Attorney Brian Andrew Tully, Esq. has announced that he has received accreditation from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to represent and assist veterans and their spouses in the preparation, presentation and prosecution of claims for benefits, including the Aide and Attendance Pension.

“It is an honor for me to receive accreditation from the Department of Veterans Affairs,” Mr. Tully said. “This will allow me to help those who served to protect this great country of ours — and their families — get the benefits they so deserve and the help they need when they can no longer take care of themselves. It is also important that these veterans’ spouses and families are taken care of as well.”

The VA offers Aid and Attendance as part of an improved pension benefit. This Improved Pension allows for Veterans and surviving spouses who require the regular attendance of another person to assist in eating, bathing, dressing, undressing, medication dosing or other needs to receive additional monetary benefits. It also includes individuals who are blind, a resident in an assisted living facility or a patient in a nursing home because of mental or physical incapacity.

Under the Aide and Attendance Pension, a veteran is eligible for up to $1,632 per month, while a surviving spouse is eligible for up to $1,055 per month. A couple is eligible for up to $1,949 per month. “This most important benefit is overlooked by many families with veterans or surviving spouses who need additional monies to help care for ailing parents or loved ones. This is a pension benefit and is not dependent upon service-related injuries for compensation,” Mr. Tully said.

Mr. Tully is certified as an elder law attorney by the National Elder Law Foundation and focuses his law practice on life care planning, elder law, estate planning, Medicaid benefits and asset protection. For more information, call (631) 424-2800, or visit www.elderlaw.pro.