What Is VA Aid and Attendance?

The Veterans Improved Pension (Aid and Attendance) is a substantial benefit that can help eligible veterans with long-term care costs. The program provides up to $1,936 a month to a veteran, $1,247 to a surviving spouse, and $2,295 to a married veteran couple.

This additional income can help alleviate the financial burden of long-term care and provide veterans with financial stability, allowing them to maintain their independence and quality of life. Additionally, the program has no restrictions on how beneficiaries can use the funds, providing more flexibility for recipients to allocate them toward their specific needs.

To qualify for the Veterans Improved Pension, applicants must meet specific criteria, including military service requirements and financial needs.

Most veterans are aware that the Veterans Benefit Administration (VBA) offers Disability Compensation (tax-free funds) to veterans with disabilities that are the result of a disease or injury incurred or aggravated during active military service based on service-connected disabilities .

However, most veterans do not realize that if they were discharged without suffering injuries or sickness due to their military service, they may still be - or become - eligible for a pension from the VBA. This is what we call the "Improved Pension Benefit."

This benefit has three levels. But when the veteran needs the “aid and attendance” of another for activities of daily living, the Pension or Compensation payment is increased with an additional “Aid and Attendance” amount.

This is why, even though the "official" name is Improved Pension, most people call it "Aid and Attendance."

Activities of daily living (ADL) is usually defined as a simple daily activity a user can easily do without assistance.

There are 6 basic tasks that are considered: eating, preparing, sanitizing, sanitary, and toiletry.

Homecare agencies, assisted living facilities, or a nursing home will provide assistance for the elderly who require assistance with the everyday activities in the home.

Aid and attendance is the highest level of Improved Pension that assists military veterans in paying for assistance to perform these basic daily functions.

It can be hard to get the VA Aid and Attendance benefit. This is especially true since October 2018 when some important rules changed.

The biggest hurdle for many of our clients is that there is now a 36-month "look back period" for assets.

This means that if you have given away any assets in the 36 months prior to applying for VA benefits, you may incur a penalty period or be disqualified for VA benefits. Consulting with a Certified Elder Law Attorney can help you determine the best way to qualify given your circumstances, and the quicker you act, the more options you will have.

You also have to be paying for long-term care expenses that are not covered by health insurance, medicare or long-term care insurance.

If you think you have too much money to qualify for this help, our VA Accredited Attorney Nicole Wipp can help create a plan so that veterans or their surviving spouses can get the aid they need.