More than one-third of Americans over 65 are either wartime veterans or are married to one. If you fall into this category chances are high that you may qualify for benefits that can help offset the cost of senior care. There is a program called Aid & Attendance provided by the VA that can be used to help pay for in-home care, board and care, assisted living communities, and skilled nursing facilities.
Despite this statistic, less than 10 percent of seniors who qualify have even applied for Veterans Aid & Attendance. There is a lot of money being left on the table for those of us who could use it for the cost of care. We published a post over a year ago about the Aid & Attendance program but wanted to provide some more up-to-date information.
Overview of VA Pensions
Veterans Affairs (VA) pensions provide a monetary monthly benefit for wartime veterans (or their survivor spouses) who are in financial need of supplemental income. There are three types of pensions and their cash benefit amounts and eligibility criteria change with each type.
- Basic Veterans Pension and the Basic Survivors Pension (sometimes called the Death Pension).
- Aid & Attendance (A&A) Pension, called an “enhanced pension”, provides cash assistance to help in covering the cost of long-term care
- Housebound Pension, also considered an “enhanced pension, which is specifically for persons with limited ability to leave their home.
Aid & Attendance Pension for Veterans / Surviving Spouses
The Aid & Attendance Pension is a monetary “add on” to the Basic Veterans / Survivors Pension. The amounts below are the maximum benefit amount a veteran or surviving spouse may be entitled to for Basic Veterans / Survivor Pension plus Aid & Attendance Pension.
- The maximum benefit amount for a veteran who does not have a spouse or dependent child is $22,938 / year ($1,912 / month).
- The maximum benefit amount for a married veteran is $27,194 / year ($2,266 / month).
- The maximum benefit amount for a surviving spouse is $14,761 / year ($1,230 / month).
Do You Qualify and How To Apply
The Office on Aging has developed a simple overview of the different VA pensions (including Aid & Attendance) that has been updated for 2020 and includes:
- A list of benefits for each pension
- Eligibility requirements
- Information on the application process
For more detailed information on how to determine if you qualify and how to apply for the benefits click on the link below.
About Senior Living Options of the Desert
Senior Living Options of the Desert is Southern California’s leader in senior living referral. We’ve been helping families find compassionate care for their loved ones since 2004.
Whether you’re looking for independent living, assisted living, memory care, or another form of senior care, our local family advisors will help you find the right option for you and your family. Our mission is to provide families with the best residential care options based on care needs and location, no matter what the budget. And, our services are always FREE.
You can get more information at www.seniorlivingoptionsofthedesert.com.
