VA Aid and Attendance and Housebound Allowances

VA Aid and Attendance and Housebound Allowances. A. VA Aid and Attendance and Housebound Allowances are not counted as income for eligibility purposes and must be excluded from the total VA payment when determining eligibility. 1. In addition, these payments are not considered third party payments. B. Anyone in a nursing home who receives VA is potentially eligible for VA Aid and Attendance, except: 1. Individuals drawing a “child’s” benefit, i.e., those who became disabled prior to age 18 and draw a child’s benefit into adult years, are not eligible for Aid and Attendance. 2. Someone drawing only VA Insurance benefits is not eligible for Aid and Attendance. a) Individuals who draw a VA Insurance benefit usually also receive a DIC benefit and are potentially eligible for Aid and Attendance. b) However, it is possible for someone to draw only the VA Insurance payment. If the person draws only VA Insurance benefits, that person is not eligible for Aid and Attendance. C. A nursing home applicant potentially eligible for VA Aid and Attendance must be advised in writing to apply for the payment. However, the penalty for failure to apply for the benefit is not applicable when the only benefit involved is VA Aid and Attendance. D. The income of an ineligible spouse or parent who receives income based on need is not deemed to an eligible in an at-home case. Needs-based pension and compensation payments are not deemable along with any other income of the ineligible. 1. However, if an ineligible spouse or child receives a VA payment that is attributed solely to A&A, the receipt of the payment will result in deeming of the remaining income of the ineligible to the eligible. a) Example: If an ineligible spouse receives Social Security and VA that is attributed solely to A&A, the ineligible’s Social Security would be deemable to the eligible. However, if the ineligible receives a VA needs-based pension or needs-based compensation payment in addition to payment for A&A, all income of the ineligible is non-deemable to the eligible person