VA Aid And Attendance
VA Aid And Attendance: What Are The Facts?
If you are a veteran or the surviving spouse of a veteran, you may have heard of the VA Aid and Attendance benefit (often mistakenly called “Aid and Assistance.”) There is a lot of misinformation about VA benefits swirling around. You’ve come to the right place to learn the facts. Kentucky ElderLaw, PLLC, has years of experience handling cases involving VA benefits.
2023 VA Aid and Attendance Maximum Rates
| Period | Single Veteran | Veteran & Spouse | Spouse/Dependent Child |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly | $2,229 per month | $2,642 per month | $1,432 per month |
| Yearly | $26,748 per year | $31,704 per year | $17,184 per year |
The VA Aid and Attendance benefit is the highest level of VA pension benefit. It can be paid to a veteran who qualifies or to a qualifying surviving spouse or dependent child of a veteran. Below is a chart of the maximum amount the VA will pay in each situation.
As the chart shows, for a qualifying veteran who is married, the VA will pay up to $2,642 (2023) per month. The VA Aid and Attendance benefit can really help veterans, surviving spouses or dependent children stay in their homes or in assisted living and receive the care they need.
VA Aid and Attendance is a needs-based benefit. That means there are caps on income and assets. There is also a care requirement: the veteran or his surviving spouse/dependent child must need assistance with the activities of daily living, such as feeding, dressing, bathing, toileting, transferring (getting up and around) or adjusting prosthetic devices, or they must be blind or nearly blind, bedridden or in a nursing home. Finally, to qualify, veterans who entered active duty before September 7, 1980, must have served at least 90 consecutive days on active duty, and at least one of those days must have been during a wartime period. The wartime periods recognized by the VA are as follows:
- World War II: December 7, 1941 to December 31, 1946
- Korean conflict: June 27, 1950 to January 31, 1955
- Vietnam era: February 28, 1961 to May 7, 1975 for veterans who served in the Republic of Vietnam during that period; otherwise August 5, 1964 to May 7, 1975
- Gulf War: August 2, 1990 through a future date to be set by law or presidential proclamation (24 months, rather than 90 days, of active-duty service required)
Read more about VA benefits now.
Do You Qualify? Find Out In A Free Consultation.
Qualifying for VA benefits often requires planning. At your initial consultation with Kentucky ElderLaw, PLLC, you will learn whether you qualify for VA Aid and Attendance or whether planning is needed to help you qualify. Call 502-581-1111 for a free consultation today at our Louisville office, or at 270-467-0002 for a free consultation at our Bowling Green office, or contact us online.
