Paying for care
Veterans pension
The Veterans Pension is a needs-based VA benefit for wartime veterans with limited income and net worth. The veteran generally must be age 65 or older or have a permanent and total disability. VA pays the gap between countable income and a yearly limit set by Congress.
Why it matters for your family
Pension is separate from VA disability compensation. It looks at income and net worth, and VA updates the limits each year. Wartime service is required, usually at least 90 days of active duty with one day in a wartime period. Unreimbursed medical expenses, including some care costs, can lower countable income. Pension is also the base for Aid and Attendance. A common mistake is to assume only service-connected disabilities count. Pension does not require that. Use an accredited VA representative or a Veterans Service Organization. Help is free. Surviving spouses may also qualify under the pension rules, so a family should ask about that too.
Source: va.gov
Related terms
- Veterans Aid and Attendance benefitThe Veterans Aid and Attendance benefit is an extra monthly amount added to VA pension.
- Private payPrivate pay means a family pays for care directly from its own money.
- Medical expense tax deductionThe medical expense tax deduction lets people who itemize deduct medical and dental costs above 7.5 percent of adjusted gross income.
- 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.
- Cost of home careThe cost of home care is the amount a family pays for in-home help.
- Care assessmentA care assessment is a review of a person's health, abilities, home and support to decide what help they need.
