Many veterans and their spouses call the Puget Sound home, so we likely know someone who served in the Armed Forces or is married to someone who served. But what we may not know about is a financial benefit for those that served during times of war. Wartime veterans, 65 years and older, and their surviving spouses, may be entitled to a tax-free benefit called Aid and Attendance provided by the Department of Veteran Affairs.
The benefit is designed to provide financial aid to help offset the cost of long-term care for those who need assistance with the daily activities of living such as bathing, dressing, eating, toileting, and transferring. The benefit varies from $1478 monthly for a surviving spouse to upwards of $3650 for two married vets that both served during wartime. This includes World War II, the Korean conflict, the Vietnam War era (serving in Vietnam from 1955-1975 and outside Vietnam from 1964-1975) and the Persian Gulf War.
With the benefit, those eligible can better afford the care they need, plus it’s completely tax free. Like Social Security, this pension is dependable and is paid directly to recipients by the Department of the Treasury. This benefit is very flexible and can be used for in-home care, board and care, an assisted living community, or private-pay skilled nursing facilities.
To be eligible for Aid and Attendance benefits, a veteran must have served at least 90 days of active duty with at least one day during a period of war and not have been dishonorably discharged. Or a surviving spouse must have been married to the eligible veteran at the time of their passing, and not remarried unless to another wartime veteran. Their eligibility is based on their need for the assistance of another person to perform some of the daily activities of living. There are also some income and asset requirements set by the Department of Veterans Administration, but for those who qualify it can be a game changer in meeting their monthly financial challenges as they age.
For Additional Information
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
va.gov/pension/aid-attendance-housebound
BY LYNN CASTLE