To help Veterans and surviving spouses with the rising cost of long-term care, there’s a pension benefit administered by the VA called Aid and Attendance. Aid and Attendance provides financial assistance to individuals who need help performing daily living tasks. Veterans whose income is too high to qualify for a basic VA pension may be able to qualify for this pension benefit.
Aid and Attendance is available for Veterans who served at least 90 days of service, which includes at least one day during a period of war. Qualifying Veterans do not have to have service-related disabilities. Veterans and surviving spouses must require the assistance of another person to perform daily living activities. Qualifying Veterans may also include nursing home residents or those who are blind or bedridden.
A Veteran can have no more than $80,000 in assets, excluding their home and vehicle. Income must fall below the Maximum Annual Pension Rate (MAPR). Income from SSI, welfare benefits or unreimbursed medical expenses paid by the Veterans or a member of his family is not included as countable income for eligibility requirements.
You can ask your elder law attorney for more information on the Aid and Attendance program for Veterans, or go the VA website for information and to apply.
