The Hidden Gem for Veterans: Aid and Attendance Pension Explained

Not all Veterans leave service with injuries that will result in service-connected compensation later in life. However, many may be in a situation later in life when extra income is very needed. VA Pension is available to Veterans who meet certain eligibility requirements. In some instance, Veterans may qualify for Pension with Aid and Attendance.

VA Pension with Aid and Attendance is a tax-free benefit paid to certain low-income wartime Veterans or their surviving spouses who require assistance with basic daily living activities.

In simpler terms:

• It’s a special pension for wartime Veterans or their surviving spouses who are disabled and need someone else to help them do basic daily tasks like bathing, eating, dressing, etc. They require “aid and attendance”. Wartime Veterans doesn’t mean Veteran who deployed into combat. In order to be eligible, Veterans must have been serving during one of the wartime periods recognized by the VA.

• To qualify, the Veteran or spouse must meet certain income limits, have limited assets/resources, and need assistance with most daily activities due to being housebound or residing in an assisted living facility or nursing home. 

• It provides a supplemental income to help pay for an in-home caregiver, an assisted living facility, or nursing home expenses. The amount received depends on factors like the Veteran or spouse’s medical expenses and income level.

The benefit aims to help pay for personal care so they can remain at home or in a specialized facility rather than a hospital. Due to the intricacies involved in filling out the paperwork we do not suggest that Veterans attempt to fill out and file for this benefit by themselves. We always suggest seeking the aid of an accredited Veteran Service Officer, but when applying for pension with aid and attendance it is even more important in order to get the paperwork filed correctly.