VA Aid and Attendance: what it is and who qualifies
VA Aid and Attendance is a monthly payment added to a VA pension for veterans — and in some cases surviving spouses — who need help with daily activities. It is one of the few programmes that helps pay for care at home without a state Medicaid application.
Who it is for
It is for veterans who served during a qualifying wartime period, and for surviving spouses of such veterans, who meet both a service/history test and a need test. It is administered by the Department of Veterans Affairs, not by the state.
The need test
- Needing help with activities of daily living (bathing, dressing, feeding) — the same idea as other programmes
- Or being bedridden, or having severely limited eyesight even with glasses
- Or living in a nursing home because of a disability
Why families often learn about it too late
It is not advertised at discharge, it is not part of the Medicaid application, and many families only hear about it from another caregiver. If the person you are caring for is a veteran or the surviving spouse of one, it is worth checking before assuming Medicaid is the only route.
How to check and apply
Start with the VA directly. Get help free from a VA-accredited representative, a veterans service organisation, or a state/county veterans agency — and be careful with anyone who charges a fee to “get you” a VA benefit; accredited help is free.
Sources
Related
- What care costs by state
- Cost calculator
- How many hours do you need
- How HCBS waivers work
- Does Medicare pay for home care