If you or your spouse served in the US Military, there are several benefits you may be eligible for. One of the more commonly known benefits regards eligibility for burial in a VA National Cemetery. Particulars on utilizing this benefit can be found at www.cem.va.gov.
Lesser utilized benefits include Death Pension Benefits and the Survivors Pension.
Death Pension Benefits:
The VA provides pensions to low-income surviving spouses and unmarried children of deceased veterans with wartime service.
Eligibility: To be eligible, spouses must not have remarried and children must be under age 18, or under age 23 if attending a VA-approved school, or have become permanently incapable of self-support because of disability before age 18. You must have been discharged under conditions other than dishonorable and must have had 90 days or more of active military service, at least one day of which was during a period of war, or a service-connected disability justifying discharge. Longer periods of service may be required for veterans who entered active duty on or after Sept. 8, 1980, or Oct. 16, 1981, if an officer. If the veteran died in service, but not in the line of duty, the death pension may be payable if the veteran completed at least two years of honorable service.
Children who become incapable of self-support because of a disability before age 18 may be eligible for the death pension as long as the condition exists, unless the child marries or the child’s income exceeds the applicable limit.
Survivor’s Pension:
A surviving spouse may be entitled to a higher income limit if living in a nursing home, in need of the aid and attendance of another person, or permanently housebound. A surviving child may also apply if under the age of 18 or under 23 and attending a VA approved school, or have been disabled before reaching the age of 18.
The death pension provides a monthly payment to bring an eligible person’s income to a level established by law. The payment is reduced by the annual income from other sources such as Social Security.
Our estate planning attorneys are well versed in the rules that regard veteran’s benefits and how to qualify as well as how to integrate these benefits into your estate plan. You can learn more by requesting a no obligation, complimentary review that will result in a extensive discussion on your possible eligibility and the process to receive benefits.
With Offices in Madison, WI, WI, the attorneys at the Wilson Law Group assist clients with Estate & Business Planning, Probate & Trust Administration, Elder Law and Medicaid Planning throughout Southern Wisconsin including Verona, Middleton, Sun Prairie, Cross Plains, Oregon, Black Earth, Janesville, Jefferson, Fort Atkinson, Baraboo, Reedsburg, Richland Center, Mount Horeb, Monroe, Beaver Dam, Dane County, Rock County, Green County, Iowa County, Richland County, Sauk County, Columbia County, Dodge County and Jefferson County.