Paying for Home Care for Veterans

Posted by: matthew

Maria Lopez, Administrator for All Valley Senior Home Care in El Centro, California, shares valuable information about paying for home care for veterans.

Are you a disabled veteran who is looking for funding to help afford senior home care? If so you may qualify for the Aid & Attendance Pension Benefit.

V.A. Aid & Attendance Program

The V.A. Aid and Attendance Pension provides funding for in home senior care to veterans and their surviving spouse who require the help of another person for assistance with bathing, dressing, transferring, toileting, food preparation and other personal activities required in everyday living. The benefit also covers assisted living facility care, care for individuals who are blind, and nursing home care because of a mental or physical incapacity.

The Aid & Attendance pension can provide up to $1,632 per month to a veteran, $1,055 per month to a surviving spouse, or $1,949 per month to a couple.

The Veterans Administration has deemed the Aid & Attendance program an under-used benefit. Although this benefit has in fact been an entitlement for over 58 years it remains widely unused; Millions of veterans have and are still are missing out on assistance with home care services.

Qualifying for Veterans Care Benefits

• You served at least 90 days of active military services, 1 day of which was during a wartime period. If you entered active duty after September 7, 1980, generally you must have served at lease 24 months or the full period for which called or order to active duty.
• You were discharged from service under conditions other than dishonorable.
• Your countable family income is below a yearly limit set by congress.
• Your assets should not exceed $80,000 excluding your home and your vehicle.
• If younger than 65, the veteran must be totally disabled. If age 65 and older, there is no requirement for disability. There is no disability requirement for a single surviving spouse.

V.A. Income Thresholds

The Aid & Attendance income threshold for a veteran without dependents is now $19,736 annually. The threshold increases to $23,396 with the first dependent and by $2.020 for each additional dependent. The annual Aid & Attendance income threshold for a surviving spouse alone is $12,681. The threshold increases to $15,128 if the spouse has one dependent and by $2,020 for each additional dependent. Remember the V.A. will adjust your countable income by adjusting for medical expenses that have not been reimbursed

Many elderly veterans and surviving spouses whose incomes are above the congressionally mandated legal limit for pension may still be eligible for the special monthly Aid & Attendance benefit if they have large medical expenses (including nursing home care) for which they do not receive reimbursement.

If you are unsure if you meet all the criteria, would like assistance or more information about veterans care benefits you can always call us at 1-866-273-2995, visit our Senior Home Care Agency Directory, or fill out this simple online form. Get Help Now!