Are There Veterans Benefits for Assisted Living or Nursing Home Costs?
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- Published on Monday, 23 September 2013 07:00
Massachusetts caregivers who provide support for a veteran may be surprised to discover the answer to that question is YES. The Veteran’s Administration does have resources to help finance care in an assisted living or nursing home. The program is called the Aid & Attendance Benefit. It is part of the pension program for veterans. The benefit can be awarded for a veteran and/or their surviving spouse.
Determining Eligibility for the Aid & Attendance Benefit
To be considered for the benefit, a veteran needs to have served a minimum of ninety days of active military service with at least one day during a period of war. Wartime periods as defined by the VA are:
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World War I (April 6, 1917 – November 11, 1918)
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World War II (December 7, 1941 – December 31, 1946)
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Korean conflict (June 27, 1950 – January 31, 1955)
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Vietnam era (February 28, 1961 – May 7, 1975 for Veterans who served in the Republic of Vietnam during that period; otherwise August 5, 1964 – May 7, 1975)
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Gulf War (August 2, 1990 – through a future date to be set by law or Presidential Proclamation)
If the veteran meets the wartime criteria, the next requirement is what type of care they need.
The VA currently defines care as eligible if:
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You require the aid of another person in order to perform personal functions required in everyday living, such as bathing, feeding, dressing, attending to the wants of nature, adjusting prosthetic devices, or protecting yourself from the hazards of your daily environment
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You are bedridden, in that your disability or disabilities requires that you remain in bed apart from any prescribed course of convalescence or treatment
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You are a patient in a nursing home due to mental or physical incapacity
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Your eyesight is limited to a corrected 5/200 visual acuity or less in both eyes; or concentric contraction of the visual field to 5 degrees or less
Finally, there are yearly income and asset restrictions that are established by Congress. The Pension Calculator can help you determine if you or your loved one meet the financial limitations.
