Veterans benefits referred to as the VA Aid and Attendance benefit, is designed for wartime military veterans who are receiving and paying for long term care.
The VA Death Pension benefit with Aid and Attendance is available to widowed spouses of wartime veterans who meet the same basic requirements.
2016 Maximum Monthly Benefit Amounts (Tax-Free)
- Married Veteran – up to $2120 per month
- Single Veteran – up to $1788 per month
- Widowed Spouse – up to $1149 per month
1. Military Service
- Veteran must have served a minimum of 90 consecutive days of active duty
- At least one of those days served during one of the following wartime periods:
- World War II: December 7, 1941 – December 31, 1946
- World War II: December 7, 1941 – December 31, 1946
- Korean Era Conflict: June 25, 1950 – January 31, 1955
- Vietnam War: August 5, 1964 – May 17,1975
- Persian Gulf War: August 2, 1990 – TBD
- Discharge other than dishonorable
2. Qualifying Care Needs
The veteran or widowed spouse must demonstrate the need for assistance with at least two of the following:
- Bathing or showering (minimal stand-by assistance qualifies)
- Dressing
- Eating (the act of eating, not just meal preparation)
- Transferring to and from a bed or chair (minimal assistance qualifies)
- Using the toilet
These services can be provided in any care environment to include nursing home, assisted living or in the individual’s own home.
3. Financial Requirements
- Monthly household Income is offset by assisted living or home care costs to determine eligibility as well as amount of monthly award.
- Household assets must be within acceptable limits, as per VA guidelines.
The VA application process can be very confusing. It is highly recommended you work with an accredited group or individual who has successful claims experience.
John Rosness, our VA Accredited Claims Agent has helped scores of families successfully plan for, and obtain, the VA Aid and Attendance benefit as part of their comprehensive plan for care. As the son of a World War II veteran John is deeply committed to helping veterans and family members learn about this wonderful benefit. He looks forward to guiding you through this process!
