Yes, there is a VA Widow's
Pension. Just as with the Veteran's Pension, there are
income and asset restrictions:
VA Widow's Pension
Income Limits
( effective December 1, 2005 )
|
|
Surviving spouse with no dependent children |
$7,094 |
|
Housebound surviving spouse with no dependents |
8,670
|
|
Surviving spouse with no dependents who needs aid
and attendance |
11,340
|
The monthly income of a
veteran or a surviving spouse is reduced by any
unreimbursed medical expenses in excess of 5% of the basic
pension amount. Applicants for a VA Pension or Widow's
Pension can deduct their Medicare Part B premium, their
Medicare Part D premium, any out-of-pocket expenses for
prescriptions, doctor visits, and transportation for
medical purposes. This means that if there have been
substantial out-of-pocket expenses an applicant may
qualify for a VA pension even with a higher income.
You can see also that the VA pension benefit for an
individual who needs "Aid and Attendance" is significantly
higher. Needing Aid and Attendance means that the
applicant needs help with the basic activities of daily
living, i.e., transferring from a bed or chair, walking,
bathing, toileting, eating, etc. The VA Aid and Attendance
benefit is designed to help the applicant pay for the
assistance needed.
Aid and Attendance is
available to any veteran who qualifies medically and
financially, as well as to the veteran's wife.
While the VA Pension application is fairly simple, the
application for Aid and Attendance is complicated. If you
believe that your parent may qualify for the VA Aid and
Attendance benefit, please take my advice and get trained
help with the application. One error can produce a denial.
You can call the VA for application forms at
1-800-827-1000 or via the
VA website.
I'll warn you that you will find next to nothing about the
Aid and Attendance on their website. The little you find
won't be particularly informative.
Once you have the application forms, please get in touch
with a local VA Benefits Counselor for help if you are
considering the Aid and Attendance benefit. You can locate
one via your local VA hospital, your closest VFW, or any
other veterans' service group.
