Wartime veterans from the World War II, Korean War, or Vietnam eras and surviving spouses of those veterans may be eligible to receive a pension from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Are you eligible? Find out during a special presentation at The House of the Good Shepherd (The House) Retirement Community in Hackettstown. 

This informational program from Veterans Financial, Inc., will discuss the pension, known as the Aide and Attendance Benefit. Free to attend and open to the public, the program will be held at 2 p.m. on Thursday, May 23, in the Lodge.  

Eligibility requirements include the need for assistance from a senior living community or from a home care agency. To qualify, veterans also need to have served 90 days of active duty, with at least one day served during the above wartime periods, regardless of whether the veteran engaged in combat.  

If found eligible, a monthly, tax-free pension of up to $1,881 per month may be paid directly to the veteran or spouse. 

Many veterans and their families are not aware these VA benefits exist and cannot afford the care they need. The government will not notify those eligible, but rather families must apply. The application process, which will also be discussed during the program, can be complicated. As every situation is unique and the benefit amount that applicants are entitled to varies, it is important to discuss your specific situation with someone experienced with the Aid and Attendance Pension. 

This special program is offered through Veterans Financial, Inc., a private financial services company that specializes in educating families about Veterans Benefits and Retirement Income Planning as it relates to current or future long-term care expenses. They are not part of the Department of Veterans Affairs but offer free information about Aid and Attendance. Veterans Financial will provide all necessary forms needed to apply, as well as written tips on how to complete the paperwork. 

For more information about this program, please contact Christine Garofalo, Director of Admissions at The House of the Good Shepherd, at 908-684-5722 

The House is located at 798 Willow Grove Street and offers public programming and an array of living options for seniors, from independent and assisted living to skilled nursing care. They also offer short term post-hospital stays, all in a beautiful setting along the bank of the Musconetcong River. For more about The House visit www.hotgs.org.