Veteran benefits are invaluable to people who served in the military and who have earned access to a wide variety of different programs and services. There are many benefits which should be available over the course of a veteran’s life, but some of the most important benefits are ones that veterans become eligible for as they get older. Seniors often have more intensive needs, and the costs of providing for those needs can be very high. The VA has different programs and services available which provide free or subsidized assistance to veterans. 
Nirenstein, Horowitz & Associates can provide the help that you need to understand the types of veteran benefits which become useful to you as you age. Our legal team can guide you through the process of evaluating which benefits you are eligible for, and making informed choices during the application process.
As the costs of care rise as you age and need more services, we will help you to make sure you are taking full advantage of all of the programs available to you as a result of your military service.
Veteran Benefits Can Help with the Costs of Aging
Veteran benefits can help with the costs of aging because there are many different benefits and programs designed to address the needs of people who are getting older. In some cases, veterans can also get more financial assistance through the VA to pay for the added costs of their care. The Elderly Veterans page provides information on some of the programs and the services which veterans can potentially take advantage of.
For example, veterans who meet certain conditions may be eligible for Aid & Attendance. Aid & Attendance, or A&A, is a program that provides an increase in the monthly pension benefits received by a veteran. A&A is available if veterans meet one of several possible criteria including:
- Requiring assistance with getting dressed, bathing, eating, and other essential daily functions.
- Being bedridden.
- Living as a patient in a nursing home
- Having limited vision, which is defined as corrected vision of no better than 4/500 visual acuity in both eyes, or having concentric contraction of the visual field to five or fewer degrees.
Veterans who are housebound are also entitled to a pension increase, if they have a permanent disability which results in them being substantially confined to their premises.
Programs for Aging Veterans
In addition to veteran benefits which directly subsidize the costs of care, there are also a wide variety of other programs for aging veterans that vets can take advantage of. There are long-term care options, medical foster care services, hospice care options, respite care for caregivers, adult daycare programs, and a wide variety of other services specifically aimed at helping seniors. Seniors should also be able to get preventative and diagnostic care, as well as medical treatment, through the VA.
Many veterans and their families are not fully aware of all of the veteran benefits that could be available. Others do not understand how the programs work or whether there is a cost involved. Determining which services could be beneficial is not the only complicated part of the process either. Veterans also need to understand what is required in order to apply for and begin receiving the benefits that the VA can provide to them.
When you serve your country and you earn benefits, you deserve to get the full benefits that you are entitled to- especially as you get older and face high expenses because you are aging and have more needs. It is a smart choice for senior veterans and their families to make sure they get help from an attorney who can assist them in navigating the VA benefits program.
Getting Help with Veteran Benefits from a Connecticut Attorney
Nirenstein, Horowitz & Associates understands the VA benefits that senior veterans can take advantage of in order to get assistance with the costs associated with aging. We can work with our clients to explain what kinds of different programs and services their service record should entitle them to receive. We can also provide assistance to veterans and their families who want to apply for benefits but are not sure where to start, who want to check the status of a pending application, or who have been denied benefits that they believe they deserve.
To learn more about how to get help with some of the costs of aging, join us for a free seminar. You can also give us a call at 860-548-1000 or contact us online to speak with a member of our legal for assistance with veterans benefits.
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