Veteran's Benefits Resources
Paying for senior living and memory care is often the greatest barrier for families and surviving spouses. However, if you are a wartime veteran or you are a surviving spouse, there may be Federal assistance to shoulder the cost.
The Veteran's Aid and Attendance program has been around since the 1950s, and yet many veterans and families are unfamiliar with the program. Below you'll find a high-level over of the program and information and links to better understand your eligibility and the process.
Eligibility
Military service - Served on Active Duty at least one day during a Period of War, at least 90 days in total and you were other than dishonorably discharged. Or, your spouse at the time of their death met this criterion.
Periods of War for VA Pension Benefit
WWII: Dec 7, 1941 thru Dec 31, 1946
KOREAN WAR: June 27, 1950 thru Jan 31, 1955
VIETNAM WAR:
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1. From Feb 28, 1961, thru Aug 4, 1964, only if you served in the country of Vietnam.
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2. Aug 5, 1964, thru May 7, 1975, no matter where in the world you served.
PERSIAN GULF: Aug 2, 1990, through a date to be prescribed by Presidential proclamation of law. Here, the minimum active-duty requirement is 2 years or the period for which you were called up active, whichever is shorter.
Land of the free, because of the brave.
Thank you for your service!
Requirements
The medical rating is determined by the veteran’s medical situation if alive, of that of their surviving spouse.
The applicant must meet at least one of these medical requirements:
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You need another person to help you perform daily activities, like bathing, feeding and dressing.
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You have to stay in bed – or spend a large portion of the day in bed – because of illness.
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You are a patient in a nursing home due to the loss of mental or physical abilities related to a disability.
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Your eyesight is limited (even with glasses or contact lenses you have only 5/200 or less in both eyes; or concentric contraction of the visual field to 5 degrees or less).
Financial Need
The amount of assets you can have is equal to the Maximum Federal Community Spouse Resource Allowance defined by Medicaid – which is $130,773 for 2021. Assets exclude your primary home, family transportation and your normal personal possessions.
How Much You Can Receive
Single Veteran - $1,936 monthly
Married Veteran - $2,295 monthly
Married Veteran with Spouse who needs care - $1,520 monthly Surviving Spouse with no Dependents - $1,244 monthly Why Aid &
Beware of Scams and Frauds
Applying for Veteran's Aid and Attendance is nothing less than a challenge. I've been down this path for my father, who served in WWII.
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American Patriot Service Corp Non-profit Application there is a processing fee.
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Do it Yourself? Apply for the Aid & Attendance Benefit VA Form.
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Use VA Form 21-2680 to apply for Aid and Attendance benefits that will be added to your monthly compensation or pension benefits.
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Use VA Form 21-0779 if you’re a resident of a nursing home and you're providing supporting information for your claim application for VA Aid and Attendance benefits.
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Find your Pension Management Center (PMC)
File a claim online- Application 21P-527EZ.
Apply in person at a Veteran's Affairs office. Apply at a California office near you.
How Do I Get These Benefits?
You can apply for VA Aid and Attendance or Housebound benefits
in one of these ways:
Send a completed VA form to your pension management center (PMC).
Fill out VA Form 21-2680 (Examination for Housebound Status or Permanent Need for Regular Aid and Attendance) and mail it to the PMC for your state. You can have your doctor fill out the examination information section.
Get VA Form 21-2680 to download
You can also include with your VA form:
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Other evidence, like a doctor’s report, that shows you need Aid and Attendance or Housebound care
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Details about what you normally do during the day and how you get to places
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Details that help show what kind of illness, injury, or mental or physical disability affects your ability to do things, like take a bath, on your own
Learn about the evidence you’ll need to support your claim.
If you’re in a nursing home, you’ll also need to fill out a Request for Nursing Home Information in Connection with Claim for Aid and Attendance (VA Form 21-0779).