Veterans Aid & Attendance Benefits

Many Veterans and surviving spouses do not know they are entitled to a monthly, tax-free benefit from the VA to help pay for their cost of care. The amount of the benefit varies depending on the individual’s disability, income, and the cost of care.   

Veterans Benefits pay $1,432-$2,642 monthly to Veterans and Spouses  

(as of January 1, 2023)

• Surviving Spouse: $1,432 per month / $17,184 per year
• Single Veteran: $2,229 per month / $26,748 per year
• Married Veteran: $2,642 per month / $31,074 per year
• Veteran whose Spouse needs care: $1,750 per month / $21,000 per year
• Two Veterans that are Married: $3,536 per month / $42,432 per year 

You may be eligible for this benefit if you get a VA pension and you meet at least one of these requirements:

• You need another person to help you perform daily activities, like bathing, feeding, and dressing, or
• You have to stay in bed—or spend a large portion of the day in bed—because of illness, or
• You are a patient in a nursing home due to the loss of mental or physical abilities related to a disability, or
• 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)

Generally, a Veteran must have:

• At least 90 days of active duty service, with at least one day during a wartime period to qualify for a VA Pension. 
• If you entered active duty after September 7, 1980, generally you must have served at least 24 months or the full period for which you were called or ordered to active duty (with some exceptions), with at least one day during a wartime period.

VA Defined War Periods:

• World War II:  December 7, 1941-December 31, 1946
• Korean Conflict: June 27, 1950-January 31, 1955
• Vietnam Era: Nov 1, 1955-May 7, 1975. Veterans that served after August 5, 1964 may have served outside the Republic of Vietnam.
• Persian Gulf War: August 2, 1990- date to be prescribed by Presidential Proclamation or law. Must have served active duty for two years or the full period of which the veteran was called for active duty.

In addition to meeting minimum service requirements, the Veteran must be:

• Age 65 or older, OR
• Totally and permanently disabled, OR
• A patient in a nursing home due to mental care issues or a physical disability. OR
• Receiving Social Security Disability Insurance, or Supplemental Security Income 
• And not dishonorably discharged
• Have a net worth at or under $150,538? (Your primary residence, car, ongoing, non-reimbursable insurance premiums, including Medicare, as well as the cost of independent, assisted living or memory care fees do not count toward your net worth.

Surviving Spouse:  Were you married to a wartime veteran for at least one year? Were you married to the veteran at the time of his/her death? Have you remained unmarried or did your remarry after January 1, 1971 and your remarriage ended before November 11, 1990?  A spouse of a veteran can qualify if the Veteran met this criteria at the time of their death.