Veterans Aid And Assistance Program
Senior U.S. military veterans, their spouses, and surviving spouses, will often need help with personal care as they grow older. The Veterans Aid and Attendance Program can help cover the cost of the additional care, including home care, board and care, adult day care, assisted living and skilled nursing facility care.
The program, often misreferred to as the Aid and Assistancebenefit, is a reimbursement for out-of-pocket caregiver and care facilityexpenses.
Here is a breakdown of how much a veteran or spouse canreceive:
- Surviving Spouse The spouse of a deceasedveteran can be reimbursed as much as $1,228 per month, tax-free .
- Single Veteran A veteran who isnt married iseligible for up to $1,911 per month, tax-free, which is almost $23,000 peryear.
- Two married veterans can receive more than$3,000 per month .
The surviving spouse of a veteran must have been married tothe veteran for at least a year before his or her passing. The VA will acknowledgethe marriage if the marriage was recognized according to the laws of the placewhere at least one of the parties resided when they were married. The VA nowalso recognizes same-sex marriages without regard to a Veterans state ofresidence.
If a spouse remarried to a non-veteran after the veteranpassed, he or she would only be eligible for benefits if the spouse divorcedthe second spouse or the second spouse died between January 1, 1971 andNovember 1, 1990.
Eligible War Periods
Here are the eligible periods of war:
Can I Use Va Benefits For Assisted Living
Yes veterans and surviving spouses who are eligible for a VA pension and who require the aid and attendance of another person may qualify for additional monthly payments above the normal pension amount. Those additional monthly payments are the Aid and Attendance benefits, and they can be used toward assisted living costs, including help with bathing, dressing, mobility, feeding, and other ADLs.
Keep in mind that the VA doesnt directly pay a veterans assisted living bills. Instead, you can use the money added to your pension to cover assisted living costs any way you want.
Adult Day Care / Health Care
Adult Daycare Quick Facts:
- Adult daycare provides patients with a place to go during business hours.
- Services include activities, community, and general assistance.
- Many VA facilities provide adult daycare as well as non-VA-related facilities.
- Costs can be covered in part or full by VA healthcare, VDC, and Veterans pensions.
Adult day healthcare is offered in special centers that provide basic primary care services, assistance with the activities of daily living, meals, and recreational and social activities. Typically, these centers are open during normal business hours. Care and supervision are provided in a group environment making adult daycare one of the most cost-effective ways to care for elderly veterans that require near-constant supervision. The VA offers adult daycare in many of its medical centers, as do state veterans homes. However, veterans are not required to receive assistance in either of these locations. They are welcome to find other adult daycare centers in their communities.
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Other Veterans Benefits Resources
- VA-accredited claims specialists and attorneys be sure to check the Better Business Bureau, references, and reviews before you sign any financial agreement
- Your states Department of Veterans Affairs
Get expert advice on veterans benefits from A Place for Moms trusted, VA-accredited partners.
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Housing Assistance Programs For Veterans
Veterans who have been serving the nation in the various positions available do not need to worry as much about their housing when they retire since they have several benefits available to them through the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs. These benefits can effectively settle a portion, if not the whole amount, needed to cater for a senior’s housing comfortably, including special VA home loans for veterans who purchase a home. These benefits are well deserved for veterans since the amount of devotion and sacrifice they give to their country is something that’s invaluable. The benefits at stake are not only limited to the housing but also to other matters such as welfare and burials among others.
One particular group of veterans who deserve a lot of appreciation is the group of former Armed Forces. These people put their lives on the line for the sake of the nation. According to the statistics, there are just over twelve million veterans in the United States. A person is considered a senior after surpassing the age of sixty-five. A person is considered a veteran when they have served our country in the Armed Forces of the United States, which includes the Navy, Army, Coast Guard and Marine Corps, and they were discharged other than dishonorably. There is no age requirement to be considered a veteran. Luckily for veterans, there is a dedicated Department of Veterans Affairs in the United States tasked with taking care of the veterans.
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Benefits For Surviving Spouses
Surviving spouses of wartime veterans, as well as their unmarried dependent children, may be eligible for a VA Survivors Pension.
They may also be eligible for Aid and Attendance or Housebound benefits, as described above.
As an example, in 2022, an eligible surviving spouse with no eligible dependent children who only qualified for normal survivor pension benefits would be eligible for a maximum of $9,896. If they were eligible for Housebound Benefits, they could receive up to $12,094 in total, while if they were eligible for Age and Attendance Benefits, they could receive up to $15,816.
This program also has income and asset limits for eligibility. Information on these and other benefits for spouses, dependents, survivors, and family caregivers is available on the Family Member Benefits section of the VA website.
Everything You Need For Healthy Aging
Seniors havent reached the end: theyve reached a new beginning. And Aging.com was set up to help youstartthis new phase of your life on the right foot. Our mission is to help you and thousands of other olderadults who want to live independently, plan your finances, and take charge of your health care.
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Long Term Care For Veterans
Through the Veterans Aid and Attendance Benefit, you or your senior veteran family member may qualify for long term care for veterans. This care can take the form of in-home care where you or your loved one will provide care related to daily activities, such as eating, dressing, and bathing. Additionally, some transportation services may be included as well to assist you or your loved one in getting to their doctors appointments. If you can demonstrate that you or your family member meet the qualifications required to receive the Veterans Aid and Attendance Benefit, you can begin receiving in-home healthcare services.
Using in-home healthcare can help you or your loved one maintain as much of independence as possible and stay out of a nursing home. Qualifying for in-home care will also take a lot of the burden off of the family members as there will be someone else available to assist in caring for the senior veteran.
Am I Eligible For Liheap
This chart from Benefits.gov shows the average LIHEAP eligibility requirements. Actual requirements may vary by state, city, or region. Each local LIHEAP office sets its own eligibility requirements.
- A person or family participating in certain other benefit programs, such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program , Supplemental Security Income , Temporary Assistance for Needy Families , or certain needs-tested veterans benefits may be automatically eligible.
- Being qualified for LIHEAP does not guarantee that you will receive help. Whether or not you receive help depends on how much LIHEAP funding is available for the year.
- On average, about 20% of households that are qualified for LIHEAP receive benefits. When LIHEAP funds run out for the year, no more benefits can be given until Congress makes more funds available.
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How Can I Get Help Applying For Va Benefits
- Veteran Service Officers, or VSOs, at a VA regional office may be able to offer free, basic guidance on the application process, and answer simple questions about available benefits. VSOs often volunteer across the country at American Legion halls and Veterans of Foreign Wars lodges.
- Veterans organizations, such as VFW, American Legion, and Disabled American Veterans may be able to answer questions about benefits and help you prepare your application free of charge.
- Accredited VA consultants can help families assess eligibility for VA long-term care benefits and help with financial planning as you prepare your loved ones application. Accredited VA consultants offer paid assistance to families whose benefit application has been denied. These consultants may be able to help determine why an application wasnt successful and help make any changes before its resubmitted to increase the chances of approval. However, regulations prohibit consultants from charging families for help with an initial claim that hasnt been denied.
- Elder law attorneys can help families with financial planning and the VA benefits application process. When seeking advice, you should look for a reputable attorney who has experience with VA benefits.
Va Benefits For Assisted Living: What Are Veterans Options
If your loved one is a veteran or the surviving spouse of a veteran living in a private assisted living facility, they may qualify for the VAs Aid and Attendance benefit, which helps you pay for services.
Veterans enrolled in the Veterans Health Administration can apply to live in a VA community living center, Armed Forces Retirement Home, or state veterans home all of which offer care services typically found in assisted living communities. The VHA also offers the Veteran-Directed Care program to help veterans remain independent.
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Age And Attendance Benefits
To qualify for Age and Attendance Benefits, veterans must meet at least one of these requirements:
- They need help with the activities of daily living.
- They are confined to their bed, or spend much of the day in bed, because of illness.
- They are in a nursing home because of a physical or mental disability.
- Their eyesight is severely limited, such as 5/200 or worse vision even with corrective eyeglasses.
Other Key Veterans Benefits For Seniors
In addition to the five main categories listed above, senior veterans may be eligible for a range of other service-related benefits. Not all of them are healthcare-based. Instead, these veterans benefits cover expenses related to death, burial and family support.
Lets take a closer look at these key veterans benefits for seniors.
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How Assisted Living Supports Disabled And Senior Veterans
Veterans who come back home with disabilities may no longer be able to live in the homes they left. With some disabilities, veterans have a need for accessible housing, or may need support services if they are unable to live independently.
As they age, elderly veterans experience the same declines in function that all seniors do. When veterans get older, they may be unable to maintain the tasks of independent daily life, including hygiene, housekeeping, and meal preparation.
Assisted living facilities are communities where veterans live in an apartment or rented room. The community typically has shared living spaces, including a dining room and recreational areas with social and entertainment activities. At an assisted living facility, veterans can benefit from trained caregiver assistance, which can offer support for:
- Hygiene, including bathing, dressing and toileting
- Housekeeping, including laundry and cleaning
- Meal preparation
Resources For Veterans Applications
Each benefit program has separate eligibility and application requirements. If you want an overview of whats expected for each program, the VA website has an excellent chart you can use to find the right information. Here youll find applications for different programs, as well as some basic instructions.
To help you out, here are some common questions about veterans applications:
How long does it take to process applications?
Theres no set length for processing applications. Each application is processed in the order received.
How can I get help with applying for veterans benefits?
If you need help applying for veterans benefits, or receive an undesirable outcome, we highly recommend you talk to a veteran service organization, veteran agent or a VA office employee. The process of applying can be complicated and its useful to have a helping hand.
Can I combine veterans benefits with other insurance?
If you have private insurance, for example through a spouse, you can usually combine it with your veterans benefits. Having private insurance wont impact your benefits, but it could be helpful to bill non-service related medical expenses. Check out this resource to get a better sense of how insurance is combined with benefits.
Is COVID impacting veterans benefits applications?
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Who Qualifies For Veterans Benefits For Assisted Living
To qualify for the VAs Aid and Attendance and Housebound benefits, a veteran or surviving spouse must first qualify for the basic VA pension.
The VA lists many eligibility factors for the basic VA pension:
- An honorable discharge
- Age 65 or older
- Minimum service requirements
- A monthly income and assets below the limits set by the VA
To qualify for Aid and Assistance, you must meet one of these additional medical requirements:
- Need the help of another person for everyday tasks like bathing and dressing
- Are in a nursing home, due to a mental or physical incapacity such as Alzheimers disease
- Have specific eyesight limitations
Its important to note that you must be a widowed, not-remarried spouse of a veteran to apply for and receive VA benefits on your own. Spouses and other dependents of living veterans may be eligible for other types of benefits, such as education, financial counseling, and basic health care.
Geriatrics And Extended Care Services
The Geriatrics and Extended Care Services helps address multiple chronic conditions, life-limiting illness, and frailty or disability associated with chronic disease, aging or injury. While you may first think of nursing homes and other residential settings like assisted living and community residential care, the GEC also assists veterans aging in place at home. It offers home- and community-based services ranging from home-based primary care and home health aide care to daily health care, palliative care, respite care, hospice care, Telehealth care and even veteran-directed care. Be sure to visit Long Term Services and Supports for the most comprehensive layout of resources available to you and to get funding information on paying for long-term care and locating specific care-related services and resources.
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How To Pay For Senior Living Care With Veteran Benefits
Long-term care for all older adults can be expensive, whether that care is provided in a seniors home or in a senior living community. And when it comes to retired military veterans, the need for care can be higher than that of nonveterans.
A study by the Rand Corporationn found older veteran patients have a higher prevalence of expensive chronic physical conditions like diabetes, cancer and heart disease than their nonveteran counterparts, partly as a result of their older age and deployment experience.
The good news is, if you or your spouse served in the U.S. military, some costs for care may be partially or fully paid for by the federal government through the Department of Veterans Affairs as part of their veterans retirement benefits. Even better, these veterans retirement benefits may cover in-home care, as well as assisted living and long-term care at a senior living community.
Become A Member Of The Senior Veterans Service Alliance
Become a member of the SVSA and help our organization support the needs of senior veterans who served their country in a time of need. Learn more about the benefits of membership.
The Senior Veterans Service Alliance is not a VA service organization and is not affiliated with the US Department of Veterans Affairs . Individuals and services listed on this web site are also not affiliated with VA. Only individuals of the SVSA and those listed on this site who are accredited by VA may be involved in the preparation, presentation, or prosecution of a claim for veterans benefits.
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Va Benefits For Elderly Veterans
Two VA programs provide certain elderly Veterans with an additional monetary amount if you are eligible for or receiving a VA Pension benefit.
Aid and Attendance is an increased monthly pension amount paid if you meet one of the conditions below:
- You require help performing daily functions, which may include bathing, eating or dressing.
- You are bedridden.
- You are a patient in a nursing home.
- Your eyesight is limited to a corrected 5/200 visual acuity or less in both eyes or concentric contraction of the visual field to 5 degrees or less.
Housebound is an increased monthly pension amount paid if you are substantially confined to your immediate premises because of a permanent disability.
Learn more about these benefits on the Aid & Attendance Housebound benefits page.
About The Veterans Assistance Program
The Veterans Assistance Program is operated by the Snohomish County Human Services Department. Veterans Assistance is provided to make sure that the men and women of Snohomish County, who have honorably served our country, are never forgotten. Whether it is personal hardship, lack of medical care coverage, or exploration into federal VA benefits or programs, we aim to be THE portal for the veterans of this community regarding any matter that impacts a veteran or their family.
The Veterans Assistance Fund provides limited emergency financial assistance to veterans and their dependents in accordance with basic eligibility requirements. Eligibility can be determined by phone, email, or in person at our office .
The following services are available to eligible Snohomish County veterans and/or their families:
- Emergency Vouchers
- Services to Senior & Disabled Veterans
- Incarcerated Veterans Outreach
- VA Medical Center Referrals and Enrollments
- Everett Vets Center Referrals
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