Care is Expensive!
10 Ways to Pay for Care: Veteran's Benefits
Unlocking the VA’s Aid and Attendance Benefit: Hidden Financial Help for Veterans and Their Families
By Emily Schwarz, VP of Sales, ElderLife Financial
Did you know that thousands of veterans and their surviving spouses are eligible for thousands of dollars in monthly, tax-free income to help pay for care—but most don’t even know the benefit exists?
The VA’s Aid and Attendance Benefit is one of the most underutilized programs available to our nation’s heroes and their families. It’s designed to help cover the cost of care—whether that’s assisted living, memory care, home care, or even independent living (with home care services).
What You Could Receive
Here’s what this benefit looks like in 2025:
- Surviving Spouse: up to $1,515/month
- Single Veteran: up to $2,358/month
- Married Veteran (spouse needs care): up to $1,851/month
- Married Veteran (veteran needs care): up to $2,795/month
That’s $20,000 to $34,000 a year, deposited directly into your bank account—completely tax-free—to help pay for care.
Who’s Eligible
The VA looks at four key criteria to determine eligibility:
- Military Service
To qualify, a veteran must have served at least one day of active duty during a wartime period and a total of 90 days of active duty service (for Gulf War veterans, 24 months are required).
Eligible wartime periods include:
- World War II
- Korean Conflict
- Vietnam Era
- Gulf War
For surviving spouses, eligibility continues as long as they were married at the time of the veteran’s death and have not remarried (unless to another wartime veteran).
- Health or Care Needs
The applicant must need assistance with at least two Activities of Daily Living (ADLs)—such as bathing, dressing, eating, transferring, or toileting—or have a diagnosis of dementia or Alzheimer’s disease.
A doctor or nurse practitioner must complete a short medical form to document these care needs.
- Income and Medical Expenses
The VA calculates eligibility based on net income after medical expenses.
That means you can deduct care costs like:
- Assisted living or memory care fees
- Home care (from an agency, private caregiver, or even family)
- Adult day care
- Health insurance and long-term care premiums
If care expenses bring your income to zero for VA purposes, you may qualify for the maximum benefit. Even if not, a partial benefit is possible—and sometimes increasing care hours can help maximize eligibility.
- Assets
The VA allows up to $159,240 in assets (this adjusts annually with the cost of living). This includes bank accounts, investments, and real estate—but not your home (plus two acres) or vehicles.
If your assets exceed the limit—say, after selling your home—Elder Life Financial can connect you with specialists who help families stay eligible.
How to Apply
At Elder Life Financial, our team simplifies this complex process. We guide families step by step—helping collect documents, prepare medical forms, and complete the 30-page VA application.
You can:
- Request the complete application packet by email, or
- Use our online application system at AidAndAttendance.com for just $599.
Think of it like filing your taxes online—it’s faster, easier, and reviewed by our VA team before submission.
While You Wait for Approval
VA approval typically takes 4–6 months, but benefits are retroactive to the first of the month after you apply. That means if you file before October 31, you could receive payment for November, December, January, and February in one lump-sum check.
If you can’t afford care while waiting, Elder Life Financial can advance the expected funds so you or your loved one can start care immediately—and repay us once the VA benefit arrives.
How to Get Started
If you or someone you love might qualify for the Aid and Attendance Benefit, reach out today:
📞 Call: 888-228-4500
🌐 Visit: ElderLifeFinancial.com
💬 Contact Us: Fill out a quick form, and one of our Financial Concierges will call you directly.
Final Thought:
The VA’s Aid and Attendance Benefit can be life-changing for veterans and surviving spouses struggling to afford care. Don’t leave this money on the table—you’ve earned it. Let our team help you access it.
If you want to continue this conversation or need guidance, I’m here.
Emily Schwarz
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Our country is entering a new chapter, one we have never seen before… over 100 million people are 50 years of age or older, and the need for care is going to be more and more prevalent. We are dreaming of a nation where aging and care are understood and become part of our normal conversations with family.
To make this a reality, we need your help!