Can widows apply for prior year benefits from Pension A&A

I thought I read somewhere on here that the widows of veterans cannot apply for the previous year pension, but now cannot find that. The widow I was helping was in the ALF end of April, but the VSO her son took her paperwork too held onto it until September 23 to file it. So was wondering if we could go back for those other months. It would help her out a lot. This was for last year 2010.

Well wait, the VSO did not hold onto it someone the ALF director sent the son to held onto it apparently before taking it over to the VSO, which I had to track down. Anyway if someone on here knows I sure would like to see if we can get her that back monies. Her pension started in October, 2010.

So that was like a little over 5 thousand dollars she did not get.

Thanks a lot for any help anyone can give me here.