The VA Aid & Attendance and Eligibility

Information, Resources, and Guidance to Seniors

At Senior Care Lifestyles LLC, we take education and sharing of knowledge seriously. We provide information, resources, and guidance to seniors and their families on understanding what is available to them, care options, costs and financial eligibility for additional income and assistance. One such income benefit that few veterans or their surviving spouses are aware of is the VA Aid & Attendance Benefit which provides additional income to Vets and their spouses to use toward in-home care and assisted living costs. Should the applicant qualify, this additional payment is received by the veteran or the veteran’s spouse or widow, for life.

Who is Eligible?

Any war Veteran with 90 days of active duty with at least 1 day during active wartime. They must have been discharged in any way other than dishonorable. A surviving spouse of a war veteran may be eligible if married at the time of death. As this is a needs-based program, income and net worth limits must also be met such as bank accounts, stocks, bonds, mutual funds, etc. excluding home, car, personal furnishings, and clothing. Countable income includes earnings, disability and retirement payments, interest and dividends. The individual must qualify both medically & financially. Do not guess or assume you are not eligible as other factors play a part in the process and you could miss out on financial benefits for you and your loved-one. Call for assistance!

Eligibility Dates:

12/7/1941 through 12/31/1946 WWII
6//27/1950 through 1/31/1955 Korean Conflict
8/5/1964 through 5/7/1975 Vietnam
Current Persian Gulf War

A veteran, spouse or widow, is eligible for A&A benefits when the veteran:

Requires the aid of another person to perform two Activities of Daily Living.

OR is bedridden due to the limits of their disability.
OR is a patient in a nursing home due to mental or physical incapacity.
OR is legally blind.

Examples of “activities of daily living” include bathing, feeding, dressing, toileting, transferring, walking, adjusting prosthetic devices, or protecting oneself from the hazards of one’s daily environment. This last example can include a variety of hazards. If you or your loved one requires assistance using the stove or oven, or falls often and requires someone on-hand should this happen, this is a benefit that you should consider.

The first step toward making use of this excellent benefit is to establish eligibility. The A&A enhanced monthly pension is only applicable for veterans, spouses or their widows (if not divorced). For more information please contact Senior Care Lifestyles for a list of independent specialists (recommended) focused solely on the Aid & Attendance Benefit that can discuss eligibility, assist with gathering needed information and ensure the forms are completed correctly, the first time, so there is no additional delay in receiving the benefit which is back paid for each month pending from the date of the initial filing, if eligible!

The VA Aid and Attendance benefit is an excellent opportunity for veterans and their spouses to receive extra monetary support each month that could greatly enhance their current living situation. Unfortunately, not many people are aware of this benefit and do not take advantage of it. As always, at Senior Care Lifestyles, LLC, our consulting services are free and we are available to answer your questions and help you learn more about your options.

If you are noticing dementia-related symptoms in your loved one, or if you are simply interested in learning more, please contact us at Senior Care Lifestyles, LLC, and let us help to answer your questions.

Deborah Bakalich, Certified Senior Advisor®

Owner, Certified Senior Advisor (CSA®) & Assisted Living Placement Specialist - Senior Care Lifestyles, LLC provides compassion, guidance and recommendations to families faced with transitioning a loved one into Assisted Living, Dementia/Alzheimer’s Care, Skilled Nursing, Temporary Respite Care or a Continuous Care Retirement Community. Senior Care Lifestyles was founded in 2014 by Deborah Bakalich, a Certified Senior Advisor and graduate from both Towson University and Stevenson. Senior Care Lifestyles is uniquely positioned as a local (not National) Maryland based placement firm familiar with Maryland senior care facilities and in-state financial assistance programs for senior residents. They meet personally with each family to understand the seniors care needs including medical, personal lifestyle preferences, budget, religion and desired geographic location. They pride themselves in locally guiding and educating families through the entire maze of senior living options available and will schedule tours on behalf of the family and accompany the family on visits of communities. They are passionate and committed to finding the perfect match to call home and stays with the family throughout the entire process, every step of the way, until a decision is made, and the senior is safely moved into their new home. Senior Care Lifestyles can also provide the family with trustworthy, vetted, and reputable experts to assist with the transition for organizing, packing, moving, sale of real estate, estate planning, legal services, and determining eligibility for State, Federal and Veterans Benefits to assist with care costs. Deborah is a proud member of the Maryland Senior Resource Network (MSRN) where she has served as Vice President on the Board of Directors. She is a member of the Alzheimer’s Organization, Society of Certified Senior Advisors, Mid-Atlantic Network Group and a member of the Business Opportunity Network (BON).