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How to Get Va Benefits for Assisted Living
Date Updated: December 20, 2024
Written by:
Ashlee Shefer is a freelance copywriter, content writer, and digital marketer who specializes in senior care, mental health, health care, and other wellness-related topics. She has one year of experience writing both short- and long-form content related to senior resources, assisted living, nursing homes, and home care, including blog posts, research-based articles, resource guides, product reviews, facility blurbs, finances, and care costs.
Reviewed by:
Gene Altaffer has a Masters in Gerontology from the University of Southern California and has worked in many avenues along the continuum of long-term care, assisting thousands of clients and their families since 1995. He also sold long-term care insurance from numerous carriers while also assisting families with retirement planning. Gene helps seniors navigate their Medicare plans, ensuring they understand their benefits and options.
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs offers benefits to help seniors pay for assisted living. Discover the types of veterans benefits available, their eligibility requirements and how they can help reduce assisted living expenses.
How to Get Va Benefits for Assisted Living
You can get VA benefits for assisted living by applying for aid through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. The VA offers a variety of veterans benefits to help retired service members access long-term care. Each benefit has its own eligibility requirements you must meet to qualify for assistance.
What Assisted Living Benefits Does the VA Offer?
The VA doesn't offer benefits specifically for assisted living. However, you can use financial assistance from the VA toward assisted living expenses. Common types of VA benefits include:
- VA pensions: Wartime veterans meeting certain age, disability or income limits receive a monthly VA pension. You can use this payment however you wish, including for assisted living.
- Aid and Attendance or Housebound: The Aid and Attendance benefit provides an additional monthly payment for veterans needing daily living assistance. Meanwhile, housebound benefits accommodate veterans confined to their home due to a permanent disability. However, you can only receive one of these benefits at a time.
- VA health care: Similar to regular health insurance, VA health benefits may cover certain medical services provided at an assisted living community. Copays and other fees may apply.
- Disability compensation: With disability compensation, you receive a monthly tax-free payment to spend however you wish, including for assisted living.
How to Qualify for VA Benefits for Assisted Living
Qualifying for VA benefits for assisted living involves meeting eligibility requirements for the type of assistance you're applying for. With Aid and Attendance, you must receive a VA pension and either need help with daily living activities, spend most of your day in bed due to an illness or a disability or have limited eyesight. To qualify for VA health care benefits, you must have served at least 24 continuous months or the full period you were enlisted for active duty.
The VA grants disability compensation if you get sick or injured during military service or your military duty worsened a health condition that developed before joining the military. Physical or mental health conditions that developed after service may also qualify. You can combine multiple benefits, such as your pension and health care, to use toward assisted living expenses, further reducing your financial responsibility.