If you are under the Maximum Allowable Pension Rate (MAPR), are you automatically eligible for the Veterans benefit?
No! Not only must a Veteran or widow of a Veteran who served during wartime have income below the MAPR, he/she must also have limited assets (resources), too.
Is Aid & Attendance a separate program that you apply for through the Veterans Administration?
No! It is a part of the VA benefits application. Those that need assistance with their activities of daily living AND whose income is below the higher Aid & Attendance MAPR AND whose assets (resources) are limited may qualify for the higher benefit amount. There are additional forms of documentation that one would have to submit to show the need for Aid & Attendance or Housebound Assistance.
Do all Veterans or widows of Veterans who apply for benefits qualify for the maximum pension rate?
No! The Veterans Administration uses the MAPR to determine the maximum benefit payable to an eligible Veteran/widow. In some instances a person's income may be completely zeroed out by unreimbursed medical expenses (UMEs) and therefore they would be eligible for the maximum benefit. In other instances, a person's income is not zeroed out by the UMEs and that person is eligible for the difference between their income and the maximum pension rate.
Is it true that an application may take up to a year to be processed by the Veterans Administration?
Yes! That is sometimes true. The Veterans Administration does place a priority on those applications that show a greater financial need for assistance. Also, Veterans returning from current war time service are also considered a higher priority. Depending on your situation we have seen applications approved in as little as 30 days. Other applications have taken up to 16 months to be processed.
I've been told that if I don't have a medical need I will not qualify for VA benefits.
This is not necessarily true. Those Veterans / widows whose income is below their MAPR may qualify for the difference between their income and the MAPR. VA divides the difference by 12 months to determine the monthly pension rate.
Do I need to pay a firm to help me with my VA benefits application?
No! You do not need to pay for this type of service. The Arizona Department of Veterans Services assists Veterans and widows of Veterans for free. Their contact number is 602/627.3281.
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