Rep. Matt Gaetz introduces new act named after 103-year-old Pensacola veteran

PENSACOLA, Fla. (WEAR) — Congressman Matt Gaetz introduced legislation to allow military veterans who are 100 years and older to qualify for pension benefits regardless of their net worth.

In a recent release, the congressman introduced the “Joseph Ainsworth Act”.

The “Joseph Ainsworth Act” would change the Net Worth Limitation in Section 1522 of Title 38 by creating an age exemption for veterans older than 99 years old.

The “Ainsworth Act” is specifically named after Nothwest Florida veteran, First Lieutenant Joseph Chester Ainsworth of Pensacola, a 103-year-old Army veteran who was denied aide and attendance relief because of his family’s assets.

The Department of Veterans’ Affairs cited the net worth limit as cause for denying Lieutenant Ainsworth his pension benefits.

Under current law, veterans whose net worth exceeds a specific monetary limit are ineligible for pension benefits. The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) calculates a veterans’ net worth by evaluating the sum of the veterans’ assets plus their annual income. If that value exceeds the limitation the VA has set, the veteran is not eligible to receive pension benefits.

The release states Joseph Ainsworth Act would eliminate the Net Worth Limitation for veterans over 99 years of age.

A copy of the “Ainsworth Act” can be found here.