Why am I not eligible for veteran's benefits after the death of my husband?
my Husband just passed away june 13th he go t V.A check ever month i got a one time check now i have to fill out a form and mail it back . to see if im eligible i was on his V.A check all the time why wouldnt i be elegable ?
Expert Answer
Your husband was receiving one of two benefits. One is compensation for a disability he suffered as a direct result of his military service. In this case,it ceases at his death. The other benefit is a pension benefit for non-service connected reasons. Eligibility for this benefit is based on income which is offset by unreimbursed medical expenses, mostly for long term care. If your husband had home care, was in an assisted living facility or a nursing home, these expenses could have qualified him for the pension benefit. He would have received additional money because he had a spouse.
As the widow of a veteran, you may be eligible for a widow's pension, which is probably the application form the VA sent to you. If you are independent and healthy, you will probably not qualify for the benefit at this time (unless your income is below $661/month). If you have expenses for home care,assisted living or nursing home care, you may be eligible.