Aid and Attendance is a VA pension benefit that often goes underused. Let’s look at what the requirements for Aid and Attendance benefits are. Then we’ll go over how to apply for Aid and Attendance and how you can use the cash payout.
What Are the Aid and Attendance Requirements for Veterans?
To apply for the Aid and Attendance benefit, you must meet the following military service requirements:
- You must have served at least 90 days of active duty, with at least one of those days falling during a wartime period.
- You must have an honorable discharge.
You must also meet at least one of the following physical requirements:
- You need another person to help you perform and complete daily activities, such as dressing, bathing, eating, and grooming.
- You stay in bed or spend most of the day in bed due to illness.
- Your eyesight is limited to 5/200 even with glasses or contact lenses, or you have a concentric visual field that’s contracted to 5 degrees or less.
If you meet the service requirements and at least one of the physical requirements for Aid and Attendance, you may be able to apply for this benefit. However, you also have to fit within this benefit’s income limits to receive it.
What Are the Income Limits for Aid and Attendance?
Aid and Attendance has limits on Veterans’ net worth, countable income, and maximum annual pension rate (MAPR). Your countable income is how much you and your spouse earn, including retirement and Social Security payments. Non-reimbursable medical payments can also count towards your countable income, reducing it to make you eligible for Aid and Attendance. Your MAPR is the maximum pension amount you can receive, and it depends on how many dependents you have, whether you’re married to another Veteran who’s eligible for a VA pension, and whether you are eligible for Aid and Attendance. You can subtract your countable income from your MAPR to find out your current VA pension rate. Your net worth includes the annual income for you and your spouse (if applicable) plus any assets, such as your house. To qualify for Aid and Attendance, your countable income and MAPR must qualify you for a VA pension. Also, this VA benefit has a net worth limit of $130,773 in 2021. If you meet all these financial requirements, you qualify for Aid and Attendance, whether you’re a Veteran or a surviving spouse.
What Is Spouse Aid and Attendance?
There isn’t a separate Aid and Attendance benefit specifically for spouses, but spouses who receive a VA surviving spouse pension can receive Aid and Attendance. As long as you meet the net worth and income limits for VA Aid and Attendance, you can receive this benefit and use it the same way your spouse would.
What Can You Do With Your Aid and Attendance Benefit?
Most Veterans and surviving spouses who receive this benefit use it to cover the cost of home care services. What is home care? It’s a set of long-term care services that help you complete daily tasks to maintain a good quality of life. When you invest in home care services, you can receive the daily help you need while allowing yourself to stay at home instead of moving into an assisted living facility or a nursing home.
How Does AVCC Help You Receive Aid and Attendance for Home Care Services?
We screen Veterans and surviving spouses to determine their eligibility for Aid and Attendance. Once we determine your eligibility, we help you apply for the benefit and receive the maximum VA Aid and Attendance benefit amount. After you begin receiving Aid and Attendance, we help you match with home care providers in your area and choose one that meets your daily needs.
If you want to know if you qualify for Aid and Attendance, reach out to AVCC today. We’re ready to help you receive this VA pension benefit and use it to improve your daily care.
