Paying for care
Veterans Aid and Attendance benefit
The Veterans Aid and Attendance benefit is an extra monthly amount added to VA pension. It is for eligible veterans and surviving spouses who need another person's help with daily activities, are bedridden, live in a nursing home, or have very limited vision. It is paid on top of a basic pension.
Why it matters for your family
A&A is not paid on its own. A person must first qualify for VA pension, which looks at wartime service, income, and net worth, and then show a need for help. VA also asks for medical evidence. The benefit goes to the veteran or surviving spouse, who may use it to help pay for care at home. A common mistake is to think any veteran qualifies. The pension is needs based. VA says you cannot receive A&A and Housebound benefits at the same time. Accredited VA representatives can help with claims at no charge.
Source: va.gov
Related terms
- Veterans pensionThe Veterans Pension is a needs-based VA benefit for wartime veterans with limited income and net worth.
- Private payPrivate pay means a family pays for care directly from its own money.
- Long-term care insuranceLong-term care insurance is a private policy that pays for help with daily living when a person can no longer manage alone.
- Activities of daily living (ADLs)Activities of daily living (ADLs) are the basic self-care tasks people do each day.
- Care assessmentA care assessment is a review of a person's health, abilities, home and support to decide what help they need.
- Cost of home careThe cost of home care is the amount a family pays for in-home help.
