the visual field to 5 degrees or less).

Additionally, Housebound benefits provide an increase in monthly Pension amounts to veterans who spend most of their time in their home because of a permanent disability (a disability that doesn’t go away). This benefit does not require a veteran to spend all of their time in the home, just most of it. The disability also does not have to be related to service.

HOW TO APPLY

In order to receive these benefits, you must also be eligible for VA Pension benefits. You may apply for Aid and Attendance or Housebound benefits by mail on in person. Either way, you will need to complete VA Form 21-2680 (Examination for Housebound Status or Permanent Need for Regular Aid and Attendance). You can have your VA or private doctor fill out the examination information section of the form.

If you choose to mail the application, you should send it via certified mail (so you can track it and have proof of mailing) to:

Department of Veterans Affairs

Pension Intake Center

PO Box 5365

Janesville, WI 53547-5365

If you submit the form in person, you should do so at a VA Regional Office. You can find your local Regional Office here.

If you are in a nursing home, you will also need to submit VA Form 21-0779 (Request for Nursing Home Information in Connection with Claim for Aid and Attendance).

Along with the required VA Forms, you should submit any evidence, like a medical opinion from your doctor, that establishes that you need Aid and Attendance or that you are Housebound. Evidence, either from a doctor, you, a friend, or a family member, should include information about your medical condition and how it impacts your ability to perform activities of daily living.

At Vets National, we’re committed to supporting all veterans as they navigate the complex VA system. Our team of experts is here to talk to you about VA disability claim options and guide you through the appeal process.

If you’re unsure about whether to pursue a claim with the VA or appeal a denied claim, contact Vets National today, at 877-777-4021. Together, we can work toward securing the VA benefits that you deserve.