Aid and Attendance benefits for veterans in assisted living

Oak Park Arms presents “Aid and Attendance,” at 10 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 13, at at the Oak Park Arms, 408 S. Oak Park Ave. The public is invited to the free program.

A representative from the American Association for Wartime Veterans (AAWV) will present vital information about veterans’ benefits which may be available to qualifying veterans, widowed spouses or disabled adult children.

Once awarded Aid and Attendance or Housebound status, veterans may obtain as much as $1,632 a month, surviving spouses $1,055 a month, and existing couples $1,949 a month. In addition to income, they may qualify for free medications, medical equipment, incontinence supplies, glasses and hearing aids.

Eligibility and how to initiate a claim will be explained. For example, the claimant’s physician must declare the veteran as housebound and in need of assistance from another individual which may include services offered by assisted living. Also the veteran must have served at least 90 days active duty with one day of the 90 during a war period.

AAWV, founded in 2002, is a privately held community outreach service formed to provide information about the improved pension program to wartime veterans and surviving spouses. To date, approximately $2.6 million a month is being paid in benefits as a result of AAWV’s efforts. There is no charge for AAWV’s services.

What is Aid and Attendance? A veteran who is determined by VA to be in need of the regular aid and assistance of another person, or a veteran who is permanently housebound, may be entitled to additional compensation or pension payments. A veteran evaluated at 30 % or more disabled is entitled to receive an additional payment for a spouse who is in need of the aid and attendance of another person.

Basic Qualifications:

• Discharged from service under other than dishonorable conditions
• Served 90 days or more of active duty with at least 1 day during a period of war
• Monthly income is less than the Aid and Attendance benefit
• Less than $80,000 in countable assets (doesn’t include home, life insurance or prepaid funeral plans)
• Have a diagnosis that requires supportive care
• 65 years of age or older
• Surviving spouse (if married at the time of death)

Periods of Service:

• WWI - 04/16/17 to 11/11/18
• WWII - 12/07/41 to 12/31/46
• Korea - 06/27/50 to 01/31/55
• Vietnam (inside) - 02/28/61 to 05/07/75
• Vietnam (outside) - 05/07/57 to 08/05/64

The Oak Park Arms is a rental retirement community which provides independent and assisted living apartments and a full schedule of activities and services. Furnished apartments are also available for a short-term stay - a weekend, a week, a month or longer.

The program is free and open to the public. Call Jill Wagner at 708-386-4040 or visit http://www.oakparkarms.com/calendar/2011/august/13/aid-and-attendance-benefits-veterans