I’ve mentioned VA benefits in other newsletters and you may think: “I served in the military; does this apply to me?” Or “my dad served in the military and now has all these bills…can the government help?” There are different kinds of VA benefits with different requirements, but the following are the four basic requirements for applying for VA Aid & Attendance
Q. What’s the Aid & Attendance pension for?
A. It’s to help offset the monthly bills of Veterans, who now need help from someone else on a day-to-day basis.
Q. What are the current Aid & Attendance benefit amounts?
A. Maximum Aid & Attendance Benefits are as follows:
Current Amounts (max) MonthlyAnnually
Veteran with a Spouse$2,169$26,028
Single Veteran $1,830$23,790
Surviving Spouse$1,176$14,112
Two Married Veterans$2,903 $34,836
Paid until death. Use as you wish.
Q. What are the 4 Requirements of Aid & Attendance?
I. Service II. Health III. Income vs. Expenses IV. Asset Maximums
I. Service – Eligible Wartime Periods
Serve for 90 days min. with at least 1 day during a time of conflict:
Years Conflict Start date End date
1941-46WWII Dec. 7, 1941 Dec. 31, 1946
1950-55KoreaJune 27, 1950 January 31, 1955
1961-75 Vietnam Rep.Feb. 28, 1961May 7, 1975
1964-75 Vietnam EraAug. 5, 1964May 7, 1975
1990-pres. Gulf Aug. 2, 1990-
II. Health Requirements – 2 ADLs
2 Activities of Daily Living (ADL’s) for which you need substantial help, such as: Dressing, Toileting, Bathing, Mobility, Continent, Eating, Vision impairment, Hearing loss, Speaking, etc.
III. Income v. Expenses
Your monthly ends don’t meet (Hint: usually because of high medical costs).
Monthly Expenses > Monthly Income
IV. Assets+3
Current Assets + Gifts you gave in last 3 years ≤ $123,600 max
Other considerations: Exempt Assets
You get to keep the following which are not counted against you:
1 Home 1 Car 2 Prepaid Funerals
Usual expenses. Necessary items. Home improvements. Payment of debt, other exceptions apply.
Please remember: the above are basic guidelines if you wondered whether it made sense to look into Aid & Attendance as a potential benefit to help you afford to stay at home. If you are already in a Skilled Nursing facility, Medicaid planning is often the far better option.
If this sounds like you or your loved one, please feel free to contact us to get a clearer answer or check out our other Blog postings and Practice Areas for more information.
Thank you for your service!