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There’s a little known resource for veterans who need assistance with their activities of daily living, such as bathing, dressing, meal preparation, etc. in order to maintain their independence. Veterans are able to collect this money whether they live at home, an assisted living facility, or in a nursing home.

This resource is called Aid & Attendance, and it pays veterans up to $1,632 per month ($1,949 for a couple) to help offset the cost of their care. Surviving spouses may receive up to $1,055 per month. Nursing home residents whose room & board is paid by Medicaid are eligible to receive $90.00 per month.

There are certain qualifying criteria: the veteran’s assets can’t exceed $80,000 (excluding the veteran’s home and car) and there are income limits. Additionally, the veteran must have served at least 90 days of active duty, one day of which must have been during a period of war.

The application itself must be complete and submitted with required supporting documentation. There are companies that will complete and submit the A&A application (as well as applications for other programs, such as Medicaid) at a cost of anywhere from $250 to thousands of dollars. The veteran or his family must provide the company with supporting documentation required by the Veteran’s Administration, and there is no guarantee of approval; in other words, the service that they provide may not save any time or trouble for the veteran.

There are also some organizations that provide guidance and assistance for free, or on a donation basis. They include www.veteranaid.org and www.Vetassist.org.

The A&A application can be found at http://www.vba.va.gov/bln/21/pension/vetpen.htm.

The income limits can be found at http://www.vba.va.gov/bln/21/Rates/pen01.htm.

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