expertise & RESOURCES when you need it the most

in 2024 a maximum monthly benefit is $2,727 for married veterans, $2,300 for single veterans, $1,478 for surviving spouses (must have been married to the Veteran at time of death); $1,806 for sick spouse who is married to the living Veteran; and $3,536 for two married veterans.  You must require the regular attendance of another person to assist in bathing, dressing, meal preparation, medication monitoring or other various activities of daily living. This benefit is available to individuals who reside in their own home, a residential care home, assisted living community and nursing homes.  There are income and asset eligibility requirements.  You do not need to be retired military or have a service-related disability to qualify. The VA estimates that only about 4% of the Veterans know of this benefit and have applied. Please help us spread the word. Feel free to share this website and the materials on this page to a Veteran family.

What are the Qualifications?

  • The Veteran must have at least 90 days of active duty service, only one day of which must have been during a recognized wartime – World War II, Korean War, Vietnam, Persian Gulf. Note: There is no requirement that the Veteran actually fought in a war, served within a battle theater, or even left the United States. Active duty service can be entirely “stateside.”
  • The Veteran must have received a military discharge other than dishonorable.
  • The Veteran must either be at least 65 years of age (there is no age requirement for a surviving spouse) OR 100% disabled.
  • The Veteran or surviving spouse must satisfy the financial requirements regarding net worth and gross income.

 

How to Determine Eligibility:

Eligibility is determined by several factors including period of war, the need for care, income, and assets. 
There is a maximum amount of assets and income you may have in order to receive the benefit. Assets such as your house, vehicle and household furnishings are excluded assets. Net worth includes assets in bank accounts, stocks, bonds, mutual funds and property other than a primary residence and vehicle.  On October 18, 2018, the VA established a 3-year look-back period for transfer of assets. Up until the effective date, there has been no hard limit to the asset threshold allowed. Rather, the VA has been taking in account the veteran's age, life expectancy and care expenses. With recent changes the net worth limit beginning 12/1/2023 to 11/30/2024 is $155,356. 

The VA look-back period of 3 years is similar to Medicaid's look-back of five years. During this "look-back" the VA will check to insure that no assets were given away, or sold under fair market value. If they find any such transfers, there will be a period of pension ineligibility. Please note that transfers made prior to 10/18/2018 do not violate this new look back rule. Another exception is if the applicant transferred assets, but never had assets in excess of the $155,356  limit.


Another new rule that may impact one's eligible is annual income (after the deduction of unreimbursed medical expenses) will be added to net worth.   Lets work some examples, let's say a veteran has $15,000 annual income after deducting eligible medical expenses, and has assets in the amount of $100,000. In this example, $15,000 in income would be added to the $100,000 in assets, giving a total of $115,000 in net worth for the applicant. This is below the net worth limit so the applicant would qualify for the benefit.  If you had $150,000 in assets and $15,000 in annual income, then your net worth would be $165,000. This is more than the net worth limit of $155,356 so you wouldn’t be eligible for Veterans Pension benefits.  











Aid & Attendance (Financial Benefit)


This benefit is for War-time Veterans and Surviving Spouses to help with the cost of eldercare. It's referred to as "Aid & Attendance".  At the bottom of this page, we have provided links and helpful handouts.  A Veteran Service Officer can help with the paperwork at no cost to you.

What Fees You Can Expect:
Professionals may charge a planning or assessment fee, however, no one, not even an attorney can charge you to assist with the preparation of your claim.  We recommend working with a Veteran Services Officer in your area. This benefit can take 6-12 months to get approved. If your application is incomplete, this process can take even longer and you may be denied the benefit.  Some may not qualify, we have provided some other options of funding your eldercare. See Funding Eldercare page for additional resources.