More than one third of Americans over age 65 are either wartime veterans or the spouse of a wartime vet, who may qualify for a pension program through the Department of Veteran Affairs (VA), commonly referred to as ”Aid & Attendance.” Yet, only a small fraction of those who are eligible actually know about this tax-free benefit that can provide substantial financial assistance.
The following information provides a short summary of how the benefit works and resources for learning more about the program.
How do I know if I qualify for VA financial assistance if I am looking to move into an assisted living community?
To qualify for this benefit, the veteran must have served at least 90 days of active duty, with one of those days being during active wartime and must also meet one of the following:
- Needs help with one or more activities of daily living
- Be receiving Social Security Disability Insurance
- Be receiving Supplemental Security income
- Be a resident in a long-term residential care community, which includes assisted living
Even if you think you may not be eligible, we recommend that you speak with a VA representative or one of the helpful resources below:
- VA Pension Management Center 1-877-294-6380
- VA Income Verification and Means Testing 1-800-929-8387
- veteranaid.org | www.legion.org
The Veteran will be responsible for applying for the benefit and the benefit will be paid directly to the Veteran for use in paying costs of a residence at The Blake. If you would like to learn more about using VA Pension benefits for senior care at The Blake, contact us today. We’ll be happy to connect you with local resources for obtaining VA benefits.
