--- title: "Part XIII, Subpart i, Chapter 3, Section D Eligibility for Medical Services Associated With Aid and Attendance (A&A) or Housebound Status" document: "M-21-1" section: "Part XIII, Subpart i, Chapter 3, Section D" canonical: "https://veteranai.co/va-regulations/m21-1/xiii.i.3.d-eligibility-for-medical-services-associated-with-aid-and" source: "https://www.knowva.ebenefits.va.gov/system/templates/selfservice/va_ssnew/help/customer/locale/en-US/portal/554400000001018/content/554400000173840/M21-1-Part-XIII-Subpart-i-Chapter-3-Section-D-Eligibility-for-Medical-Services-Associated-With-Aid-and-Attendance-AA-or-Housebound-Status" updated: "2026-09-07T14:38:09.533668Z" --- April 12, 2007 ### XIII.i.3.D.1.a. Eligibility for Medical Services Under 38 U.S.C. 1712 (d) Under [38 U.S.C. 1712(d)](), Veterans receiving additional compensation or increased pension for aid and attendance (A&A) or housebound benefits are entitled to medical services, including * outpatient treatment * drugs, and * medicines. ### XIII.i.3.D.1.b. Providing Notification of Eligibility to Veterans Notify a Veteran of medical care eligibility and application information when A&A or housebound benefits are awarded. The information is provided on * [_VA Form 21-8764, Disability Compensation Award Attachment_](), or * [_VA Form 21P-8768, Disability Pension Award Attachment_](). ### XIII.i.3.D.1.c. Processing Eligibility Requests Follow the steps in the table below when an eligibility request is received for medical services under [38 U.S.C 1712(d)](). | **Step** | **Action** 1 | Complete _[VA Form 10-7131, Exchange of Beneficiary Information and Request for Administrative and Adjudicative Action]()_ , to show entitlement. **Note:** A future examination diary control has no effect on entitlement. 2 | Complete the _Remarks_ section of Part II __ of [_VA Form 10-7131_]() __ to show the following, as appropriate: _Veteran receiving_**[**_**additional compensation/increased pension**_**]**_by reason of being_**[**_**in need of regular A &A/permanently housebound**_**]**. #### ## 2. Eligibility for Outpatient Medications for A&A Cases in Which Income Is Excessive This topic contains information on eligibility for outpatient medications for A&A cases in which income is excessive, including * income limitation for eligibility for medications * cases involving the termination of pension awards * processing message code 652 * establishing continued entitlement to medications * requesting income information from the Veteran, and * completing the _Remarks_ section of _VA Form 10-7131_. April 13, 2020 ### XIII.i.3.D.2.a. Income Limitation for Eligibility for Medications Per [38 U.S.C. 1712(d)](), the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) continues to furnish outpatient medications to Veterans entitled to A&A, including those reduced under [38 CFR 3.552(b)(1)](), whose income exceeds the applicable limit by no more than $1,000. ### XIII.i.3.D.2.b. Cases Involving the Termination of Pension Awards If a pension award to a Veteran entitled to A&A (code 1 or 2) is terminated because of excess income, message code 652 _, A &A Term—_[Year]_Income Over Limit by $________ , is issued for routing to the pension management center. ### XIII.i.3.D.2.c. Processing Message Code 652 To process message code 652, follow the steps in the table below. | **Step** | **Action** 1 | Review the claims folder to * verify that the Veteran is entitled to A&A, and * determine the amount by which income exceeded the maximum annual limit. 2 | Annotate _VA Form 20-6560_ , _Notice of Benefit Payment_ _Transaction_ , with entry of the amount over the income limit in the message legend space “$________ ”. 3 | Date and sign the form. 4 | Send the form to the requesting medical facility. 5 | Annotate the claims folder to show the income information furnished to the medical facility. ### XIII.i.3.D.2.d. Establishing Continued Entitlement to Medications Establish continued entitlement to outpatient medications annually in those pension cases in which the current year income did _not_ exceed the limit by more than $1,000. Individual requests from the medical facility for income information for the next calendar year are received on _[VA Form 10-7131]() _during the last three months of the current year. ### XIII.i.3.D.2.e. Requesting Income Information From the Veteran Check the claims folder to determine if there is current data sufficient to permit furnishing income information for the next year. If the claims folder does not already contain sufficient income data for the next year, * request that the Veteran complete the appropriate Eligibility Verification Report form, and * in the transmittal letter, indicate the reason for the request and state that the completed form should be returned within 30 days. ### XIII.i.3.D.2.f. Completing the Remarks Section of VA Form 10-7131 Upon receipt of the desired information, or at the end of 30 days, enter the response in the _Remarks_ , section, Part II, of [_VA Form 10-7131_](). Use the table below to determine what to enter into _Remarks_ when income information is received or not received from the Veteran. | **If …** | **Then …** * income information is received, and * the Veteran is entitled to A&A benefits, except as to income | indicate the amount by which income for the next year will exceed the applicable maximum income limit. * income information is received, and * the Veteran is entitled to a resumption of pension, including the A&A allowance * process the case as a supplemental claim, and * annotate [_VA Form 10-7131_](). income information is not received | * annotate _[VA Form 10-7131]()_ to indicate that no reply was received from the Veteran, and * do not take follow-up action.