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Departments |
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Pensions For
Veterans
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Not everyone knows that
the Veteran's Administration will pay a pension to
veterans of wartime service who have a limited income
and who are either over 65 or permanently and totally
disabled.
If your parent - or anyone else you might know - fits
any of the criteria below and he or she hasn't applied
for pension benefits it might be a good idea to look
into this. I have met several vets who were barely
making it and who had no idea they might be eligible
for some financial assistance.
The VA tends to some fairly convoluted
explanations of its programs. Here's the gist of how
VA Pensions work:
Of Course,
The VA Has Requirements for the Pension
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The
veteran was not dishonorably discharged from
service; |
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The veteran served 90 days or
more of active duty, with at least one (1) day
being during a period of war time (the veteran
does not have to have served in combat or
overseas on this one day);* |
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The
veteran is permanently and totally disabled OR
age 65 or older. |
*If
the veteran enlisted after Sept. 7, 1980 he or
she must have served at least 24 months or the
full period for which he or she was ordered to
active duty. Any service from August 20, 1990 to
the present is considered to be a period of war.
Other periods of war are WWII, Korea and
Vietnam.
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Income Limits
For VA Pensions
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income limit to qualify for a VA pension is
adjusted for inflation every year. Effective
December 1, 2005 the annual income limits were
established as being less than: |
| A
Veteran with no dependents |
$10,579 |
| A
veteran with a spouse or a child |
13,855 |
| A
housebound veteran with no dependents |
12,929 |
| A
housebound veteran with one dependent |
16,205 |
| A
veteran who has no dependents and needs aid and
attendance |
17,651 |
| A
veteran with one dependent who needs aid and
attendance |
20,924 |
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How Much Will
The VA Pay?
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The
VA will pay the difference between the veteran's
countable income and the yearly income limit.
This benefit is usually paid in 12 equal monthly
installments. Welfare benefits and Supplemental
Security Income are not usually counted toward
the annual income limit.
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And How Does
A Veteran Apply For Pension Benefits?
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A
veteran who meets the income guidelines can
apply for Pension Benefits online. You might
have to help if your veteran isn't very
comfortable with computers. There are also State
Veterans' Benefits Counselors who can assist
with these applications at no charge. You can
locate the closest Benefits Counselor by
contacting your closest
VA Regional Office. |
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