| Many veterans or their surviving spouse don't know | | | | official stated period of war) is also eligible for this |
| about or understand how to go about getting | | | | pension benefit. |
| Assisted Living veterans benefits. | | | | For widowed surviving spouses it is officially called |
| The simple truth is that most families think that they | | | | the "Improved Death Pension Benefit with Aid and |
| need to use a veteran's home or nursing home run | | | | Attendance Entitlement". |
| by the VA for a place for their aging veteran' care. | | | | So, this "new" benefit you may be hearing about |
| With this well-kept VA secret now finally beginning to | | | | called the "Aid and Attendance Benefit" is really either |
| get out among the general population it is important | | | | the long-standing VA benefit no one every heard |
| to know that every single Assisted Living facility is an | | | | about called either the: |
| option for your war-time veteran relative or friend. | | | | - Non-Service Connected Disability Pension Benefit |
| This VA benefit often provides funds that help the | | | | with Aid and Attendance Entitlement (for veterans)or |
| veteran or their surviving spouse pay 50% up to | | | | the |
| even 100% of the Assisted Living facilities cost. Who | | | | - Non-Service Connected Improved Death Pension |
| knew that you could get paid a benefit from the VA | | | | Benefit with Aid and Attendance Entitlement (for |
| to help you offset these expensive care costs. | | | | un-remarried widowed surviving spouse of an qualified |
| For too long it was commonly thought that you | | | | veteran) Now, here is the best part. |
| needed to be wounded or have an immediate | | | | The award amount of this VA non-service connected |
| disability incurred during the veteran's active duty. | | | | benefit: |
| It was too often understood or assumed that a | | | | |
| veteran did not qualify for any VA benefits if their | | | | 1. A Veteran with a dependent (typically spouse) can |
| disabilities they face as they grow older did not have | | | | get up to $23,388 per year, paid monthly at $1,949 |
| it's origin from a documented active duty injury or | | | | 2. A Veteran with no dependents can receive up to |
| wound. | | | | $17,728 per year, paid monthly at $1,644 |
| This myth has been soundly busted. | | | | 3. An un-remarried widow surviving spouse can |
| WWII, Korean and Vietnam veterans are now | | | | receive up to $12,684 per year, paid monthly at |
| beginning to experience normal disabilities due to the | | | | $1,057 Assisted Living Veterans Benefits Qualifications |
| natural aging process. Some of these difficulties are | | | | There are five qualification criteria: |
| due to their active duty but many are not. | | | | |
| The non-service connected disability pension benefit | | | | 1. When the veteran served with at least 90 days of |
| from the VA does not require that the difficulties or | | | | active duty with a least 1 day during a stated time of |
| disability that you are now experiencing be related to | | | | war. (The veteran does not have to have seen |
| your active duty. Again, to be clear...it does not have | | | | action, serve overseas or be in a combat area to |
| to be service related. | | | | qualify) |
| What is this little-known VA benefit? It is officially | | | | 2. Must no longer be able to safely drive |
| called the "Improved Disability Pension Benefit". Their | | | | 3. Must need assistance with activities of daily living |
| are three monthly payment thresholds that are | | | | 4. Must have liquid assets less than $80 thousand. |
| defined by: | | | | But, there is no look back if you need to do move |
| | | | assets out of the applicants name to meet this |
| 1. Income and Assets | | | | requirement. If you transfer excess assets today |
| 2. Housebound Status | | | | you are eligible tomorrow. |
| 3. Need for assistance with activities of daily living | | | | 5. The actual amount of the veterans benefit you |
| The third threshold entitles the recipient to an | | | | can receive is based on a simple formula. This last |
| entitlement commonly called "Aid and Attendance". | | | | qualification criteria often confuses families looking to |
| A widowed surviving spouse of a qualified veteran | | | | get the Veterans Benefits for Assisted Living. |
| (just 90 days of active duty with 1 day during an | | | | |