VETERANS BENEFITS FOR ASSISTED LIVING
Attention Veterans or the Surviving Spouse of a Veteran:
You may qualify for assistance to help cover the costs of assisted living.
If you are a United States veteran or surviving spouse of a veteran, you may qualify for the Aid & Attendance Program and receive monthly benefits to help cover the costs of assisted living care. This benefit is not dependent upon service-related injuries for compensation. It allows for Veterans and surviving spouses who require the regular attendance of another person to assist in day-today activities to receive additional monetary compensation and care in an assisted living facility. Additionally this is a tax-free benefit that most veterans needing assistance qualify for.
What is the Aid & Attendance Benefit?
Aid & Attendance is a Federal benefit that was added onto a need-based pension offered through The Department of Veteran Affairs. It provides benefits for veterans and surviving spouses who need assistance with their activities of daily living and meet specific requirements. Care provided in an assisting living/personal care facility qualifies.
What are the benefits of Aid & Attendance?
For 2011 the maximum annual benefit for the Aid & Attendance level of pension is:
- Veteran with no Spouse or dependent children: $19,584*
- A married Veteran where the Veteran requires care: $23,388*
- Surviving Spouse of a Veteran: $12,660*
How do you qualify for the Aid & Attendance Benefit?
The Veteran's Administration offers pension benefits to Veterans (or Surviving Spouses of Veterans) under two circumstances.
- If the Veteran: received discharge from service under any condition other than dishonorable, served at least 90 days of active military service 1 day of which was during a war-time period, AND (or Surviving Spouse) is age 65 or older.
- The Veteran is permanently and totally-disabled AND total countable family income is below an annual limit set by law.
Periods of wartime are:
World War I: 5/9/1916-11/11/1918
World War II: 12/07/1941-12/31/1946
Korean Conflict: 6/27/1950-1/31/1955
Vietnam Era: 8/5/1964-5/7/1975
Persian Gulf: 8/20/1990-present
* Please contact the VA to verify current Aid and Attendance monthly payments.
