Caring for a Veteran

The Veteran’s benefit is designed to provide financial assistance to help cover the cost of long term care in the home, in an Assisted Living Facility or in a Skilled Nursing Home.

Aid and Attendance is a benefit is for Veterans and surviving spouses who require a caregiver in a least two of the Activities of Daily Living (ADLs). Some of those ADLs are dressing, bathing, cooking, eating, grooming, transportation, etc. The Veteran or surviving spouse is not required to pay it back or pay taxes on it.

Some of the requirements necessary to receive this benefit are:

• Must have served at least 90 days of active duty and one of those days must be during war time.

• Must have anything other than a dishonorable discharge.

• Surviving spouse must have been married to a Veteran at the time of his/ her passing.

• Must need assistance with at least two ADLs.

• Must meet income and asset criteria required by the VA.

• Must be at least 65 years old or totally disabled.

Aid and Attendance/Housebound is additional money that comes to the Veteran who is already receiving or qualifies to receive VA monies. It is not a service provided to the Veteran, but additional money paid to the Veteran directly and not to another person or institution. To qualify, the Veteran does not have to be enrolled at a VA Medical Center.

CLICK HERE to learn more on Veterans' Benefits.