Does the VA Pay for Assisted Living?

If you or a loved one are a veteran, you may be wondering what type of financial assistance you’re eligible for. The VA offers benefits to veterans and their surviving spouses that could assist with the financial component of things like assisted living. Select assisted living communities such as Solterra Senior Living are able to accept these benefits and apply them to a veteran’s living expenses. Here is some more information about how the VA can help you pay for assisted living.

Does the VA Pay for Assisted Living?

Though there are benefits that you can apply for that can contribute to the costs of assisted living, the VA doesn’t necessarily pay for assisted living expenses directly. They do, however, offer a program to select veterans that can provide them and their surviving spouses with financial assistance. This sum of money can then be used to help cover the living costs associated with assisted living. Assisted living communities can help you to navigate the process of proving eligibility and applying for veteran’s aid programs like the Aid and Attendance Pension benefit.

What Is the Aid and Pension Benefit?

The Department of Veteran Affairs, Aid, and Attendance Pension benefit is a unique program that helps cover the costs of long-term care. This sum can greatly assist in the ability of seniors to pay for the assisted living and medical care that they need. It’s given through a monthly or annual sum, with the amount differing depending on your situation.

For instance, a single veteran can receive up to $23,232 annually through this benefit program. The surviving spouse of a qualified veteran can receive up to $14,928 annually through the benefits program. That amount of annual money increases for a couple who is still married and increases again for two married, qualified veterans. For some, this can make a huge dent in the annual costs of assisted living, making it more accessible and attainable.

What Are the Qualifications?

The VA isn’t able to assist with the costs of assisted living for all veterans. This program of benefits is exclusive to veterans and their spouses who meet a certain number of qualifications. But don’t let that discourage you from looking into it. The qualifications may describe your situation exactly. Some of those qualifications include being enlisted during an eligible war period, meeting income requirements, as well as meeting age or disability requirements. You can view more information on qualification requirements by visiting the American Veteran’s Aid website.

How Do I Apply?

Applying for financial assistance from the VA requires a significant amount of information and paperwork. Researching the necessary documents and having them present during the application process is crucial. This can be a daunting task for some, but eligible veterans and their spouses are strongly encouraged to apply. To help make this process easier, assisted living communities like Solterra Senior Living offer to assist current and potential residents through the application process, to help get them the benefits they deserve.