September 19, 2012

The Vulnerable Veterans Housing Reform Act, H.R. 6361, exempts from consideration as income by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) any expenses related to a veteran's aid and attendance benefits. The aid and attendance benefit is an enhanced pension program provided by the Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) to our nation's wartime veterans who are severely disabled and have little or no income. Currently, the aid and attendance benefit is counted as income when determining eligibility for housing assistance, thus diverting assistance away from our most vulnerable veterans.