Oklahoma veterans are some of the most important people in our state. Their sacrifice to keep us safe here in the United States can never be repaid. This is one of the reasons why it is so important for communities to take care of their veterans. One way that the government tries to help veterans is by offering them certain benefits. For example, some veterans are eligible for pensions. There are requirements that these veterans need to meet in order to be eligible and veterans’ pension issues can arise from certain situations.
In order for a veteran to be eligible for a pension, they must have served at least 90 days in active duty during a period of war and have been honorably discharged. The veteran must be older than 65 or younger than 65 but totally disabled. A surviving spouse of a veteran is also eligible. The pension is calculated based on 12 months of future household income and the veteran’s household cannot have income greater than the Maximum Allowable Pension Rate, which is currently around $13,000 with no dependents. The wars that qualify a veteran for a pension include World War II, Korea, Vietnam, and the Gulf War.
There are many intricacies that are involved in the veterans pension program. These can include making sure a veteran qualifies for a pension if they have assets. Also, long term care costs can affect if they receive a pension, as those costs are typically subtracted from a veteran’s income before determining if they are eligible for a pension. Beyond a pension, a veteran may be eligible for additional benefits if they are housebound or need special help to do everyday tasks like dressing and eating.
It is important that Oklahoma veterans receive the benefits that they are entitled to. An attorney who is experienced in veterans’ pension benefits can help their clients get the maximum amount of benefits. They can help make sure that a veteran’s application for benefits is filled out correctly, medical records are thorough, and they can represent their client at any hearings or follow-up appointments.
Source: veteransaidbenefits.org, “Who is eligible for the pension benefit?“, accessed on Jan. 17, 2017
