You’ve Earned It: The Veterans Aid & Attendance Benefit

Where to start?

Many veterans and spouses of veterans have little or no idea what benefits are available to them and how to apply for them. If that sounds like you or someone you know, call the Veteran’s Benefit Hotline at 800 827-1000.

Thousands of VA Benefits are available for those people who are still serving, for those just transitioning out of the service, to those whose spouses served long ago, and for everyone in-between. Available benefits run the gamut from the obvious, like pension and healthcare benefits, to the less well known like financial support for your veteran owned small business and, of interest to most readers of our blog, the Veterans Aid & Attendance Benefit.

As with many government-related benefits, there can be a lot of confusion and misconceptions surrounding it. We’ve broken down some of the most frequently asked questions (and answers) to help clarify and bring understanding to this helpful benefit.

What Is the Aid & Attendance Benefit?

The Aid & Attendance benefit, also known as “VA assisted living benefit,” “improved pension” or “veterans elder care benefits,” is a monetary benefit available to eligible veterans and their surviving spouses. It can be used to pay for home health care assistance, the cost of living in an assisted living community or other services that the individual needs for their everyday functioning.

Who qualifies for the Aid & Attendance Benefit?

If you currently receive a military pension and require help with ADLs (“Activities of Daily Living” such as eating, drinking, bathing, dressing, toileting, paying bills, homemaking, etc.), you may qualify for the benefit. To qualify, seniors must meet two requirements: a military-related requirement and a health-related requirement.

First, the individual must be a veteran or the surviving spouse of a deceased eligible veteran. The person or their spouse must have served on active duty for at least 90 days, and at least one of those days must have been during one of the wartime periods listed below.
• Mexican Border Period (May 9, 1916 – April 5, 1917)
• 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 those 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 by law or Presidential Proclamation)

Second, the individual must receive an official medical rating of “aid and attendance.” A medical professional must make an official diagnosis that the veteran or spouse requires regular assistance in order to live safely. In order to obtain this rating, the individual must:
• Need help from another person to take care of tasks of daily life like dressing, mobility, toileting or bathing; or
• Be bedridden due to a disability; or
• Reside in a nursing facility due to a mental or physical incapacity; or
• Have visual acuity of 5/200 or less in both eyes; or concentric contraction of the visual field to 5 degrees or less.

Are spouses eligible?

Yes. If the individual requiring assistance is the spouse of a living veteran who meets the benefit military service requirements, he or she is also eligible for this benefit if they meet the income and needs requirements above.
How do I receive an official medical rating of “aid and attendance?”

The first step is to visit your primary physician to discuss your needs and ask for a report that shows you or your loved one require long-term care in order to live safely. Your doctor will also need to fill out the Examination for House2bound Status or Permanent Need for Regular Aid and Attendance Form, or VA Form 21-2680.

Do I have to meet a certain income level to qualify?

To be eligible, veterans or their eligible spouses must have a net worth (not including automobile, personal effects, and residence) under $123,600 and report “countable income” minus medical insurance premiums and out-of-pocket expenses to calculate the “Maximum Annual Pension Rate.” To learn more, refer to https://www.veteranaid.org/aid-and-attendance-eligibility.php

How long does it take to get approved for Aid and Attendance?

The VA processes applications in the order they are received which normally takes about 6 to 8 weeks. Benefits are applied retroactively from the application date.

How do I apply for Aid & Assistance?

You can begin online with the forms and information available here, but your local VA Facility or your state’s Pension Management Center (PMC) will help you learn more and get started.

Where can I get more information about the Veteran’s Aid & Attendance benefit?

You can find more information at these sites:
• https://www.payingforseniorcare.com/longtermcare/resources/veterans_pension.html
• https://www.benefits.va.gov/pension/aid_attendance_housebound.asp
• https://www.patriotangels.com/va-aid-and-atendance/aid-and-attendance-pension-frequently-asked-questions/

You or your loved one have served our country well, and now it’s time for us to serve you. The Aid and Attendance benefit can be used for a variety of services, all of which can help you or your veteran receive the care they need.
If you have any further questions about how the VA Aid and Attendance benefit can be used, or any further information, contact Avalon Memory Care. We are proud and honored to serve veterans and families of veterans, and we have extensive experience in helping individuals just like you navigate the benefits they earned.

Visiting Your Aging Parent With Memory Loss at Avalon Memory Care 01/02/2018
As a loving son or daughter, you naturally want the best of care for your senior parent. The compassionate assisted living caregivers at Avalon Memory Care want you to know that while your parent is living with us, he or she will receive nothing less than respectful, loving care within our comfortable, safe, and fully-staffed
Celebrating New Year’s Day in Memory Care 01/10/2018
Families often find that celebrations with their loved ones in memory care are easier when they embrace new traditions. For instance, it may not be practical to expect your loved one to stay up until midnight on New Year’s Eve. Instead, consider throwing a New Year’s Day celebration, complete with a countdown to the first
Understanding Parkinson’s Disease and Dementia 01/17/2018
Parkinson’s disease is an incurable neurological disorder, with progressively worsening complications. Perhaps the most well-known symptom of Parkinson’s is a hand tremor, but it can also cause speech changes, muscle rigidity, and impaired posture. Eventually, as the disease progresses, more than half of all individuals with Parkinson’s will require dementia care. This particular type of

Testimonials

“Since my mother has lived at Avalon, I have had peace of mind for the first time since Alzheimer’s began to exact its terrible price from my mother’s life. Thank you for your part in making our lives better.”

Daughter | Ft. Worth, TX

“I just wanted to let you know how much I appreciate the care and love afforded to my mom over the last two weeks. Your success in finding such quality people has my gratitude and respect.”

Daughter | Dallas, TX

“We are very pleased with all of the efforts that your caring staff has made to smooth this traumatic transition.”

Son | Plano, TX

“I know my husband had the very best care in his final days. I regret that I did not know about Avalon sooner.”

Wife | Dallas, TX

“Mom spent the final 8 months of her life in Avalon Memory Care in Allen. The staff was great. There was rarely a day that my brother or I did not come by and they were always friendly to us and did their best to make mom comfortable and happy. We really appreciated them for everything they did.”

Daughter | Allen, TX

“Making the decision to place my mother in residential memory care was the hardest thing I think I have ever done. But living at Avalon has been the best thing for her at this stage of her life.”

Daughter | Allen, TX

“My grandmother has lived at Avalon Memory Care for 6 months now. I cannot speak highly enough about the warmth, dedication, and caring compassion of the staff. They always make us feel welcome and go out of their way to work with us to accommodate grandma’s needs.”

Grandson | Arlington, TX

“My grandmother spent her final days at Avalon and we couldn’t have asked for a better place to care for her. The caregivers are attentive and kind, and many of them have been with Avalon for years. If you are looking for a place to love on you and your family in a season that is inevitably difficult, Avalon is a wonderful choice.”

Granddaughter | Arlington, TX

“We are delighted with the facility of Avalon Memory Care. We just placed Grandma in an apartment with them and couldn’t be happier. It is clean and well-lit, and everyone greets us, down to the folks who clean up.”

Granddaughter | Arlington, TX