Va Aid And Attendance Eligibility
You may be eligible for this benefit if you get a VA pension and you meet at least one of these requirements.
At least one of these must be true:
- You need another person to help you perform daily activities, like bathing, feeding, and dressing, or
- You have to stay in bedor spend a large portion of the day in bedbecause of illness, or
- You are a patient in a nursing home due to the loss of mental or physical abilities related to a disability, or
- Your eyesight is limited
Some Important Examples Of What Is Included As Income
Following are some important examples of inclusive income from a larger list found in the Adjudication Manual M21-1, Part V, Subpart iii, Chapter 1, Section I
REMEMBER that income is the combined household GROSS income before deductions to include a spouse and a dependent child under certain circumstances.
Income from VA Disability Compensation IS considered income when applying for Pension. You cannot ignore compensation income for application.
The following types of income are all countable income for Pension purposes:
- operation of a business, and
- life insurance proceeds received before December 10, 2004, because of the death of a Veteran
If a claimant’s benefits, such as Social Security, are subject to involuntary withholding due to legal action initiated by a third party, count the entire amount even though the claimant does not receive it all.
When an individual retirement account or similar instrument , 403, etc.) starts paying benefits, count the entire amount even though it represents a partial return of principal.
Count, on an annual basis, only the amount of interest received from a non-retirement annuity or similar instrument if the beneficiary purchased the annuity using funds the Department of Veterans Affairs already considered as a part of net worth, or conversion of assets from a property sale. In all other situations, count the entire amount received as income.
Count the following as income
Veterans Aid And Attendance Benefit Eligibility
The basic eligibility criteria for Veterans Pension include the following:
- The Veteran served at least 90 days of active military service, 1 day of which was during a wartime period or if the Veteran entered active duty after September 7, 1980, and served at least 24 months or the full period for which called or ordered to active duty , 1 day of which was during a wartime period and
- The Veteran was discharged from service under conditions other than dishonorable and
- The Veterans countable family income is below a yearly limit set by law and
- The Veteran is age 65 or older or permanently and totally disabled, and now requires the assistance of another person.
A surviving spouse of a wartime Veteran who has not remarried may also be eligible for Pension if the deceased Veteran met the requirements above. The surviving spouse must also have limited income and assets, and be over 65 or disabled and require the assistance of another person.
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More About This Veterans Benefit
In 1952 Congress passed Title 38 of the United States Code authorizing certain benefits for veterans. One of these benefits is the Non-Service Connected Pension, with Aid and Attendance. It is also known as simply Aid and Attendance or Veterans Aid and Attendance benefit or Aid and Attendance Pension or Improved Pension with Aid and Attendance.
In March 1989, during President George H. W. Bushs presidency, the Veterans Administration was elevated to a cabinet-level executive department. The Veterans Administration was then renamed the Department of Veterans Affairs, and continued to be known as VA. Today the VA is comprised of three basic branches: the Veterans Health Administration , the Veterans Benefits Administration and the National Cemetery Administration .A
Help With Activities Of Daily Living
Activities of daily living are routine self-care activities that people tend do every day without needing assistance. There are six basic ADLs: eating, bathing, dressing, continence , mobility , and grooming. Home care agencies provide aides who can assist those who need help with activities of daily living. Aid and Attendance helps wartime veterans and spouses pay for help with activities of daily living.
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How Much Does The Va Pay For Aid And Attendance Benefits
If you qualify for VA pension and Aid and Attendance benefits, the VA calculates your benefits based on the difference between your countable income and the maximum annual pension rate.
Visit the web pages below to view pension rate tables, including the Aid and Attendance and Housebound rates.
What Is The Difference Between Military Retirement Pay And A Veterans Pension
Military retirement pay and VA pensions are not the same.
Military retirement pay is a taxable benefit, based on your years of service and your basic pay, according to USA.gov.
VA pension benefits are non-taxable and are based on wartime service and financial need.
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Are Aid And Attendance Benefits Worth The Effort To Apply
In many cases, the answer is yes. As of December 2018, a single veteran who qualifies for A& A can receive up to $1,881 per month, a married vet can receive up to $2,230 per month and a surviving spouse can receive up to $1,209 per month to pay for needed care at home, in an assisted living community, memory care or in a nursing home.
For many families paying for senior care, this income can make the difference between comfort and hardship.
Paying Family Members As Care Providers
Paying family members for care is complicated and requires expertise, supporting documentation and detailed record keeping. It is strongly advised that veterans and / or their families seek outside assistance in planning and applying if they are not highly confident they can adhere to the VAs strict regulations.
Perhaps the most attractive and under-utilized component of VA Aid & Attendance and Housebound pension benefits is the fact they can and should be used to pay family members or friends for the care they are providing the aging veteran or their spouse. How this works can be confusing, but the process typically looks like this:
1) A veteran hires a family member to provide care.
2) The veteran pays the family member and documents those payments as Unreimbursed Medical Expenses .
3) Expenses over 5% of the maximum annual pension rate are deducted from the veterans income. Therefore, their pension benefit is increased by the same amount the veteran is paying their family member . By doing this, the family member receives compensation at no additional cost to the veteran.
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Clinical Requirements For A& a
- Be bedridden except for medical and therapy appointments and treatments
- Have severe visual impairment
- Reside in a nursing home because of physical or mental incapacity, including Alzheimers and dementia
- Require help with some activities of daily living such as, but not limited to: bathing, dressing, eating, using the bathroom, etc.
Rating The Service Members Disability Percentage
The VA uses a rating system to determine the severity of your disability and how much money you will receive each month. The VA disability rating is based on the severity of the veterans condition and can range from 0 percent to 100 percent.
The amount of disability monetary compensation a veteran receives depends on their rating percentage. Veterans with a rating of 10 percent or higher are eligible for monthly payments. The current rate for disability compensation is a monthly payment amount of $3,072 for a 100 percent rating.
It is important to note that not all veterans are eligible for disability monetary compensation. To be eligible, the veterans injury or illness must be connected to their military service. To learn more about eligibility and how to apply for disability monetary compensation, visit the VA website.
If you are a veteran and are looking for information on how to receive VA health benefits and a VA disability rating, our VA disability calculator can help you estimate your rating and potential monthly benefits.
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Can Divorces And Remarriages Affect Eligibility
If you were married to a Veteran, even if the marriage period was significant, but obtained a divorce and married another, non-wartime Veteran or citizen, you do not qualify for Pension with Aid and Attendance. In order to qualify, the widow or widower must have been married to their wartime Veteran at the time of the Veterans death and must remain married. Otherwise, the applicant will be ineligible. If you have more questions about this or other rules, you can contact us at AVCC for help.
Send A Completed Va Form To Your Pension Management Center
Fill out VA Form 21-2680 and mail it to the PMC for your state. You can have your doctor fill out the examination information section.
You can also include with your VA form:
- Other evidence, like a doctors report, that shows you need Aid and Attendance or Housebound care
- Details about what you normally do during the day and how you get to places
- Details that help show what kind of illness, injury, or mental or physical disability affects your ability to do things, like take a bath, on your own
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Who Is Eligible For Va Aid And Attendance
A veteran must already be a senior living resident or have an in-home caregiver to apply for VA Aid and Attendance. Secondly, to receive a VA Aid and Attendance benefit, you or your senior loved one must first be receiving the basic VA pension, or you or they must apply for VA pension at the same time as applying for VA Aid and Attendance. To qualify for the basic VA pension, veterans must meet all of the following requirements:
- They must not have been dishonorably discharged.
- They must have served on active duty before Sept. 8, 1980, for at least 90 days, with at least one day during wartime, or served on active duty after Sept. 7, 1980, for 24 months, with at least one day during wartime.
- They must be at least 65, have a permanent disability, live in a nursing home due to a disability, or receive Social Security Disability or Supplemental Security Income.
Smc Aid And Attendance Payments
The VA assigns veterans eligible for SMC a level based on their unique situation. The levels take into account the need for daily help along with any loss of limbs or loss of sight. Once it is determined what level applies to your situation, you can find your basic monthly SMC rate.
Many veterans eligible for Aid and Assistance benefits will fall into Level R. As of 2022, a veteran with no dependents with a level SMC-R.1 designationmeaning the veteran needs assistance with everyday tasks but does not need a healthcare professional to provide this helphas a basic monthly rate of $8,313.61. A veteran with no dependents with a level SMC-R.2 designationthe veteran does require a healthcare professional for assistancehas a basic monthly rate of $9,535.91. Veterans with dependents have different monthly rates, and added amounts may increase the monthly total if the veteran has multiple children or meets any of the other qualifying criteria.
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What Are The Aid And Attendance Requirements For Veterans
To apply for the Aid and Attendance benefit, you must meet the following military service requirements:
- You must have served at least 90 days of active duty, with at least one of those days falling during a wartime period.
- You must have an honorable discharge.
You must also meet at least one of the following physical requirements:
- You need another person to help you perform and complete daily activities, such as dressing, bathing, eating, and grooming.
- You stay in bed or spend most of the day in bed due to illness.
- Your eyesight is limited to 5/200 even with glasses or contact lenses, or you have a concentric visual field thats contracted to 5 degrees or less.
If you meet the service requirements and at least one of the physical requirements for Aid and Attendance, you may be able to apply for this benefit. However, you also have to fit within this benefits income limits to receive it.
How The Va Calculates Compensation Rates
When you prepare to retire or separate from military service, starting your VA disability claims process is among the things many must do as you out-process. You can also apply after youve left military service.
When you apply for compensation, the VA reviews your claims and assigns disability percentage ratings in 10% increments. For example, if you have a knee injury, the VA will determine the severity of that injury .
The VA may rate your condition between 10% up to 100% based on how it affects your life. Your rating percentage determines your compensation.
Some veterans may be entitled to more disability pay if certain conditions apply such as:
- The veteran is living with severe disabilities
- The veteran has lost one or more limbs
- The veteran has a spouse, children or dependent parents
- The veteran has a spouse who is experiencing a serious disability.
Many veterans have more than one medical issue, disability or disease. Each issue is rated separately, and you may be awarded a combined VA disability.
Combined totals are not the sum of multiple percentages. In cases where the VA must rate a veteran for more than one medical issue, the VA uses a combined ratings table to determine the final percentage.
For example, if you have a 50% disability rating for one condition and a 60% rating for a different condition does not mean you are entitled to a 110% VA disability combined rating. In fact, by law veterans cannot earn more than a 100% disability rating.
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Smp Aid And Attendance Payments
The VA determines VA pension payments based on how much a veteran earns. The VA calculates the difference between a veterans countable income and the Maximum Annual Pension Rate . The MAPR is determined by the number of dependents a veteran has and, if eligible, includes the amount for Aid and Attendance. As of 2022, a veteran with no dependents who qualifies for Aid and Attendance would have a MAPR of $24,610. Thats $9,857 more than a veteran who does not qualify for Aid and Attendance.
What Is Spouse Aid And Attendance
There isnt a separate Aid and Attendance benefit specifically for spouses, but spouses who receive a VA surviving spouse pension can receive Aid and Attendance. As long as you meet the net worth and income limits for VA Aid and Attendance, you can receive this benefit and use it the same way your spouse would.
Reach out to us to receive a screening for your Aid and Attendance eligibility. We can help you learn if you qualify for this benefit.
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How Is Wartime Service Defined
- World War II: December 7, 1941 December 31, 1946
- Korean Conflict: June 27, 1950 January 31, 1955
- Vietnam Era: February 28, 1961 May 7, 1975, for Veterans who served in the Republic of Vietnam during that period otherwise August 5, 1964 May 7, 1975
- Gulf War: August 2, 1990, through a future date to be set by Presidential proclamation or law
For More Information On Aid And Attendance Eligibility And Benefits
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs administers the Aid and Attendance program as well as an entire spectrum of benefits for veterans and their families.
Phone: 800-827-1000
To access a list of regional benefits offices, go to
The Veterans of Foreign Wars has 1.7 million members and assists veterans and their families a wide range of benefit issues, including assistance filing for Aid and Attendance
Go to www.vfw.org
Phone: 816-756-3390
The American Legion is another service based group for veterans and their families that can also assist with Aid and Attendance applications
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What Types Of Senior Care Does The Va Aid And Attendance Benefit Cover
Older veterans or their surviving spouses who can no longer manage their care independently can use VA Aid and Attendance benefits to help cover the cost of assisted living, memory care, a nursing home, or in-home care services.
According to Graham, any senior living community can help a veteran or their surviving spouse so long as that community provides 24-hour staffing and the veteran requires assistance with at least two of the six activities of daily living allowed by the VA.
Va Aid & Attendance Program
The Veterans Pension program is often overlooked and underutilized as a financial benefit for qualifying veterans and their surviving spouses who are age 65 or older, or, if under 65, who are permanently and totally disabled due to non-service-connected conditions. This is different from the more well-known Veterans Compensation program for Veterans who sustain a service-connected disability. A service-connected disability is not required to qualify for Veterans Pension. It can be especially beneficial when a Veteran or surviving spouse of a Veteran has started paying privately for long-term care services. The Veterans Pension program is administered by the Veterans Benefits Administration , the financial benefits arm of the Veterans Administration, and provides monthly payments to wartime Veterans who meet certain age or disability requirements, and who have income and assets within certain annually designated limits.
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