Veteran’s Benefits

Q. What resources are available?
A. The Veterans Medical Benefits Program offers a wide range of health services, including adult day health care, residential care, in home care, and nursing home care. The official VA website provides a wealth of information about the benefits available. www1.va.gov/health_benefits

Q. What is Aid and Attendance?
A. Aid and Attendance benefits are available to veterans who saw active duty in certain wars and are of modest means. They are also available to their spouses. The rules for qualifying change a little every year, but using 2009 as an example, a single veteran with less than $19,736 in countable income could qualify for up to $1,645 per month. This is a substantial increase in income, and yet many qualifying veterans and widows do not know that it exists. See the California Advocates for Nursing Home Reform (CANHR) fact sheet on Aid and Attendance.

Q. Where can I go for more information?
A. The local VA office is a good place to start for an application or instructions.

Q. Why do I need an attorney to apply for Veteran’s benefits?
A. You may or may not need an attorney. An attorney may be helpful for asset planning generally, or in order to prepare to apply for the Aid and Attendance benefit, but if the assets of the applicant are small to begin with, this step may not be necessary. Note: it is illegal for someone to charge a Veteran to fill out an application for Aid and Attendance.