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Veterans who have disabilities, medical conditions, or injuries incurred or aggravated during active military service may be eligible to receive tax-free monthly benefits. To be eligible for disability benefits, you must show:
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- You have a current physical or mental disability.
- You had an injury or disease in service or experienced an event in service that caused or aggravated an injury or disease.
- There is a link between your current disability and the event, injury, or disease in military service.
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To qualify for DIC benefits as a surviving spouse, the following eligibility guidelines apply:
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- You were married to a Servicemember who died on active duty, active duty for training, or inactive duty training, OR
- You were validly married to the Veteran before January 1, 1957, OR
- You were married to the Veteran within 15 years of discharge from the period of military service in which the disease or injury that caused the Veteran’s death began or was aggravated, OR
- You were married to the Veteran for at least one year, OR
- You had a child with the Veteran, AND
- You cohabited with the Veteran continuously until the Veteran’s death or, if separated, was not at fault for the separation, AND
- You are not currently be remarried.
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The most well-known benefit available to a surviving spouse is Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC). Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) is a tax-free monetary benefit paid to eligible survivors of military Servicemembers who died in the line of duty or eligible survivors of Veterans whose death resulted from a service-related injury or disease.
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The Veteran’s Aid & Attendance (VA&A) program is intended to provide additional monetary assistance above and beyond that provided by the VA pension program. Additional assistance is aimed at helping veterans who need help with daily tasks of living, such as dressing, bathing, or cooking by providing financial resources to hire someone to help. The maximum benefit amount for Veterans Aid & Attendance will depend on the category under which you qualify and will be subject to change each year. Housebound benefits are like Aid and Attendance benefits but require a beneficiary to be substantially confined to his or her immediate premises because of a permanent disability.
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The general guidelines for the veteran’s pension program indicate that you might qualify if you:
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- Were discharged from service under other than dishonorable conditions, AND
- Served 90 days or more of active military, naval or air service with at least one day during a period of war, AND
- Have countable income below the maximum annual pension rate, AND
- Meet the net worth limitations, AND
- Are age 65 or older OR you are shown by evidence to have a permanent and total non-service-connected disability, OR you are a patient in a nursing home, OR you are receiving Social Security disability benefits.
- Veterans who entered active duty after September 7, 1980, must also have served at least 24 months of active-duty service. If the total length of service is less than 24 months, the Veteran must have completed his/her entire tour of active duty.
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Veteran’s pension program provides monthly benefit payments to certain wartime veterans with financial need and their survivors. The veteran’s pension program is a needs-based benefit paid to a wartime veteran and his/her survivor(s).
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The general guidelines for the veteran’s pension program indicate that you might qualify if you:
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- Were discharged from service under other than dishonorable conditions, AND
- Served 90 days or more of active military, naval or air service with at least one day during a period of war, AND
- Have countable income below the maximum annual pension rate, AND
- Meet the net worth limitations, AND
- Are age 65 or older OR you are shown by evidence to have a permanent and total non-service-connected disability, OR you are a patient in a nursing home, OR you are receiving Social Security disability benefits.
- Veterans who entered active duty after September 7, 1980, must also have served at least 24 months of active-duty service. If the total length of service is less than 24 months, the Veteran must have completed his/her entire tour of active duty.
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Veteran’s pension program provides monthly benefit payments to certain wartime veterans with financial need and their survivors. The veteran’s pension program is a needs-based benefit paid to a wartime veteran and his/her survivor(s).
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If you have additional questions, contact an experienced Indianapolis, Indiana estate planning attorney at Frank & Kraft. by calling (317) 684-1100 to schedule your appointment today.
