VA Finalizes Rule Paying Special Monthly Compensation to Some With TBI

You may have heard about the VA’s Special Monthly Compensation (SMC) or Aid and Attendance benefit.  SMC is compensation paid in addition to regular disability compensation to a veteran who, as a result of military service, incurred the loss or loss of use of specific organs or extremities.  Well, according to a rule published in the Federal Register, the VA will begin paying SMC for veterans with TBI on June 7, 2018.  This applies to veterans with TBI who are in need of aid and attendance, and without such aid and attendance would need hospitalization, nursing home care, or other residential institutional care.

To be considered in need of aid & attendance, a veteran must be:

unable to dress/undress without assistance

unable to keep clean and presentable without assistance

unable to feed or care for themselves without assistance

Those suffering from TBI and eligible for SMC will get SMC at the R.2 or T rate. 

Read more here:  http://www.military.com/paycheck-chronicles/2018/05/07/va-finalizes-rule-paying-special-monthly-compensation-some-tbi.html

Article by Jim Absher