What is the Veteran's Aid and Attendance benefit?
The Veteran’s Aid and Attendance benefit is a pension benefit for war-time veterans (or their widowed spouses) who require assistance with the activities of daily living. Receiving this benefit does not impact the benefits received under health insurance such as Medicare or TRICARE.
The Aid and Attendance pension can be used towards any purpose the recipient chooses – provided it is for the benefit of the veteran or their surviving spouse. Most commonly, veterans will use the pension to pay for personal care at home or in an assisted living facility – services not typically covered by Medicare or private health insurance.
Depending on income and asset levels, a veteran (or their surviving spouse) can be eligible for both Medicaid and the Aid and Attendance benefit. But the VA Aid and Attendance benefit amount is usually reduced to $90/month if you enter a Medicaid-covered nursing home and don’t have a spouse or dependents living at home – and there are limits on how you can spend this remaining amount.
This is because the person will have little to no out-of-pocket costs while in a Medicaid-covered nursing home, so there is little need for the Aid and Attendance benefit.
Learn more about the eligibility requirements and benefits of the Aid and Attendance pension.
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