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Plan would aid severely wounded combat troops

Severely wounded combat veterans who need help carrying out everyday tasks would be eligible for a new benefit, worth as much as $1,800 monthly, under a Defense Department plan that appears to be winning congressional approval.

The payment would be modeled after the aid and attendance pay available to severely disabled veterans who have left active duty. In this case, payments would go to active-duty service members who suffered catastrophic injuries in combat or combat-related activities who need someone — usually a family member — to dedicate time and assistance to helping them carry out everyday tasks such as eating, showering and dressing. And, in a precedent-setting change, the payments would continue for up to 90 days after retirement or separation from the military.

An attending physician’s recommendation would determine the amount of payment, which would be based on the average compensation paid to private-sector home health aides. Defense officials said the national average is about $1,800 a month.

Once the payment begins, it would continue until the service member is medically retired from the military or dies.

Pentagon officials estimated 125 people would qualify for the payment in fiscal 2010, with numbers declining over the next five years.