Long-Term Care Benefits for Veterans and Spouses

Long-term care can be incredibly expensive. Medicare doesn’t cover this sort of care for older adults. However, if you’re a veteran, you might be able to tap into VA benefits to help cover the cost of care in an assisted living, memory care or skilled nursing facility or even at home.

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs provides long-term care services through the VA medical benefits package to veterans with service-related disabilities. What many veterans don’t realize, though, is that there are other VA benefits that will help cover the cost of long-term care even for those whose care need isn’t service-related. Plus, surviving spouses of veterans can qualify for VA long-term care benefits.

Find out what types of VA benefits are available to help cover the cost of long-term care, who qualifies and how to apply.

VA benefits for long-term care

The Department of Veterans Affairs offers two benefits that can help pay for the cost of long-term care services.

The most commonly used is the Aid and Attendance benefit. However, many veterans are unaware that this benefit exists even though they earned this benefit through their service. The other benefit is the Housebound allowance for disabled veterans who are confined to their homes. Veterans cannot receive both the Aid and Attendance benefit and the Housebound allowance at the same time.

To receive either of these benefits, you must first establish eligibility for Veterans Pension benefits.

Eligibility requirements for Veterans Pension benefits

To be eligible for Veterans Pension benefits, you must meet both service and financial requirements:

Service requirements: You must have served at least 90 days of active duty, with at least one day during wartime. National Guard and Reserve service don’t qualify. And you must not have received a dishonorable discharge.

Financial requirements: The current net worth limit to be eligible for Veterans Pension benefits is $138,489, according to the Department of Veterans Affairs. Net worth includes a veteran’s and spouse’s assets and annual income. Your primary residence and basic home items such as appliances are excluded from your net worth.

You also must meet one these three requirements to be eligible for Veterans Pension benefits:

• You must be at least 65 years old; or
• You have a permanent and total disability; or
• You are receiving Social Security Disability Insurance or Supplemental Security Income.

If you meet the pension eligibility requirements, then you can apply for additional payments through Aid and Attendance or Housebound benefits.

What is VA Aid and Attendance?

Aid and Attendance is an increased monthly VA pension paid to veterans who are 65 or older and need help with activities of daily living. It can be used to pay for home care, an assisted living, memory care or skilled nursing facility.

Eligibility requirements for VA Aid and Attendance benefits

To be eligible for VA Aid and Attendance benefits, you must be receiving a VA pension and meet one of these requirements:

• You need someone to help you perform activities of daily living;
• You spend a large portion of your day in bed because of illness;
• You’re in a nursing home due to loss of mental or physical abilities;
• Your eyesight is limited even with glasses or contacts.

What is the VA Housebound allowance?

The Housebound allowance is an increased monthly pension amount available for veterans and surviving spouses who have a disability and are confined to their homes.

Eligibility requirements for VA Housebound allowance

• You must have a single permanent disability evaluated as 100% disabling and be permanently confined to your immediate location.
• You have a single permanent disability evaluated as 100% disabling and another disability (or disabilities) evaluated as 60% or more disabling.

What amounts do VA benefits pay?

Maximum monthly Veterans Pension rates

• Veterans with no dependents: $1,229
• Veterans with a dependent spouse or child: $1,610
• Two veterans married to each other: $1,610

Maximum monthly Veterans Pension plus Aid and Attendance

• Veterans with no dependents: $2,050
• Veterans with a dependent spouse or child: $2,431
• Two veterans married to each other: $3,253

Maximum monthly Veterans Pension plus Housebound allowance

• Veterans with no dependents: $1,502
• Veterans with a dependent spouse or child: $1,883
• Two veterans married to each other: $2,155

Veterans Pension surviving spouse rates

• Widowed spouse with no dependents: $824
• Widowed spouse with one dependent: $1,079

Veterans Pension for surviving spouse plus Aid and Attendance

• Widowed spouse with no dependents: $1,318
• Widowed spouse with one dependent: $1,572

Veterans Pension for surviving spouse plus Housebound allowance

• Widowed spouse with no dependents: $1,007
• Widowed spouse with one dependent: $1,262

Source: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

How to Apply for VA Aid and Attendance or Housebound

You must fill out Form 21-2680 and send it to your region’s pension management center. You also must submit evidence that you meet the eligibility requirements.

The fastest way to get a benefits claim processed is to file a fully developed claim that includes supporting documents such as income and net-worth statements, medical records and other proof of eligibility. It can take a while to gather all of the evidence you need and for your claim to be processed.

How to get help applying for VA benefits

Determining what benefits you’re eligible for can be difficult. To get help filing a claim, the VA recommends working with an accredited representative or Veterans Service Officer. These individuals can help you gather necessary documents and ensure accuracy in your application.