Discover the Benefits of VA Aid and Attendance

If you or a family member is a Veteran in need of assistance with Activities of Daily Living (ADL), you might be eligible to receive Aid and Attendance benefits, along with VA pension benefits.

According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, eligibility for Aid and Attendance benefits requires at least one of the following to be true:

• You or your family member needs help performing daily activities, like bathing, feeding, and dressing.
• You or your family member are on bedrest, spending a large portion of the day in bed due to an illness.
• You or your family member are a patient in a nursing home due to the loss of mental or physical abilities related to a disability.
• Your or your family member’s eyesight is declining, even with glasses or contacts.

VA pension eligibility is based on your net worth, countable income, and MAPR. Your net worth includes the annual income for you and your spouse plus the sum of your assets.

Countable income is how much you and your spouse earn each year, which includes retirement and Social Security payments. In some circumstances, non-reimbursable medical payments can also be applied towards your countable income, reducing it to make you eligible for VA Aid and Attendance.

MAPR is the maximum pension amount you’re able to receive, and it’s affected by several factors, including:

• How many dependents you have
• Whether you’re married to another Veteran with a pension

To determine your current VA pension rate, subtract your countable income from your MAPR. To be eligible to receive VA pension, your countable income and maximum annual pension rate (MAPR) must meet the requirements to get a pension. However, Veterans holding over $130,773 in assets fall outside of the threshold, making them ineligible.

Spouses who receive a VA surviving spouse pension may be eligible for aid and attendance benefits. As long as you meet the net worth and income limits, you can receive this benefit and use it the same way your spouse would.

VA Pension with Aid and Attendance is a monthly benefit paid to Veterans or surviving spouses. Most Veterans and surviving spouses use it to cover the cost of home care services. These help you or your spouse complete daily tasks to maintain a good quality of life for as long as possible. When you invest in home care services, you or your spouse can receive daily assistance at home instead of moving into an assisted living facility or a nursing home.