Aid and Attendance is a term that is commonly used to describe a monthly payment (called a pension) that the VA pays to some Veterans who need long term care.  Aid and Attendance can be used by a veteran or by the spouse of a veteran to be able to afford care that otherwise might break their budget.  The amount can vary substantially, but a single veteran might receive up to $1,881 per month to help pay for long term care, and a married veteran might receive up to $2,230 per month.

To qualify for this non-service related pension, a veteran or a surviving spouse must meet certain eligibility requirements, including:*

  • The Veteran must have at least 90 days of active duty service, with at least one day during a wartime period. (A list of qualifying wartime periods is provided below.)
  • The claimant’s countable financial assets must be below $127,061.00 total.
  • The veteran’s income may reduce the pension amount if the veteran’s income is more than the cost of the veteran’s long term care costs.
  • The claimant has not gifted or transferred an asset for less than fair market value in the three years prior to the application. (Note: There can be exceptions to the penalty for giving away assets.  Please consult with a qualified VA certified attorney about your case before applying for the pension if there have been any gifts made in the three years prior to the application.)

*The VA made significant changes to the pension eligibility rules in October of 2018.  There are additional rules which may affect a claimant’s eligibility beyond the four listed here.

The VA offers a wealth of benefits to veterans and their spouses.  While navigating long term care, it is important to understand when you can access those benefits and how they interact with other public programs, like Medicaid.  The VA accredited attorneys at Ahrens DeAngeli Law group can help navigate these programs to be sure your loved one is getting all of the help available.

The current VA pension rates for 2019 are provided in the chart below.

ELIGIBLE WARTIME PERIODS

 Mexican Border Period (May 9, 1916 – April 5, 1917 for Veterans who served in Mexico, on its borders, or adjacent waters)

  • World War I (April 6, 1917 – November 11, 1918)
  • World War II (December 7, 1941 – December 31, 1946)
  • Korean conflict (June 27, 1950 – January 31, 1955)
  • Vietnam era (February 28, 1961 – May 7, 1975 for Veterans who served in the Republic of Vietnam during that period; otherwise August 5, 1964 – May 7, 1975)
  • Gulf War (August 2, 1990 – through a future date to be set)

VA PENSION MAXIMUM BENEFIT RATES

                                         Wartime Veteran
Service Pension

-With One Dependent

 $1,127 Monthly

$1,477 Monthly
Housebound

-With One Dependent

 $1,378 Monthly

$1,727 Monthly
Aid and Attendance

-With One Dependent

 $1,881 Monthly

$2,230 Monthly
Note – Pension amounts will vary if two veterans are married to each other.
                                         Surviving Spouse
Death Pension $756 Monthly
Housebound $924 Monthly
Aid and Attendance $1,209 Monthly