The Aid & Attendance benefit may help reduce the cost of home care for military veterans.
Many veterans and their family are unaware of the Aid & Attendance (A&A) benefit program for which they could be eligible. The Veterans Aid & Attendance Pension is a little-known existing benefit which helps reduce the cost of care for older veterans and their surviving spouses.
A&A is available to eligible veterans and spouses who require home care – including assistance with eating, bathing and medication reminders – even if the assistance is not a direct result of a service-related injury.
The A&A increased monthly pension amount may be added to your monthly pension if you meet one of the following conditions:
You require the aid of another person to perform personal functions required in everyday living, such as bathing, feeding, dressing and transferring; or you need help protecting yourself from the hazards of your daily environment – for example, if you have an increased risk for falls.
You are bedridden, in that your disability or disabilities requires that you remain in bed apart from any prescribed course of convalescence or treatment.
You are a patient in a nursing home due to mental or physical incapacity.
Your eyesight is limited to a corrected 5/200 visual acuity or less in both eyes; or concentric contraction of the visual field to 5 degrees or less.
Veterans or the veteran’s surviving spouse could be eligible if the veteran:
Was discharged from a branch of the United States Armed Forces under conditions that were not dishonorable AND
Served 90 days of continuous military service (active duty), with at least one day during the following wartime periods (did not have to serve in combat):
- World War I: April 6, 1917, through November 11, 1918
- World War II: December 7, 1941, through December 31, 1946
- Korean War: June 27, 1950, through January 31, 1955
- Vietnam War: August 5, 1964 (February 28, 1961, for veterans who served “in country” before August 5, 1964), through May 7, 1975
- Persian Gulf War: August 2, 1990, through a date to be set by Presidential Proclamation or Law.
If the veteran entered active duty after September 7, 1980, generally he/she must have served at least 24 months or the full period for which called or ordered to active duty. However, there are exceptions to this rule.
You can learn more about the variety of benefits and services that provide financial and other forms of assistance to Servicemembers, Veterans, their dependents and survivors at https://www.va.gov/.
At FirstLight we are proud to serve many veteran families with personal and customized care. If you are a family caregiver and need assistance with your aging veteran or their spouse, such as getting them to and from medical appointments, personal care, or care around the home, we can help. FirstLight offers many Veteran Care Services to support you.
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FirstLight Home Care of Tri-Valley provides in-home care services to seniors, people with disabilities, patients needing recovery and rehabilitation services, veterans, and busy moms. We serve clients in Contra Costa and Alameda Counties, mainly in Danville, Blackhawk, San Ramon, Dublin, Pleasanton, Castro Valley, Hayward, Livermore, and communities along the 680 Corridor of the East Bay.
For more information, email us at TriValley@FirstLightHomeCare.com or call us at 925-359-9250. You may also leave us a message here.