Common Myths About the VA Aid and Attendance Benefit

Debunking Myths About Veterans Aid & Attendance

If you are a wartime Veteran or a surviving spouse and you think you might be eligible for the Veterans Aid & Attendance benefit, you need the facts about how it can help you with the cost of senior living. Don't let these common myths stand in your way.

False: To qualify for Aid & Attendance you must have served in a combat zone.
True: To qualify, the Veteran must have served during an eligible wartime period. Except for the Vietnam wartime period of February 28, 1961, to August 4, 1964, there is no requirement that the Veteran must have served in a combat zone. The service criteria are 90 days of active duty, with at least 1 day during an eligible wartime period and the Veteran was other than dishonorably discharged. Or the Veteran was your spouse at the time of their death and met these criteria.

False: Veterans Aid & Attendance is only for service-related disabilities.
True: While there are benefits for service-related disabilities, Aid & Attendance is not one of them. Rather, the applicant must be eligible for the basis pension and must meet at least one of the medical requirements.

False: The surviving spouse must have been married to the Veteran when he or she was enlisted to qualify for Aid & Attendance.
True: A surviving spouse is considered eligible for the Aid & Attendance benefit if he or she was married to the Veteran at the time of their passing and has not remarried. The spouse must have been married to the Veteran for 1 year prior to their death (unless there was a baby) and must have been living with the Veteran the year before their death, unless they were living separately for medical reasons.

False: A spouse can only receive Aid & Attendance if the Veteran has passed away.
True: If a Veteran is still married and his or her spouse needs care, they are considered a dependent spouse. A married Veteran can be awarded a Basic Pension if he or she has a dependent spouse as long as eligibility requirements are met.

False: You should not apply for Aid & Attendance until your assets are below $80,000.
True: In 2018, the VA adjusted the maximum amount of assets an applicant, whether single or married, is allowed to have. It’s now equal to the Community Spouse Resource Allowance defined by Medicaid ($154,140 for 2024) which means more applicants will either qualify immediately or qualify earlier than they would have before (even without transferring assets). If you do have assets over the maximum amount, don’t rush to transfer them, however. First, consider how long it will take for your assets to decline naturally and then determine if that time frame will be longer than the 3-year look-back period.

False: Your home always counts as an asset.
True: If you wish to rent your primary home, the VA will no longer count it as an asset. This allows you maximize the earning potential of the home to pay for care while still retaining ownership.

False: You can’t receive a partial benefit for Aid & Attendance.
True: Aid & Attendance is not all or nothing, you can get a partial benefit. For example, if your income minus home care and facility costs leaves you with a positive number or “Income for VA Purposes,” but one less than the Maximum Pension Benefit, you can receive the approximate difference between the Maximum Pension and the calculated Income for VA Purposes.

False: Aid & Attendance is not a lifetime benefit.
True: Aid & Attendance is a lifetime benefit as long as the Veteran or surviving spouse remains qualified. As such, you are obligated to inform the VA of any changes to income, assets or monthly unreimbursed medical expenses.

How To Apply for the Aid & Attendance Benefit

• Send a completed VA form to the Pension Management Center (PMC) that serves your state. Find your PMC here.
• File a claim online.
• Apply in person at a VA office near you.

We Are Here To Help You

There are different ways to pay for your care — you might be surprised at your options. We’re happy to provide more information about life at The Herrick House and make sure all your questions are answered.

As dependable and dedicated experts in this important work, it is our mission at The Herrick House to make you feel right at home while maintaining your highest quality of life. Don’t hesitate to contact us.