Eligibility
You may be eligible for VA benefits if you are:

• a veteran who was discharged under conditions other than dishonorable from the Armed Forces

• a veteran's dependent

• a surviving spouse or child of a deceased veteran

• a member of the Reserves or National Guard

• an active duty service member

Active duty prior to September, 1980: 180 days, other than training
Active duty after September, 1980: two years of continuous service required
*Eligibility status will be determined by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Detroit VA Regional Office
477 Michigan Avenue
Detroit, MI 48226
(800) 827-1000
www.va.gov
For information on compensation & pension, survivor/dependent benefits, or other non-health related inquires.

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Health Benefit Service Center
(877) 222-8387
www.va.gov/healtheligibility
For information on health benefits and services.

Additional Phone Numbers and Websites
TDD: (800) 829-4833
Headstones and Markers: (800) 697-6947
Life Insurance: (800) 669-8477
Burial and Memorial Benefits: www.cem.va.gov
Home Loan Guaranty: www.homeloans.va.gov
Life Insurance: www.insurance.va.gov
VA Facilities: www.va.gov/directory/guide/home.asp

Michigan Department of Military and Veterans Affairs
3423 N. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
Lansing, MI 48906
(517) 335-6523
www.michigan.gov/dmva

Wayne County Veterans Affairs Department
Grand Park Center Building
28 W. Adams, Suite 1710
Detroit, MI 48226
(313) 224-5045
www.waynecounty.com
Michigan Veteran’s Trust Fund and emergency assistance to eligible veterans, survivors, and minor children who meet program financial requirements.

Local Medical Centers

Detroit VA Medical Center
4646 John R
Detroit, MI 48201
(800) 511-8056

Ann Arbor VA Medical Center
2215 Fuller Court
Ann Arbor, MI 48105
(800) 361-8387

Long Term Care Centers

Grand Rapids Home for Veterans
3000 Monroe, N.E.
Grand Rapids, MI 49505
(800) 642-4838 | (616) 364-5389
www.michigan.gov/dmva

D.J. Jacobetti Home for Veterans
425 Fisher Street
Marquette, MI 49855
(800) 433-6760
www.michigan.gov/dmva

Aid and Attendance Pension Benefit
Wartime veterans and surviving spouses who have in-home care or who live in nursing-homes or assisted-living facilities may be eligible to receive the Aid and Attendance Pension benefit. Elderly veterans and surviving spouses whose incomes are above the congressionally mandated legal limit for a VA pension may still be eligible for the special monthly Aid and Attendance benefit if they have large medical expenses, including nursing home expenses, for which they do not receive reimbursement.

To qualify, claimants must be incapable of self support and in need of regular personal assistance. The basic criteria for the Aid and Attendance benefit include the inability to feed oneself, to dress and undress without assistance, or to take care of one’s own bodily needs. People who are bedridden or need help to adjust special prosthetic or orthopedic devices may also be eligible, as well as those who have a physical or mental injury or illness that requires regular assistance to protect them from hazards or dangers in their daily environment. For a wartime veteran or surviving spouse to qualify for this special monthly pension, the veteran must have served at least 90 days of active military service, one day of which was during a period of war, and be discharged under conditions other than dishonorable. Wartime veterans who entered active duty on or after September 8, 1980, (October 16, 1981, for officers) must have completed at least 24 continuous months of military service or the period for which they were ordered to active duty.

If all requirements are met, VA determines eligibility for the Aid and Attendance benefit by adjusting for un-reimbursed medical expenses from the veteran’s or surviving spouse’s total household income. If the remaining income amount falls below the annual income threshold for the Aid and Attendance benefit, VA pays the difference between the claimant’s household income and the Aid and Attendance threshold. The Aid and Attendance income threshold for a veteran without dependents is $18,234 annually (2007). The annual Aid and Attendance threshold for a surviving spouse alone is $11,715 (2007). Income thresholds increase if there are dependent children.

Additional information and assistance in applying for the Aid and Attendance benefit may be obtained by calling the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs - Detroit VA Regional Office (800) 827-1000. Applications may be submitted online at http://vabenefits.vba.va.gov/vonapp/main.asp. Information is also available from any local Veterans service organization.

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