How Do Allowances Work With Aid and Attendance Benefits?

To qualify for Aid and Attendance, a Veteran or surviving spouse must meet specific disability, income, and asset thresholds. These criteria include:

• Service Requirements – The Veteran must have served at least 90 consecutive days of active duty. At least one of these days must have been during a period of war.
• Medical Eligibility – The applicant must have a medical condition that requires assistance with activities of daily living, such as bathing, dressing, eating, or adjusting prosthetic devices. Severe visual impairment, whether corrected or uncorrected, may also make an individual eligible. Aid and Attendance benefits are also available to bedridden individuals or patients in nursing homes due to mental or physical incapacity.
• Income Limits – The VA sets income limits to determine eligibility for Aid and Attendance benefits. The income limits are adjusted annually. The applicant’s income, including Social Security, pensions, and other sources, is considered when determining eligibility.
• Asset Limits – The VA assesses the applicant’s assets to ensure they meet the financial criteria for Aid and Attendance benefits. While the VA doesn’t have a strict asset limit, they consider the applicant’s net worth, life expectancy, and other factors.

If approved for Aid and Attendance, Veterans can receive between $692 and $2,983 per month, depending on their level of disability and marital status. Surviving spouses typically receive up to $1,230 per month. These tax-free benefits can be used to pay for in-home caregivers, assisted living services, medical transportation, medication copays, and other qualified expenses. In certain cases, Veterans may also use Aid and Attendance funds to make home modifications like wheelchair ramps and grab bars.

Higher-tier Aid and Attendance benefits are available to Veterans requiring substantial daily personal care services due to loss of limbs, blindness, paralysis, or traumatic brain injuries. To qualify for enhanced attendance allowance, applicants must demonstrate the need for daily skilled services like intravenous therapy, ventilator monitoring, bowel and bladder care, physical therapy, or skilled nursing supervision. With enhanced benefits, qualified Veterans can receive over $8,900 per month.

To apply for Aid and Attendance, Veterans or surviving family members must submit VA Form 21-2680 (Examination for Housebound Status or Permanent Need for Regular Aid and Attendance) along with medical evidence supporting their disability claim. A physician must fill out the functional questionnaire validating the applicant’s inability to independently perform activities of daily living.

Supporting documents like disability determinations from the Social Security Administration can further strengthen applications. The VA encourages Veterans and survivors to work with accredited claims agents, attorneys, or Veterans service organizations for assistance with the application process.

Aid and Attendance benefits provide a lifeline to disabled Veterans and widows struggling to afford quality care. As our Veterans age or sustain debilitating injuries, attendance allowances help cover the staggering costs of in-home assistance and residential facilities. Although the application process involves meticulous medical reporting and financial disclosures, this essential compensation can enhance recipients’ quality of life. With sound guidance from accredited Veterans advocates, more heroes and their families can access the care they deserve.