VA Eligibility for Aid and Attendance Program

16 Aug VA Eligibility for Aid and Attendance Program

VA’s Aid and Attendance (A&A) program is a military benefit available to Veterans with low income who need assistance for everyday activities like bathing or eating. The VA eligibility for A&A depends upon whether you qualify for the VA pension or not. This monetary benefit is paid in addition to the monthly pension. The applicant must be eligible for the pension to qualify for A&A. 

VA ELIGIBILITY FOR A&A

According to VA’s guidelines, an applicant is eligible for A&A if they have served at least 90 consecutive days on active duty with at least one day during wartime. Besides this, they must also qualify for VA pension and meet all the financial and clinical requirements. You can also establish your VA eligibility as a surviving spouse if you can meet the financial and clinical requirements and did not remarry after the death of your sponsor. 

BASIC VA ELIGIBILITY FOR PENSION

 You must meet any one of the following conditions to satisfy the basic requirements of VA pension-

• You are 65 or older with no or low income.
• You live in a nursing home.
• You have a permanent or total disability. 
• You receive social security disability insurance.
• You qualify for supplementary security income. 

QUALIFIED WARTIME PERIODS

Here’s a list of wartime periods qualified for benefits like A&A-

• World War II
• Korean War
• Vietnam War
• Gulf War

CLINICAL REQUIREMENTS FOR A&A

To establish your VA eligibility for the Aid and Attendance Program, you must meet at least one of the following clinical requirements-

• You have a severe visual impairment. 
• You are bedridden except for medical treatment. 
• You live in a nursing home because of a physical or mental condition. 
• You need assistance for everyday activities like bathing, eating or dressing. 

FINANCIAL REQUIREMENTS FOR AID AND ATTENDANCE

In addition to satisfying the service and clinical requirements, you must also meet certain financial requirements to meet the VA eligibility requirements for this program. If your net worth is within the $123,600 limit (excluding your automobile, residence and personal effects), you might qualify for this program.