I’ll Only Get $50 Per Month from the VA. Should I Still Apply for the Pension?

Many of our clients become unsettled when they realize that they do not qualify for the maximum amount of the VA Aid and Attendance Pension. These clients often do not wish to go through the lengthy process of applying for the pension when they will not receive a significant amount of money from the VA each month. However, even if your pension amount is quite small, there are important advantages to receiving VA benefits.

The first advantage is that when you file the yearly Eligibility Verification Report (EVR) with the VA, you can claim all medical expenses, such as mileage to and from doctors’ offices, doctor and hospital co-pays, over-the-counter medications and vitamins, and hearing aids and batteries. This means that you could receive a higher pension amount because of those additional costs.

Second, recipients of the VA pension have a higher priority at the Veterans Health Administration and can qualify for a variety of free medical supplies, including hearing aids, prescriptions, glasses, medical equipment, and incontinence supplies. Additionally, receiving the VA pension can help improve your financial situation in the long-term. Should you receive Medicaid in the future, you will qualify for a monthly personal allowance of $90. Also, the families of veterans who received the pension will be able to receive burial benefits once the veteran passes away.

Finally, when your medical or care expenses do increase, receiving an increase in your pension takes considerably less time than starting a new pension claim.

Although the amount of your pension may seem insignificant when compared to the amount of time it takes to complete the application, it is important to keep in mind all of the potential advantages of receiving the aid and attendance pension.