With average home-care services in Hawaii costing $51,480 annually, U.S. Sen. Daniel K. Akaka reminds war veterans they might qualify for additional pension benefits to help with health care.

“;Many war veterans completed their military service and moved on with their lives without looking to VA for help,”; Akaka, chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs, said in an e-mail.

“;Given the high cost of home health care and assisted living in Hawaii, I hope that veterans and their ohana will apply for the benefits they earned by serving our nation during a time of war.”;

Genworth Financial's 2010 Cost of Care Survey, recently reported in the Star-Bulletin, showed Hawaii is the seventh most expensive state in the country for home-care services.

Veterans may be eligible for pension benefits, including additional amounts when a wartime veteran or survivor is housebound or needs assistance with daily living activities, Akaka said.

The veteran must have had 90 days of continuous military service and served at least one day in one of these wars: World War II from Dec. 7, 1941, through Dec. 31, 1946; Korean War, from June 27, 1950, through Jan. 31, 1955; Vietnam War, Aug. 5, 1964 (or Feb. 28, 1961, for veterans who served “;in country”; before Aug. 5, 1964), through May 7, 1978; and the Gulf War, Aug. 2, 1990, through a date to be set by presidential proclamation.

Veterans who are spending life savings on health care may qualify for up to $19,736 a year for caregivers, assisted living, home or nursing care if their assets are below $80,000, not counting home or motor vehicle, said a spokeswoman for Akaka's committee.

It is called the “;aid and attendance improved pension,”; she said, adding that it is often referred to as “;a secret, hidden or underutilized program”; because many veterans are not aware of it.

She said it is a helpful benefit for middle-income wartime veterans who are depleting savings to cover health care costs.

“;Sometimes getting an additional pension can help someone to stay in their home, paying a caregiver,”; she said.

Hawaii has an estimated veteran population of 117,254, and 680 between the ages 55 and 69 are receiving a pension, she said. However, only 47 were receiving the “;aid and attendance improved pension”; in 2009, according to the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Veterans can apply for the benefit at the Veterans Affairs office in the Prince Kuhio Federal Building or online at www.vetassist.org/eligibility.htm.

For more information, call 800-827-1000.