As of April 24, 2015, Iowa enacted a law that prevents financial advisors, insurance companies, and other agencies from charging veterans and their families for services that many county Veterans Affairs offices provide for free. This is an important protection for veterans and surviving spouses throughout Iowa, including those living in the Marion and Linn County area.
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs offers an Improved Pension with Aid and Attendance (A&A) benefit — a valuable resource many families are not aware of. This Improved Pension, part of the broader VA Improved Pension program, provides additional monetary assistance to veterans and surviving spouses who require help with daily activities such as eating, bathing, dressing, undressing, or personal care.
The benefit also extends to individuals who are blind or those residing in a nursing home due to mental or physical incapacity. Assisted living communities, including senior living communities in Marion, IA, may also qualify under this program when residents require ongoing personal care support.
This crucial benefit is often overlooked by families with veterans or surviving spouses who need extra financial support to care for aging parents or loved ones. As a pension benefit, eligibility is not tied to service-related injuries. The Aid and Attendance benefit can help pay for home care, assisted living services, and supportive senior living in Iowa — including care provided at communities like Summit Pointe Senior Living in Marion.
To determine your pension benefits, call 1-800-827-1000.
To sign up for your benefits, call (Linn County VA): 1-319-892-5160