Nina Chamlou is a writer, interviewer and storyteller from Portland, Oregon. She covers technology, healthcare, psychology, mental health and social justice issues. Her motto is that useful info should be accessible and consumable to audiences from a.
Nina Chamlou is a writer, interviewer and storyteller from Portland, Oregon. She covers technology, healthcare, psychology, mental health and social justice issues. Her motto is that useful info should be accessible and consumable to audiences from a.
Written ByNina Chamlou is a writer, interviewer and storyteller from Portland, Oregon. She covers technology, healthcare, psychology, mental health and social justice issues. Her motto is that useful info should be accessible and consumable to audiences from a.
Nina Chamlou is a writer, interviewer and storyteller from Portland, Oregon. She covers technology, healthcare, psychology, mental health and social justice issues. Her motto is that useful info should be accessible and consumable to audiences from a.
Robby has spent his career in a variety of writing, editing and storytelling roles. He now resides near Birmingham, Alabama, with his wife and three kids. He enjoys woodworking, playing rec league soccer and supporting chaotic, downtrodden sports fra.
Robby has spent his career in a variety of writing, editing and storytelling roles. He now resides near Birmingham, Alabama, with his wife and three kids. He enjoys woodworking, playing rec league soccer and supporting chaotic, downtrodden sports fra.
Robby has spent his career in a variety of writing, editing and storytelling roles. He now resides near Birmingham, Alabama, with his wife and three kids. He enjoys woodworking, playing rec league soccer and supporting chaotic, downtrodden sports fra.
Robby has spent his career in a variety of writing, editing and storytelling roles. He now resides near Birmingham, Alabama, with his wife and three kids. He enjoys woodworking, playing rec league soccer and supporting chaotic, downtrodden sports fra.
Published: Feb 12, 2024, 9:30am
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Nearly half of all veterans use at least one United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) benefit or service, according to the VA’s most recent utilization report. Of 9.8 million VA beneficiaries, 45% use multiple benefits, with health care and disability compensation being some of the most utilized programs [ ] .
One popular program is the VA’s Aid and Attendance Benefit. Read on to learn more about this benefit, including who is eligible, how it can be used and how to apply.
The VA Aid and Attendance pension benefit provides a monthly stipend for veterans who need help with daily activities or are housebound.
“Aid and Attendance is specifically intended to help individuals cover the costs of in-home care, assisted living or nursing home care,” explains Max Mayblum, a certified senior advisor based in
New York and the CEO of Givers, a platform that helps caregivers access government compensation programs.
Aid and Attendance is an additional monetary benefit—separate from Veterans Pension benefits—for eligible wartime veterans and their surviving spouses who require increased care due to disability or advanced age, explains Mayblum.
Funding can be used to help pay for care or personal services at home, at an assisted living community, in a memory care setting or in a nursing home, says Mayblum.
Aid and Attendance benefits are for veterans who served on active duty for at least 90 consecutive days, including at least one full day during a time of war. Additionally, beneficiaries must meet at least one of the following requirements:
Aid and Attendance recipients must also meet at least one of the following additional clinical requirements:
Finally, beneficiaries must meet the following financial requirements:
Have a limit on monthly countable income, which is a person’s total annual income minus total annual health care expenses. These total assets should not exceed $80,000.
According to Mayblum, Aid and Attendance can help cover the cost of in-home care or expenses related to living in an assisted living community or nursing home.
“This includes not only rent but also the additional services and care provided by the caregiver or community,” says Mayblum. “These personal care services might include help with activities of daily living (ADLs), meals, medication management and some level of supervision.”
The benefit can also cover in-home costs related to care, such as necessary home modifications and transportation, adds Mayblum.
“It should be noted that specifics of what the benefit covers can vary based on individual circumstances, the level of care needed and the cost of care in the particular region,” he says.
Mayblum also advises veterans interested in applying for the benefit to work with veterans service organizations, financial advisors or elder care professionals to help maximize use of the benefit based on the applicant’s specific needs.
Aid and Attendance benefits can be a great option for covering certain disability-related costs, but it’s not applicable for all expenses.
“Aid and Attendance doesn’t cover medical expenses, prescription drugs or general housing expenses unrelated to care,” says Mayblum.
As the benefit is designed for higher levels of care needs, it doesn’t cover independent living facility costs, which typically provide less care and assistance than assisted living or nursing homes, says Mayblum.
Eligible veterans can apply for Aid and Attendance or Housebound benefits by completing Form 21-2680 (Examination for Housebound Status or Permanent Need for Regular Aid and Attendance) and sending it to the pension management center (PMC) in their state. Alternatively, veterans can apply in person at their nearest VA regional office.
To support a claim, potential beneficiaries may also consider including the following supplementary documents/information in their application:
Approval times vary depending on the region’s PMC. For many applicants, it takes about nine months to receive approval. After approval, the first benefit payment is delivered as a lump sum that covers the interim between the date the application was filed and the date of approval.
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Nina Chamlou is a writer, interviewer and storyteller from Portland, Oregon. She covers technology, healthcare, psychology, mental health and social justice issues. Her motto is that useful info should be accessible and consumable to audiences from all walks of life and levels of education. You can find her floating around the Pacific Northwest’s funky cafés and observing the locale from behind her MacBook.
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