Veteran’s of America’s wars definitely deserve to be cared for in their senior years, and one of the benefits of being a veteran is having senior care benefits for care in your home for both the veteran and the veteran’s spouse. This benefit is called: Veteran’s Aid and Attendance or VA Aid and Attendance Benefit. Never heard of it? You aren’t the only one but here are the details of this benefit program and how a veteran can qualify.
The Department of Veteran’s Affairs offers the Aid and Attendance Benefit to help cover the increasing senior care costs for veterans of America’s wars and their surviving spouses.
V.A. Aid and Attendance Benefit Basic Requirements for Approval
1. The Veteran must have served at least 1 day of active duty during wartime (review approved war dates).
2. The Veteran or surviving spouse must need assistance with Activities of Daily Living (ADL’s) which must be confirmed and authorized by a physician.
3. Financial requirements must be met which include having under $80,000 in total assets (excluding one home and one car).
This benefit can be approved to provide up to $1703 per month for a Veteran and upt o $1064 for a Surviving spouse to supplement the cost of senior care needs and medical costs.
The Veteran’s Aid and Attendance Benefit, once approved, can be life changing for those in need bu the application process is lengthy and difficult to complete. There are resources available to help expedite the application process ot ensure your loved one receives the benefit they or their souses fought so hard for by serving in a war.
Working with a V.A. Accredited Claims Agent is a good way to make sure your application is submitted correctly. An accredited claims agent is able to contact the V.A. directly regarding the application and it’s status. Only the applicant (the Veteran or their spouse) is able to inquire about their application and even then, reaching the right channels can prove challenging.
Following is a quote from an accredited claim’s agent. She and her team of accredited agents have had hundreds of applications approved in record time.
“Many people are surprised to learn of this great government benefit, which provides a monthly award to war-time veterans and their surviving spouses. This tax-free benefit has given many elders the opportunity to age-in-place and afford the care they require. Many have benefited from this generous support and avoided unnecessary nursing home placement. I strongly suggest that all advocates for war-time veterans and their surviving spouses, in need of financial assistance, look into this benefit.” says Katrina Spooner, the V.A. Accredited Claims Agent with The Cameron Group.
Once approved for senior care and the V.A. Aid and Attendance benefit, a veteran will receive a Care Plan and payments will be made to a licensed senior home care agency. You may begin the process for approval by contacting your medical doctor or a licensed senior home care agency in your area and request senior care.
Guest Blogger: Lauren Tyner, Caregiverlist Sherpa and a former senior care case manager for a Geriatric Care Manager in Florida.
