There are a ton of resources available to our returning veterans, especially those of senior age and their spouses. Unfortunately, many of these are not widely known and it can be confusing to find them. Among these aids are those that are specifically designed to help with the expenses of assisted living when basic daily tasks are too difficult to accomplish on your own.

One of the best is unfortunately not very widely known by those who are eligible for its help. Learn about the Veterans Aid and Attendance Pension, what it is, how to determine if you’re eligible, and how an elder law attorney can help you collect.

What Is the Veterans Aid and Attendance Pension?

The Veterans Aid and Attendance Pension is a federal benefit to which many senior veterans are entitled. It can provide the veteran and their spouse a great deal of help paying for services like in-home care, assisted living facilities and nursing homes. These services are exceptionally expensive, and this pension package can ease the challenge of paying those bills.

About the Pension Program

The VAAP program currently helps over 540,000 people across the United States, but this number reflects only around five percent of those who could receive benefits. With assisted living facilities costing on average roughly $3,300 every month and nursing homes costing over $6,000 per month, this resource is essential, and can provide over $2,000 per month towards those bills.

In fact, a veteran and their spouse are eligible for up to $2,120 each month through the program, while single veterans can receive up to $1,788 and surviving spouses of veterans who are deceased can get up to $1,149 a month. Not everyone can get the full amount, but every dollar helps.

Helping with Senior Living Bills

Senior living can cost a great deal of money. As outlined earlier, nursing homes and assisted living facilities cost thousands of dollars every month. This can quickly drain social security, Medicare and pension programs and leave seniors in the cold. The VAAP program can be an essential means by which veterans can get help paying for a variety of these services. It can help with:

  • Nursing Homes
  • Assisted Living
  • In-Home Nursing Care
  • Alzheimer’s Care
  • Medical needs
  • Other, more specific care needs

Applying for the Pension Program

Since so few veterans know the program exists, it can be equally as tricky to find the information you need, and even when you do, to complete the paperwork necessary to apply and be accepted to the program. As with many federal programs, it can be tricky and confusing to apply, and a single misstep can result in refusal.

That’s why it’s a good idea to secure the services of a qualified elder law and veterans’ benefits attorney. At Stano Law, we specialize in helping senior veterans apply for the Veterans Aid and Attendance Pension program. If you need help with your application or more information about the program, give us a call today!