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AID & ATTENDANCE:

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Many families struggle to provide necessary care for aging or disabled Veterans or their surviving spouses. Unfortunately, most of these families are unaware of an important veterans benefits available through the Department of Veterans Affairs to which their loved ones may be entitled. It is called Aid and Attendance. This is a TAX FREE DIRECT DEPOSIT, Reimbursement of medical expenses.

 

YOU DO NOT HAVE TO CONTRACT WITH A SPECIFIC HOME HEALTH COMPANY TO BE ELIGIBLE.

For qualifying veterans, Aid and Attendance is paid in addition to the basic pension rate for seriously disabled wartime veterans who have limited or no income, and who are age 65 or older, or, if under 65, who are permanently and totally disabled.

Some key things to know about the Aid and Attendance benefit:

  1. Aid and Attendance is a reimbursement of money spent on medical care.

  2. It is a tax free, direct deposit into your account that can help pay for care in the home, nursing home or assisted living facility.

  3. Aid and Attendance is a pension benefit and is not dependent upon service-related injuries.

  4. Wartime veterans and their surviving spouses may be eligible.

  5. Certain medical and financial requirements must be met.

  6. You cannot "double dip" with service related disability and aid and attendance, occasionally aid and attendance may be the better choice

  7. October 18, 2018 eligibility for this benefit was extremely changed by the administration: There are now bright line asset limits (including retirement accounts, annuities, homesteads over 2 acres and positive income flow), New income calculations, and now a 3 year look back on all gifts or transfers that could cause a penalty up to 5 years!

 

Please note that annual figures are taken from the following VA webpages:

https://www.va.gov/pension/aid-attendance-housebound/
https://www.va.gov/pension/survivors-pension/

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How Can You Qualify for Aid and Attendance Benefits?

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What if you are service and medically eligible, but have too many assets or too much income to qualify? You may consider rearranging your assets and/or income to qualify, which may include re-titling or giving away assets, or establishing a Veterans Administration Aid and Attendance Pensions Benefits Trust. Making these types of changes is perfectly legal, but doing so properly can be complicated. Beware that some actions taken to qualify for VA benefits could create a penalty period, or perhaps even disqualify you entirely from receiving Medicaid benefits should they be needed.
 

The Application Process:

Application for Aid and Attendance Benefits is a complex and lengthy process. The forms are available for you to do this yourself, but be advised that if you apply and your application is denied, you must wait a year before you can reapply. For these reasons, many people seek assistance in completing the application.

 

Note: It is illegal for anyone to charge you a fee to help complete the application or file for benefits. Providing an application contingent on using a business for your care is considered a FEE.

Our office can assist with you with this process – at no cost to you.

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