Assisted Living Benefits for Veterans 2024

Veterans returning from active duty face a unique set of challenges – especially if they have been injured. Following years of service and the resulting wear and tear on the body and mind, it is not uncommon for veterans to require assistance with activities of daily living. Fortunately for veterans and their caregivers, there are assisted living options that can help make the long-term care process smoother for all involved.

If you are a veteran — or the caregiver for a veteran — who requires some help with your activities of daily living (ADLs), an assisted living facility may offer you the services you need while allowing you to remain independent. VA assisted living benefits may be available to help pay for these services, but it’s important to note that the VA does not directly pay for room and board at an assisted living facility. 

Who qualifies for VA benefits for assisted living? And how much will the VA pay for assisted living? These and other relevant questions are the reasons why Caring.com created this guide to assisted living benefits for veterans. It can be challenging to understand the rules and regulations that apply, but the information below should help you make the best choice for your unique needs.

 

The VA does not pay for room and board for those in assisted living, memory care, or nursing home facilities. But it does, in some cases, pay for the services you receive while living in a residential setting. 

As a veteran, you may also be eligible for monetary benefits you could put towards assisted living services and even room and board. These monetary benefits include a VA pension, or survivors pension for the dependents and spouses of qualifying veterans.

For many veterans, the first stop for medical needs is VA health care. VA health care covers regular medical expenses, such as checkups, specialist visits and home health, and geriatric care. To access further long-term VA benefits, you generally must enroll in VA health care first.

Once you are receiving basic VA health care, there are several programs that may help pay for your living and medical expenses. These include Aid and Attendance benefits, and Housebound benefits. Both provide monthly payments that are added to your VA pension. Here’s what you need to know about qualifying for each:
 

 

You cannot receive both of these benefits at one time. You may apply via VA Form 21-2680, which can be mailed to the VA, or delivered to your VA regional office. 

How much will the VA pay for assisted living through these two programs? The amount you receive is based on your Maximum Annual Pension Rate (MAPR) as well as on your marital status and whether you have dependents. You must be at least 65 years old, or permanently disabled. 

For example, a single veteran with no dependents is eligible for a maximum of $2,301 in Aid and Attendance benefits a month. The veteran must have assets not in excess of $155,356, including retirement assets, and there is a 36-month look-back period, meaning you cannot have given away any assets in the previous three years. 

What are your financing options if you or your loved one needs veterans assisted living? Often, veterans pull together multiple funding sources, including government aid, to create the financial support they need for their living situation.

No single source may provide adequate coverage for all needs, and the VA will not pay for rent and board at assisted living, but smart financial planning may allow senior veterans to live comfortably within their means. 

You can have both Medicare and receive VA health benefits, but the two plans do not work together. Medicare does not pay for any care received at a VA facility because VA facilities are not Medicare certified. VA health coverage will not pay deductibles, copayments, or coinsurance associated with Medicare. If you do not have Medicare, then you will be unable to receive care anywhere outside of a VA facility. 

Medicare does not directly cover assisted living room and board, but may help pay for costs for senior veterans who receive care in an assisted living facility. Medicare is generally required for all people aged 65 and over, as well as younger people with certain conditions. Medicare includes Part A, which covers hospital costs, Part B, which covers certain doctor services and medical supplies, and Part D, which covers prescription medications. 

If you prefer, you can access services via a private insurer, which is called Medicare Part C, also known as Medicare Advantage.

Medicaid is a joint federal-state administered and funded program that offers health care for people and families with low income, including older adults. Medicaid can help pay Medicare premiums, copays, and deductibles, as well as some services not covered by Medicare.

It is unusual for people to receive concurrent benefits from Medicaid and VA health insurance. For those who require home care or assisted living, it is typically a better choice to use the veterans Homebound or Aid and Attendance pensions. 

While Medicaid does cover home care and assisted living in many states through waivers, usually these are not entitlement programs. This means that even if one is eligible for services, they might not receive them, as there are limited slots available for assistance.

VA Disability Compensation is a monthly tax-free payment to veterans who have a service-connected disability. The higher your rating, the higher the monthly payout. You have to apply for this compensation, as it is not automatically granted. Going through this process as soon as possible will help to ensure you don’t overpay for VA health services, and that you are considered eligible for the appropriate programs.

You can receive additional special monthly compensation if you require significant help with your personal care needs or are bedridden because of your disability.

To apply for special monthly compensation you need to do one of the following:

• Complete and mail VA Form 21-526EZ-ARE to your VBA regional office — to find your VBA regional office, visit the facility locator site
• Work with an accredited representative or agent, such as a Veterans Service Officer — you can search for a representative or visit your local VBA office for assistance.

“Service-connected” refers to illnesses or injuries sustained as a direct result of time served in the military. Your disability is ranked on a scale of 0-100%, with the ratings being higher for disabilities that have the greatest impact on your daily life. You must take one of the following steps to apply for service-connected disability status:

• Complete and mail VA Form 21-526 to your Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) regional office —  to find your VBA regional office, visit the facility locator site
• Complete the application online using an eBenefits account
• Work with an accredited representative or agent, such as a veterans Service Officer —  you can search for a representative, or visit your local VBA office for assistance

Your disability needs to be reviewed by the staff at a VBA office, and it needs to be assigned a rating before you can receive payments.

If you are receiving Medicare, you are eligible for care at a skilled nursing facility for up to 100 days in a benefit period if your medical team determines that you need it following a hospital stay. These services may be provided by medical practitioners such as nurses or physical therapists.

Under Original Medicare, your costs are likely to be as follows:

• $0 for the first 20 days of your stay and care
• 20% of your care costs for days 21 to 100 of your stay; often this amounts to a daily co-pay of $195
• All costs for each day after 100 days

 

Even though the VA, Medicare, Medicaid and other funding sources cover the costs of some long-term care services and settings, many people ultimately need to use their own income or savings to pay part of the costs.

Long-term care insurance is one private pay option that may cover assisted living costs. Policies vary in terms of what you can spend the benefits on, so you will need to review your policy to see if it will cover assisted living facilities. Many policies cover long-term care services for a preset number of years, after which you will be responsible for your care.

Seniors may also use Social Security benefits to pay for veterans assisted living. If the senior owns their home, they may want to work with their financial advisor or banker to initiate a reverse mortgage, which can help pay for the upfront costs for an independent living facility or assisted living. 

VA benefit rates are determined based on a limit that Congress sets, called the Maximum Annual Pension Rate (MAPR). If you qualify for a VA pension or survivor pension, your payment will be based on the difference between your annual income and the MAPR. 

It can be a little confusing, so here’s an example of how it works: Let’s say you’re a veteran married to a non-veteran, and you have no children. You have a disability that qualifies you for Aid and Attendance benefits. Your spouse makes $10,000 annually from a part-time job, and that’s your only income. That scenario would play out as follows:

 

Your MAPR amount: $32,729

Your annual income: -$10,000

Your VA pension rate:  $22,729, or $1,894 per month

 

 

 

Your disability compensation rates are determined by your disability rating, which is assigned based on how severe your injury is. Each person is given a percentage rating. Higher percentages receive higher disability compensation payouts. The rates below are for a single veteran with no dependents; those with a dependent spouse or children may receive higher payments.

Paying for long-term care may seem overwhelming, but there are several different ways to finance this care — namely through VA resources, federal and state programs like Medicare and Medicaid, and through insurance or your personal funds. The need for ongoing treatment, personal care, and assistance determines eligibility, as does the availability of a given service near your home.

Depending on the type of VA benefits you are eligible for, you may have coverage through the VA for long-term care services such as skilled nursing care, help with your ADLs, comfort and pain management care, and caregiver support. You may access these care options in nursing homes, assisted living facilities, private homes or adult day health centers.

 

Although the VA will not cover room and board costs for assisted living, you may be eligible for financial assistance for health services you receive while residing in an assisted living facility. You must be enrolled in VA health care and receive care through a VA facility on a regular basis before applying for long-term care services. There are several ways you can apply for VA health care using VA Form 10-10EZ:

• By phone: you can receive help with your application by calling the toll-free hotline at 877-222-8387
• By mail: fill out your application and send it to Health Eligibility Center / PO Box 5207 / Janesville, WI  53547-5207
• In person: Find a VA medical center or clinic near you and submit your signed application there

With a trained professional: Get help from an accredited lawyer, claims agent, or Veterans Service Organization representative to help you complete the application

It is important to note that receiving financial compensation for a VA disability does not automatically mean you’re enrolled in VA health care. Further eligibility information can be found on the main VA Health Benefits website.

Once you as a veteran have enrolled in VA health care, there are two major factors that determine your eligibility for services: your VA service-connected disability status and your income. The VA must bill any other insurance you may have (except Medicare) for any care that is not service connected. 

Any payments received from your insurance company will lower the copays you have to pay to the VA. If you are the surviving spouse of a veteran, you may also be eligible for assistance through a survivor’s pension.

 

In order to provide the best care for your unique needs, your health care team needs to understand your priorities. This is why the VA uses the Patient Priorities Care model.

Patient Priorities Care is especially useful if you are managing multiple conditions or medications, and spend considerable time with health care professionals. A routine like that can sometimes be discouraging and tiresome, and may lead to confusion or the feeling that what matters most to you is not being addressed.

Patient Priorities Care allows veterans to retain a degree of independence and participate in decisions that will inevitably affect their everyday lives. Veterans who play an active role in decision-making are more knowledgeable about what to expect from assisted living arrangements, and they are also more trusting of the process.

One way to get started with Patient Priorities Care is to fill out the online Health Priorities form on the VA website. 

 

For older veterans who have multiple health challenges, Geriatric Patient-Aligned Care Teams (GeriPACT) can help provide the most targeted and effective care. GeriPACT is most often used for veterans with more than one chronic disease, declining physical abilities, or challenges with thinking or memory. 

GeriPACTs may include primary care providers, social workers, and other multi-disciplinary health professionals to provide treatment and care plans for veterans with specialized health needs.

GeriPACT is offered in about 66% of VA medical centers across the country. Veterans with any of the following health challenges may be eligible for GeriPACT services:

• More than one complex chronic disease, such as diabetes and heart disease
• Dementia or other issues contributing to cognitive decline
• Geriatric syndromes (e.g., frailty, falls, incontinence, memory loss, taking multiple medicines, age 85 or older)

Veterans with untreated substance use issues or those who need refills for only certain prescription medications are not considered appropriate for GeriPACT.

To find GeriPACT services, check with your local VA hospital or outpatient clinic. These services are most often found at larger VA facilities, community-based outpatient clinics, and state veterans homes.

GeriPACT services are designed to allow veterans to remain as independent as possible, with a high quality of life. Some of the services offered through GeriPACT include:

• Care management for veterans at risk of illness or complications from illness
• Evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment of health conditions
• Mental health care
• Management of pain conditions
• Care for health risks associated with deployment
• Advance care planning
• Assessment of caregiver needs
• Coordination of the services offered for both the veteran and their caregiver, either within or outside of VA services

Veterans may also be able to receive immunizations, screening, health education, and medication review through their GeriPACT professionals.

• Caregiver Support Line: This resource, available at 1-855-260-3274, connects you with the VA’s Caregiver Support Program (CSP). Learn about the CSP, navigate barriers to care, connect with local caregiver support or discover other services available to you as a caregiver. 
• Caregiver Peer Support Mentoring Program: This useful program helps strengthen relationships between caregivers, provides them with networking opportunities, and empowers them to help each other in caring for their loved ones. Caregivers can be either a mentor or a mentee, sharing or receiving guidance and perspective.
• Building Better Caregivers: This online workshop features six self-paced lessons, facilitator guidance, group support, and access to an alumni community. It’s designed for the caregivers of veterans with dementia, memory problems, PTSD, a serious brain injury, or other serious injury or illness.
• Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers (PCAFC): This VA program is for caregivers of veterans who have sustained or aggravated a serious injury in the line of duty, with a disability rating of 70% or more. It may include a monthly stipend, mental health counseling, travel benefits, and respite aid. 
• Resources for Enhancing All Caregivers Health (REACH) VA: REACH offers counseling and group support to caregivers of veterans. It primarily supports those working with veterans who have dementia, Parkinson’s disease, a spinal cord injury or disorder, multiple sclerosis, and PTSD, as well as caregivers experiencing bereavement. 

Although sometimes it can be confusing to navigate the ins and outs of VA benefits for assisted living, there is support available for both senior and disabled veterans and their caregivers from the Veterans Administration. The VA will not pay for room and board for assisted living facilities, but may provide financial assistance for medical services used by veterans in an assisted living situation.

• Current pension rates for veterans. (2024). U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
• Current veterans disability compensation rates. (2024). U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
• Get Help From a VA Accredited Representative or VSO. (2024). U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
• Geriatric Patient Aligned Care Team: GeriPACT. (2024). U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
• Geriatrics and extended care. (2023). U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
• How to apply for VA health care. (2024) U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
• Income limits and your VA health care. (n.d.). U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
• Monthly Stipend for Primary Family Caregivers Fact Sheet. (n.d.). Veterans Affairs  
• Nursing homes, assisted living, and home health care. (2024). U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
• Tinetti, Mary, et al. (2024).  Identifying My Health Priorities. MyHealthPriorities.org
• VA aid and attendance benefits and housebound allowance. (2024). U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
• VA Caregiver Support Line Fact Sheet. (2024). U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
• VA Caregiver Support Program: Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers (PCAFC). (2024). U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
• VA disability compensation. (2024). U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
• VA health care. (2024). U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
• VA strengthens caregiver support program. (2019). U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
• Veteran’s aid and attendance: Is VA aid and attendance a possibility? (2024). Hurley Elder Care Law
• Why patient priorities care? (n.d.) PatientPrioritiesCare.org