How to Know if Your Loved One Qualifies for the VA Aid and Attendance Benefit

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It might sound surprising, but many veterans are unaware of the range of benefits they are entitled to by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs once they return to civilian life. And for aging veterans, one of the most useful of these is the VA Aid and Attendance benefit, which can help pay the cost of assisted living and memory care for eligible veterans and their surviving spouses.  

At our communities, our move-in advisors are experienced at helping families and their loved ones navigate the VA benefits system, which is fairly complex and can be confusing. Read on to learn more about how VA benefits work and how our team can help your loved one determine their eligibility, apply for, and access the benefits they’ve earned. 

What is the VA Aid and Attendance Benefit? 
The VA Aid and Attendance Benefit was created to help wartime veterans and their surviving spouses pay monthly expenses related to long-term care, including assistance with daily activities. Among other care expenses, it can be used to pay the cost of memory care or the cost of assisted living.  

Beyond Aid & Attendance, housebound benefits are another option veterans should consider. Housebound benefits are open to veterans who receive a VA Pension and spend most of their time at home due to permanent disability. However, veterans cannot receive both types of benefits at the same time.  

Who is eligible? 
Veterans aged 65 and older who served during wartime and meet at least one of these conditions may be eligible for the Aid & Attendance Benefit, which can cover care for themselves or for their surviving spouse. Veterans or surviving spouses are eligible if: 

  • They need another person to help them perform daily activities, like bathing, feeding, and dressing, or 

  • They need to stay in bed for much of the day because of illness, or 

  • Thet are a patient in a nursing home due to diminished mental or physical abilities related to a disability, or 

  • Their eyesight is limited (according to the VA website, this means that “even with glasses or contact lenses they have only 5/200 or less in both eyes; or concentric contraction of the visual field to five degrees or less”) 

It’s important to note that there are specific income and assets limits to qualify for the VA Aid & Attendance Benefit. Eligibility is based on a maximum amount of annual income a veteran or surviving spouse can have, including earnings, pensions, and Social Security, and minus unreimbursed medical expenses (UMEs); this amount is also known as the maximum annual pension rate (MAPR).  The VA website has more about the MAPR as well as the VA’s pension-based calculations. 

How can my loved one or I apply for VA benefits? 
To apply for VA benefits, your first step is to complete VA Form 21-2680 and submit it to your local VA office or pension management center.  Be sure to include the following information with the form: 

  • Any evidence, like a doctor’s report, that shows you need these benefits 

  • Details about what you normally do during the day  

  • Details that help show what kind of illness, injury, or mental or physical disability affects your ability to do complete daily activities, like taking a bath, on your own 

How our Comforts team can help 

Are you a veteran or veteran’s spouse exploring your senior living options and still wondering how to pay for assisted living or pay the cost of memory care? Don’t hesitate to reach out to our team.  We would be happy to assist you and your family as you navigate the VA system, from making that first call to accessing ongoing benefits. 

To learn more about Comforts of Home, White Pine, or Gracewood Senior Living assisted living and memory care communities in Minnesota and Wisconsin. We can’t wait to welcome you to our community.