What is Aid & Attendance (A&A) and who qualifies?

  Wartime veterans and their surviving spouses, 65 years and older, may be entitled to a tax-free benefit called Aid and Attendance (A&A) provided by the Department of Veteran Affairs (VA).  The Benefit is designed to provide financial aid to help offset the cost of long-term care for those who need assistance with at least two of the daily activities of living.  The daily activities of living are generally agreed to be those which are described below: 

1. Personal hygiene – bathing/showering, grooming, nail care, and oral care.

2. Dressing - being able to make appropriate clothing decisions and physically dress and undress oneself.

3. Eating - the ability to feed oneself, though not necessarily the capability to prepare food.

4. Maintaining continence - being able to mentally and physically use a restroom. This includes the ability to get on and off the toilet and cleaning oneself.

5. Transferring/Mobility- being able to stand from a sitting position, as well as get in and out of bed. The ability to walk independently from one location to another.

Below are the general (non-financial) requirements for Aid & Attendance eligibility which must be met by the veteran or their surviving spouse.

1) Age - Veterans or their surviving spouses must be at least 65 or officially disabled if younger.

2) Period of Military Service - Veterans must be considered “wartime veterans” meaning they served at least 90 days and served at least 1 day during the wartime dates below, but not necessarily in combat.

• World War II: Dec 7, 1941 – Dec 31, 1946

• Korean War: Jun 27, 1950 - Jan 31, 1955

• Vietnam War: Aug 5, 1964 - May 7, 1975 (or Feb 28, 1961 – May 7, 1975 for Veterans who served in Vietnam)

• Gulf War: Aug 2, 1990 - Undetermined

3) Discharge Status - Veterans cannot have been dishonorably discharged.

4) Disability Status - Veterans are eligible without a disability, but a higher benefit is available to those who are disabled.

• Aid & Attendance Eligibility - the veteran must require help with the activities of daily living at home, in a nursing home, or assisted living. The need for that help does not have to be related to their military service.

• Housebound Eligibility - the veteran needs to have the disability rating of 100% that prevents them from leaving their home. The disability does not have to be related to their military service.

• Basic Pension / Improved Income Eligibility - no disability requirement.

5) Marriage Rules: a surviving spouse must have been living with the veteran at the time of their death and must be single at time of claim.

  There are also financial requirements that will determine whether an individual is eligible for A&A.  In general, the financial requirements reviewed are related to income and net worth and assets, with limitations for each of those.

  A Veteran Service Officer (VSO) can likely provide additional details on A&A.  You can locate the VSO nearest you using the following link:  Veteran Service Officers - List of Where to Find (nvf.org)

  You can also contact Veterans Affairs with questions:

• Call 877-294-6380 or 800-827-1000

• Call 711, if you use a Telecommunications Device for the Deaf (TDD), or

• Visit the Inquiry Routing & Information System (IRIS) website to search Frequently Asked Questions or ask a question on-line

                IRIS Home Page (va.gov)