Aid and Attendance - A Veteran benefit that can help pay for care

Recently, after identifying three Assisted Living Communities for a family I was working with, the daughter called in a panic, worried that her mom would outlive her savings.

I knew her mother was the widow of a veteran who was on active duty in the Korean War.

"Did you take into consideration the Aid and Attendance Benefit?" I asked.

The Aid and Attendance Benefit helps veterans and their spouses who cannot live on their own pay for care in the home, a nursing home or an assisted living facility. Specifically, it helps pay for assistance with Activities of Daily Living (ADL), including bathing, eating, dressing, undressing, medication dosing, or using the restroom.

An unmarried veteran who qualifies is currently eligible for up to $1,794 per month. A veteran with a spouse is eligible for up to $2,127 per month and a veteran with a sick spouse is eligible for up to $1,410 per month. A surviving spouse, which was the case with my client, is eligible for up to $1,153 per month.

It is estimated that only one-third of people who are eligible for this benefit seek it. According to NBC, 36% of veterans have never even heard of it.

I know, from having visited over 60 assisted living, memory and nursing communities in the area that the lowest level of private-pay care is $3500/month. Few veterans receive more than this in monthly income from social security and pension. It’s safe to say that most would qualify for some level of benefit.

In my client’s case, she had too much in assets to qualify at the moment. However, as she spent them down paying for Assisted Living, we estimated she probably would become eligible within six to seven years, if she lived that long.

Wallace said it would be wise to begin the application process for benefits early.

"Allow three to four months, if there are no hitches. However, if there is missing documentation or inaccurate information, it can take anywhere from six months to well over a year," warned Wallace.

"Finally," Wallace added, "if one's expenses still exceed their income with the veteran spousal benefit, then we can look to applying for Medicaid—though their income (without counting the veteran benefit) cannot exceed $1241/month to qualify for that."

In this particular client's case, they decided to move forward with the place that everyone felt was the best fit. They hoped to not need to access the Aid and Attendance benefit, but it was a relief to know that it was there, as well as the process for getting it in place.