Today I want to talk  some more about special benefits, special being that you must be considered a severely disabled veteran to be awarded these benefits.

Specially Adapted Housing:

Seriously disabled veterans of any period of service, who cannot get around with out the aid of wheelchairs, braces, crutches, or canes may be entitled to a grant from the Department of Veteran Affairs for an adapted home.  These veterans must be entitled to compensation for permanent and total disability for the loss or loss of use of both legs; blindness in both eyes plus loss or loss of use of one lower extremity; or loss or loss of use of one lower extremity together with residuals of organic disease or injury which so effects the balance or propulsion as to preclude locomotion without the aid of braces, crutches, canes or a wheelchair. (NOTE: Veterans rated TDIU may qualify for this benefit as long as they are also rated total and permanently disabled.)

Eligible veterans may receive a grant for up to 50% of the cost of their home or a maximum of $50,000.  A veteran is not required to use the total grant at one time. It can be used up to three times or until the $50,000 is exhausted.  The grant can be used as a down payment to pay part of the cost of a newly build adapted home or remodeling an existing home.  The grant may also be used to pay off the indebtedness of such homes already acquired and adapted by an eligible veteran. In addition, mortgage protection life insurance on specially adapted homes is available for up to $90,000 from the VA without further medical examination.

This grant is not paid directly to the veteran, but if awarded is placed in escrow and payment from it is controlled by written agreement between the veteran and the contractor after review of the VA Specialist in charge of the program. For more information review VA Pamphlet 2613 at:

http://www.homeloans.va.gov/pdf/VAPamphlet26-13.pdf

For application to apply for the grant,   VA FORM 26-4555 is necessary and located at:

http://www.vba.va.gov/pubs/forms/26-4555.pdf 

Also review the VA web cite at:   

 http://www.homeloans.va.gov/sah.htm 

This grant can be used in connection with a HISA grant of up to $4100. This grant is controlled at your local VA Medical Center Prosthesis Department. For more information concerning this grant review VA Handbook 1173.14 at:

http://www1.va.gov/vhapublications/ViewPublication.asp?pub_ID=1580

Annual Clothing allowances: 

Any veteran  who is entitled to receive compensation for a service connected disability for which he or she wears or uses one or more prosthetic or orthopedic appliances, including a wheelchair, which the Department of Veterans Affairs determines tends to wear out or tear clothing, may be entitled to an annual clothing allowance . This allowance is usually paid on the last day of August each year.  This allowance is also available to veterans who have a skin condition who require the use of medication that causes irreparable damages to his/her clothing.

This benefit is administered your local VA Medical Center Prosthesis Department. You can apply for the grant using VA Form 21-8678 located at:  

http://www.vba.va.gov/pubs/forms/21-8678.pdf

You must apply for the clothing allowance every year for the first three years after the third year it is an automatic award.

Housebound Benefits: 

An additional amount of monthly compensation is provided for some seriously disabled veterans if they meet the following requirements:

The veteran must be have a  separately rated 100% service connected disability together with other service connected disability or disabilities rated at 60% or more, rending the veteran permanently housebound.  A veteran does not have to physically be housebound to receive this benefit. This benefit is payable regardless of the actual ability to leave the home or not. The benefits is payable at the S-rate of special compensation.

Aid & Attendance:  

A veteran who because of a severe service connected disability evaluated at 100% may be entitled to a special rate of monthly compensation when there is demonstrated the need for regular aid and attendance of another person. Such need exist when the veteran is unable to feed himself, dress or undress himself, or keep himself ordinarily clean and presentable. Eligibility may also be shown when the veteran is unable to attend to the wants of nature; or incapacities, physical or mental, which require care or assistance on a regular basis to protect the veteran from hazards of dangers incident to his daily environment. A veteran who is permanently bedridden because of service connected disabilities also meets the requirement for the aid an attendance benefit.  A veteran does not have to meet all of the requirements mentioned above, for example a veteran who may be able to feed his/her self but May required aid to get dressed qualifies for this compensation.

It is highly recommended that you request your primary care provider to write a letter or statement indicating the reasons that you need Aid and Attendance or House Bound compensation.

You may apply for Aid and Attendance or Housebound benefits by writing to the VA regional office having jurisdiction of the claim.   That would be the office where you filed a claim for pension benefits.  If the regional office of jurisdiction is not known, you may file the request with any VA regional office. Leave a comment if you are finding my blog entries useful or if you have a subject that you would like me to write about. Otherwise Stay tuned for my next blog entry concerning your Veterans Benefits.

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