At Gracie Bloom, we understand the importance of financial security and support when it comes to senior care. That's why we want to provide you with information about a benefit that may be available to you or a loved one - the VA Aid and Attendance benefit.
For wartime veterans and their living or surviving spouses, the VA Aid and Attendance benefit can prove to be a very beneficial assets for those in need of financial assistance if they require help with daily living activities, such as bathing, dressing, and eating. The benefit can assist with the cost of care in senior living communities.
For your reference, here is a chart outlining the maximum benefit amounts for the VA Aid and Attendance benefit:
VA Aid & Attendance Rates:
Surviving Spouse:
$1,478 Monthly / $17,743 per year
Single Veteran
$2,300 Monthly / $27,609 per year
Married Veteran
$2,727 Monthly / $32,729 per year
Two Vets Married
$3,649 Monthly / $43,791 per year
ELIGIBILITY & PROCESS:
At Gracie Bloom, we understand that navigating the VA Aid and Attendance benefit application process can be overwhelming. That's why we are here to offer referrals for professionals trained to guide you through the necessary steps to help you receive the financial assistance you need. Legally, we cannot do the forms for you but we can refer you to certified agents that can support. Many families report back success doing themselves by using the links below without the costs of hiring a service.
The first step to applying for the VA Aid and Attendance benefit is to determine eligibility. To be eligible, a wartime veteran must have served at least 90 days of active duty, with at least one day of service during a wartime period. The surviving spouse must have been married to the veteran at the time of their death and not have remarried.
Once eligibility has been determined, the next step is to gather the necessary documents to support the application. These documents may include discharge papers, marriage certificates, and medical records.
After gathering the necessary documents, you can submit an application to the VA. The application will require information about income and assets, as well as details about the level of care needed.
The VA will then review the application and make a determination of eligibility and benefit amount. It's important to note that the benefit amount is subject to change based on factors such as income and assets.
Eligible Periods of War
Eligible wartime periods for a VA pension and enhanced pension have been determined by Congress.
Periods of War:
World War II: (December 7, 1941 – December 31, 1946)
Korean War: (June 27, 1950 – January 31, 1955)
Vietnam War: (February 28, 1961 – May 7, 1975) - for veterans who served in the Republic of Vietnam, including service on U.S. military vessels off the coast of Vietnam; (August 5, 1964 – May 7, 1975) - for active duty military personnel stationed anywhere in the world.
Gulf War: (August 2, 1990 – to present) - anyone who served in the Gulf War beginning on August 2, 1990, is considered a veteran and eligible for veterans benefits. This period Includes Operation Desert Shield, Operation Desert Storm, Operation Enduring and Operation Iraqi Freedom. At some time in the future, Congress or a Presidential Proclamation will establish the ending time for this war period.
A veteran can combine periods of active duty to meet the 90-day active duty requirement but the combined service periods must be during war time.
Sometimes a veteran will serve in peacetime and wartime during the same period. If the veteran has served at least 90 days of active duty, with at least one day during an eligible period of war, he or she is eligible for a pension.
Merchant Marine Veterans - a Mariner who served at least 90 consecutive days of active duty during World War II between December 7, 1941, to August 15, 1945, can qualify for a VA pension. During World War II, Merchant Marines supported the Navy by transporting military personnel and cargo.
National Guardsmen and Reservists: - guardsmen and Reservists can be called for active duty during wartime, a national emergency, or other reasons to support the U.S. armed forces. Guardsman and Reservists qualify for a VA pension if they served at least 90 consecutive days of active duty with at least one day during an eligible period of war.
Discharge Status
The veteran must also have received an honorable or anything other than dishonorable discharge. Service members who exceed performance and personal conduct standards will be honorably discharged from the military. A person whose military performance was considered satisfactory, will receive a general (under honorable conditions) discharge.
If the service member received an “other than dishonorable” discharge, bad conduct discharge or dishonorable discharge it may still be possible to apply for a pension if the type of discharge is corrected or upgraded.
VA Survivors Pension
To receive a VA Survivors Pension, the surviving spouse of a wartime veteran must have been married to the veteran for:
At least one year, married at the time of the veteran’s passing and never remarried.
The are no age requirements for a surviving spouse.
Aid and Attendance Enhanced Pension
Aid and Attendance is an enhanced pension for veterans and surviving spouses who need help with daily living activities. It is a reimbursement for care, including home care, adult day care, board and care, assisted living and skilled nursing care.
ADL support needed includes:
Dressing, eating, bathing, toileting and transferring (mobility).
Dressing refers to help with buttoning, zippering, putting on or removing clothes, reminders to change clothes or help picking out clothes.
Eating is feeding someone, including cutting up the person’s food. It can also be reminding someone to eat or eat healthy.
Bathing is assistance with any aspect of bathing, including adjusting the water temperature or shower head, or even reminders to bathe.
Toileting is any type of bathroom assistance or help with incontinence.
Transferring is a term used to describe helping someone move from place to place, such as up and down stairs, in or out of a bed or chair, and in or out of a vehicle.
The VA does not consider meal preparation, housekeeping, running errands, medication management or driving someone (transportation) activities of daily living.
There are also specific income and asset criteria for the Aid and Attendance benefit. The requirements for Aid and Attendance can be very confusing. The paperwork needed to get the benefit can also be very complex. Many people who apply for the benefit on their own end up getting denied or less than what they are entitled to receive. With the new 2023 rate increase, getting a claim approved the first time through is even more important.
If you are interested in the Aid and Attendance benefit, you can find out more about financial requirements and how the claim process works, by contacting a Benefit Consultant today at American Veteran Aid: 877-427-8065 or click here.
VA Aid and Attendance is a benefit that provides financial assistance to eligible veterans and their surviving spouses to help cover the costs of long-term care, including assisted living, nursing home care, and in-home care. To be eligible for this benefit, veterans must meet certain service requirements and have medical and financial needs.
To apply for VA Aid and Attendance, you can either visit your local VA office or apply online at the VA website. The application process can be complex, and it is recommended that you seek assistance from a VA-accredited attorney, claims agent, or veterans service organization. You can find a list of VA-accredited organizations on the VA website.
Here are some helpful links for more information about VA
Helpful Links: VA Aid and Attendance application:
VA Aid and Attendance: https://www.va.gov/pension/aid-attendance-housebound/
How to Apply for VA Aid and Attendance: https://www.va.gov/pension/how-to-apply/
Find a VA-Accredited Representative: https://www.va.gov/ogc/apps/accreditation/index.asp
We at Gracie Bloom would like to help you better understand the VA Aid and Attendance benefit and offer appropriate information to guide you in determining your eligibility and in the application process.
We will work to support every veteran and their family in gaining access to the resources and support they need to get the help they deserve. The VA Aid and Attendance is a valuable benefit that provides financial assistance to eligible veterans and their surviving spouses. Please let us know if you have any questions or how we can help you further in coaching you in finding adequate support in application.
The information in this blog post was gathered from reputable sources, including the website AmericanVeteransAid.com, which provides valuable information and resources for veterans seeking assistance with VA benefits and senior living options.
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