VA Aid and Attendance Benefit (reprinted from veteranaid.org)
Any War-Time Veteran with 90 days of active duty, 1 day beginning or ending during a period of War, is eligible to apply for the Aid & Attendance Special Pension. A surviving spouse (marriage must have ended due to death of veteran) of a War-Time Veteran may also apply. The individual applying must qualify both medically and financially.
To qualify medically, a War-Time Veteran or surviving spouse must need the assistance of another person to perform daily tasks, such as eating, dressing, undressing, taking care of the needs of nature, etc. Being blind or in a nursing home for mental or physical incapacity, or residing in an assisted living facility also qualifies.
The assisted living benefit for a veteran can be up to $1600 ($1095 for a spouse) towards the cost of an assisted living setting. The benefit could take from 4-6 months to process and is retroactive from the date of application.
Eligibility must be proven by filing the proper Veterans Application for Pension or Compensation. This application will require a copy of DD-214 or separation papers, Medical Evaluation from a physician, current medical issues, net worth limitations, and net income, along with out-of-pocket Medical Expenses.
To qualify financially, an applicant must have less than $80,000 in assets, EXCLUDING their home and vehicles.
To apply for the VA Aid and Attendence benefit contact your local VA social worker. Also consider contacting veteran service organizations in your state where representatives can frequently help veterans fill out the needed paperwork to process the necessary forms.
For more information about this benefit see veteranaid.org.
