http://www.postandcourier.com/news/2010/dec/16/little-known-benefit-can-aid-veterans/
Pass the word kids,
This is a need to know,
because if you don't ask they won't tell.
But for veterans and spouses of veterans, there is a little-known and seldom discussed government benefit that can make a big difference in your loved one's quality of life. It's called Aid and Attendance.
"I was about to hang up after talking to an assisted living place in Greenville when the administrator mentioned this benefit and suggested I look into it," Edwards said. "My mom was eligible because my dad was in the Air Force.
"Even my brother, who spent 30 years in the Army, never heard of it
Aid and Attendance benefits are not advertised and, according to David Weston, field office supervisor for the Office of Veterans Affairs, they are "hidden in the grass."
In essence, this benefit ranges from $661 to $1,949 per month toward nursing home care for a veteran or a veteran's spouse if they qualify.
Like most government benefit programs, it can be complicated. But, basically, the veteran must have served during a period of war (WWII, Korea, Vietnam, Gulf War), be disabled and have low income.
"It's a higher form of pension," Weston said. "I process a thousand of these claims each year. But many people are unaware of the benefits available."
Weston said the process requires documentation, including discharge papers and financial statements, but said, "It's not too terribly difficult."
