Veterans Pension in North Carolina

War Periods for Non-Service Connected Pensions

WWII:

December 7, 1941 to December 31, 1946
(If in Service on December 31, 1946 with Continuous Service before July 26, 1947 (acceptable as War Time)
Merchant Marines: December 7, 1941 to August 15, 1945

Korean:

June 27, 1950 to January 31, 1955

Vietnam:

For Veterans who served in the Republic of Vietnam: February 28, 1961 to May 7, 1975
All others: August 5, 1964 to May 7, 1975

Persion Gulf:

August 2, 1990 to ?
(No end date at this time since the War on Terrorism is considered a continuation of the Persian Gulf War)

• Full-time service in the Army, Navy Marine Corps, Air Force, Coast Guard, Merchant Marines, Women’s Corp, Nursing Corp, other than Active Duty for Training
• Full-time service as a Commissioned Officer in the Public Health Service
• Full-time service as a Commissioned Officer at the Coast and Geodetic Survey, Environmental Services Administration, or National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (with certain additional qualifications)
• Service as a Cadet at a Military Academy
• Attendance by certain active-duty members at certain preparatory schools associated with the Military Academics
• Includes authorized travel to or from such above duty or service
• Certain civilians, serving on Wake Island during WWII, and others
• For full list of eligible active duty positions, see 38 U.S.C. § 101; 38 C.F.R. § 3.6. See Title 38 of U.S. Code.

If The Answer is "YES", Continue Reading...

If The Answer is "YES", Continue Reading...

VA Aid and Attendance Benefits are available to a veteran or widowed spouse of a veteran who meets one of the following conditions:

• Claimant is blind;
• Claimant is living in a nursing home; OR
• Claimant is unable to:

a. dress/undress or keep self clean and presentable;
b. unable to attend to the wants of nature;
c. has physical or mental incapacity that requires assistance on a regular basis to protect claimant from daily enviromental hazards. 

Certain income and asset limitations apply and planning should be completed prior to application for VA benefits.

Assets can be repositioned and income can be offset by "medical" costs. Medical costs can include non-professional assistance from a family member.

• A single veteran, who served even one day during a qualified war time, may be eligible for up to $1,554 per month ($18,654 per year) to pay for care at home, assisted living, nursing home care or other medical costs.
• A married veteran may be eligible for up to $1,842 per month ($22,113 per year).
• A widowed spouse may be eligible for up to $998 per month ($11,985 per year).
• VA benefits are tax free and do not impact Social Security or other sources of income.

Once awarded Aid and Attendance, a veteran may obtain free medications, medical equipment, incontinence supplies, glasses, and hearing aids from the VA hospital/clinic via U.S. Mail without going to the VA.

Caution: Repositioning assets to qualify for VA benefits
can result in Medicaid ineligibility
for nursing home benefits without proper planning

Beware financial advisors who offer to obtain VA Benefits but advise you to purchase an annuity. You need to be careful of the "Medicaid Bomb!"

Get advice from an experienced Elder Law Attorney before making gifts...otherwise you could lose Medicaid eligibiliy and be unable to get the care you need. The Elderlaw Firm and Attorney Dennis J. Toman can help you make the right decisions for your particular situation.