If you or a loved one is a U.S. military veteran or military veteran’s spouse and need senior care, you may qualify for extra financial help in addition to the basic pension you receive. The benefit – Veterans Aid and Attendance – provides extra money to those who need long-term care but cannot pay for the full costs on their own. The pension program is provided to veterans through the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Does VA Aid & Attendance Pay for Assisted Living?
Those seniors who have served in a war and their surviving spouses, 65 years and older, may be able to get the tax-free benefit. The Aid and Attendance program was designed to provide financial funds to help with the fees of long-term care for those who need assistance with the activities of daily living. The veteran must have served for their country for 90 days with honorable discharge in order to apply for help with the costs of an assisted living community.
How Much is the VA Special Monthly Compensation?
Monthly rates for 2021 are:
$1,936 for a single veteran
$2,295 for a married veteran with a spouse
$1,244 for the surviving spouse of a veteran
Qualifying for Basic VA Monthly Pension.
To qualify for Aid and Attendance, a veteran or surviving spouse must first qualify for the basic VA pension. The eligibility factors include:
- An honorable discharge
- Age 65 or older (or permanently disabled)
- Minimum service requirements (at least 90 days of active duty, with one of those days being during active wartime)
- A monthly income and assets below the limits set by the VA (net worth must not exceed $129,094, as of December 1, 2019)
The U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs has more detailed information to see if you qualify.
Medical Requirements for VA Aid & Attendance Pension.
In addition, to qualify for Aid and Assistance, you must meet one of these medical requirements:
- Need the help of another person for everyday tasks like bathing and dressing
- Be currently in a nursing home, due to a mental or physical incapacity related to a disability
- Be bedridden
- Have specific eyesight limitations
Be prepared for the VA approval process to be slow. Collecting the necessary documents may be time-consuming for families as well as the effort it takes to complete the paperwork. The actual approval process by the VA can take months. The benefit does pay retroactively upon approval of eligibility which is good news. A consultant at Tutera Senior Living and Health Care can help you better understand the VA benefits and how they can offset the expense of senior living communities such as ours. Contact us for assistance with your VA funding. Call 877-988-8372.
