| VA Benefits for Assisted Living | | | | non-service connected disability pension benefit with |
| Assisted living is for adults who need help with | | | | aid and attendance entitlement. |
| everyday tasks. They may need help with dressing, | | | | The VA Pension is also called the "Veterans Aid and |
| bathing, eating, or using the bathroom, but they don't | | | | Attendance Benefit": |
| need full-time nursing care. Assisted living is growing | | | | - It is available to all veterans who served a minimum |
| rapidly, both because it offers an attractive option to | | | | of 90 days of active duty service with at least one |
| senior citizens seeking assistance while maintaining | | | | day during a period of war. There is no requirement |
| independence, and because of the costs associated | | | | that the veteran saw action or served overseas. |
| with traditional long-term-care institutions. | | | | - There is no need to have a service-connected |
| The great thing about an assisted living facility is that | | | | disability to receive this VA pension. |
| they are designed to maximize the resident's | | | | - There is also pension money available to the |
| independence and dignity. Assisted Living is a | | | | widows of these veterans. |
| residential option which stresses privacy, dignity, | | | | - This benefit, under certain circumstances, can |
| autonomy, and individuality. These residences vary in | | | | provide up to $1,843 a month in additional income to |
| size and style ranging from small apartments to larger | | | | help the veteran pay for assisted living costs. The |
| family style units. | | | | Pension is also available to low income veteran |
| Assisted living is the fastest growing type of senior | | | | households without an aid and attendance rating, but |
| housing, holding out the promise of giving people the | | | | it is a lesser dollar amount. |
| opportunity to get care and help with daily living in a | | | | Unlike the common definition of pensions, Veterans |
| home-like environment. It represents a move away | | | | do not have to be retired from military service for |
| from the institutionalized care setting often found in | | | | this pension benefit. To learn if you are eligible to |
| nursing homes, toward an environment that allows | | | | receive VA benefits for Assisted Living visit Veterans |
| for greater freedom and independence and a higher | | | | Care Advisors dot com. Some of the other criteria |
| quality of life. | | | | for eligibility include having qualifying time of service |
| Assisted Living facilities can be expensive. The | | | | and being discharged under honorable conditions to |
| average cost is over $100 per day. There is, | | | | meet the basic requirements. The actual amount of |
| however, a well-kept secret source of VA financial | | | | pension benefits the veteran can be paid under this |
| assistance that many seniors know little about. This | | | | program are based on "countable" income and the |
| VA financial assistance is a pension that is available | | | | need for assistance with at least one basic activity of |
| from the Veterans Administration. It is called the | | | | daily living. |