INDUSTRY INSIGHT
VETERANS BENEFITS
SPONSORED CONTENT
Veterans Aid
& Attendance
Benefits
A Great Resource
for Seniors
L
eonard and his wife, Nancy, are American heroes and World War II
veterans. Leonard served as part of the U.S. Air Force Ground Cre w
back in 1941 and Nancy was a Navy nurse stationed in Atlantic City,
NJ. Both served their country proudly. But it wasn’t until they developed
medical conditions and needed to move into a personal care community
that they learned of some financial assistance they could receive for their
years of service.
The Veterans Aid & Attendance Benefit Program is the only non-service-
related Disability and Improved Pension Program that offers financial
assistance to eligible veterans, their spouses and surviving spouses who,
due to age and/or medical conditions, need in-home care, adult day
services, or to move into a personal
care home, assisted living community
or skilled nursing home.
Veterans who meet the eligibility
criteria and require ongoing medical
care may be eligible for VA benefits
of up to $1,794 per month. A spouse
or surviving spouse of a wartime
veteran may be eligible for up to $1,153
per month. A husband and wife filing jointly can receive up to
$2,127 a month to help cover their long-term care expenses.
To qualify for the Veterans Aid & Attendance Benefit Program, the
veteran needs to have:
n Served at least 90 days of active duty in the military, where at least
one day of this service occurred during a wartime period, regardless
of whether or not the veteran was engaged in combat.
n The veteran must have received an honorable, general or medical
discharge from the military.
n The veteran or spouse must have a medical or physical condition that
requires the care or assistance of another person on a regular basis.
n The veteran’s monthly income (after expenses) must be below
the maximum benefits and his/her savings cannot exceed the
financial assistance guideline of $75,000 in personal assets (not
including the value of a home or a car). However, if assets are above
that amount, financial planners and elder law attorneys can assist
veterans with asset allocation that could make them eligible for the
benefit.
Once approved, the VA Aid & Attendance Benefit Program is paid
directly to the claimant. The application may take 6-8 months for
processing; however payment is retroactive to the first of the month
following the Department of Veterans Affairs receipt of the application.
To learn more about the Veterans Aid & Attendance Benefit Program,
or find out if you qualify, visit the Veterans Affairs website at
www.veteranaid.org or contact the Disabled American Veterans Regional
Office at 412.395.6241.
Leonard and Nancy worked hard all of their life. They served their
country and were there for us when we needed them. Thanks to the
Veterans Aid & Attendance Benefit Program, our country can be there for
them when they need us.
To learn more about the Veterans Aid & Attendance Benefit Program,
and how it may help cover the cost of personal care, contact Juniper
Village at Forest Hills at 412.244.9901.
Woodland Hills | Fall 2017 | icmags.com 7