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Does VA Aid and Attendance Cover Assisted Living?
Date Updated: July 26, 2024
Written by:
Rachel Lustbader is a writer and editor with a background in healthcare and technology. Her work has been published on websites including HealthCare.com, BiteSizeBio.com, BetterHelp.com, Caring.com, and PayingforSeniorCare.com. She studied health science and public health at Boston University.
Both of Rachel’s grandmothers had very positive experiences in senior living communities, and Rachel saw firsthand the impact that kind, committed caregivers and community managers can have on seniors’ and their family members’ lives. With her work at Caring, Rachel hopes to help other families find communities, caregivers, and at-home products that benefit elderly loved ones and make life less stressful for family caregivers
No, VA Aid and Attendance does not cover assisted living. However, the Aid and Attendance veterans’ benefit provides an extra payment on top of a monthly VA pension or survivors pension for qualifying individuals, which they can use to pay for long-term care.
VA Aid and Attendance eligibility and coverage
VA pension recipients qualify for the supplemental Aid and Attendance allowance if they are usually bedbound, have severely limited vision, reside in a nursing home or need help with activities of daily living. Financial limits apply. Claimants can receive financial aid while residing in various settings, including at home or in an assisted living facility. Payment amounts vary depending on an individual’s circumstances.
Aid and Attendance is designed to help veterans pay for essential care and support services, such as help with bathing, dressing and transferring. As such, recipients can pay some of their private-pay assisted living fees using the benefit. Because the benefit doesn’t account for room or board costs in assisted living, it doesn’t cover the total costs for this type of care. Seniors must use other means to pay for outstanding amounts.
Other ways to pay for assisted living
While some assisted living communities accept VA benefits as a payment method, veterans typically receive funds in their bank account and then self-pay using a combination of resources. Alongside VA pensions and benefits, seniors may qualify for Social Security retirement benefits. Furthermore, although it doesn’t provide cash payments, Medicare can help older adults reduce their expenses, freeing up funds for assisted living.
Many assisted living residents use private resources to pay their bills, including savings and cash from selling assets. Family members may also help, and other options include long-term care insurance and reverse mortgages.