CRC Services Aid & Attendance Assessments: Supporting Veterans Seeking SMC

Aid & Attendance (A&A) has been an increasingly important topic in the veterans disability space, particularly when considering claims for Special Monthly Compensation (SMC). We wanted to take the opportunity to highlight this service and share a little more about how an Aid & Attendance assessment may support the veterans you represent.

What is Aid & Attendance?

For veterans whose service-connected disabilities result in the need for regular assistance from another person, Special Monthly Compensation based on Aid & Attendance may provide compensation beyond the standard disability rate.

When evaluating these cases, the focus extends beyond employability. The question becomes: How do the veteran’s service-connected conditions affect their ability to safely and independently function in everyday life?

This may include limitations involving:

• Bathing, dressing, grooming, and toileting

• Preparing meals and eating

• Mobility and transfers

• Medication management

• Safety awareness and protection from hazards

• Leaving the home and functioning within the community

• The frequency and extent of assistance provided by a spouse, family member, caregiver, or other individual

Where can a vocational assessment help?

Our Master’s-level Certified Rehabilitation Counselors conduct comprehensive Aid & Attendance assessments that evaluate the veteran’s functional abilities within the context of their daily life.

Through review of the veteran’s records and a detailed interview, we document functional limitations, activities of daily living, instrumental activities of daily living, safety concerns, and the nature and frequency of assistance required. We then provide a comprehensive report addressing how the veteran’s service-connected disabilities impact their ability to function independently.

These assessments can be particularly valuable in cases where the veteran may technically be able to perform certain activities, but only with assistance, prompting, supervision, significant difficulty, or safety concerns.

If you have a veteran whose service-connected conditions have resulted in increasing reliance on a spouse, family member, or caregiver, we would be happy to discuss whether an Aid & Attendance assessment may be appropriate.

If you have a case in mind and are interested in moving forward with an A&A referral, I would be happy to send over a sample report, along with a checklist of the materials needed to get the assessment started.

Questions?

I am always happy to answer questions about our Aid & Attendance assessments, discuss a potential case, or provide additional information about our referral process. Please feel free to reach out to me directly:

Kelsey Brousseau, M.Ed., CRC Vocational Consultant & TDIU Program Supervisor

CRC Vocational Services Email: Kelsey.b@crc-s.com

Phone: 413-437-5102