Article on New Rules for VA Needs-Based Benefits

Heidi M. Brown recently published an Article entitled, Possible New Rules on Net Worth, Asset Transfers, and Income Exclusions for VA Needs-Based Benefits (2016). Provided below is an abstract of the Article:

In Proposed Rule RIN 2900-AO73 (Net Worth, Asset Transfers, and Income Exclusions for Needs-Based Benefits) the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has proposed sweeping changes to its regulations governing entitlement to VA pension programs, such as Aid and Attendance. This article will discuss some of the changes that are most likely to impact the elderly. Aid and Attendance is the unofficial name of a VA pension benefit that many elderly veterans receive to help them pay for long term care costs. According to the Government Accountability Office, the VA spent about $4.3 billion in pension benefits on 517,000 veterans and their surviving spouses in 2011. The pension benefits can be paid to wartime veterans who are 65 or older or veterans who are totally disabled, or to surviving spouse of veterans. The average payments in 2011 were $9,669 to veterans and $6,209 for survivors.