Like all Americans, as veterans age, they may begin to rely on others for care. However, many veterans are not aware that the government pays for caregivers, assisted living and a nursing homes.

The Department of Veterans Affairs maintains the Aid and Attendance and Housebound Improved Pension benefit, known as A&A, which can cover the costs of caregivers in the home (including sons and daughters who are paid to be caregivers, though not spouses) or be used for assisted living or a nursing home¹.

The benefit is not insignificant: up to $2,019 monthly for a veteran and spouse, and up to $1,094 for the widow of a veteran².

However, many veterans aren't taking advantage of the benefit.

A&A is a well-kept secret. Jim Nicholson, former secretary of Veterans Affairs, said in a December 2006 news release³ that “not everyone is aware of his or her potential eligibility” for the program, which he called an “underused” benefit.

The VA has initiated little to no public information effort on A&A in the last decade, nor in the last 61 years during which it has been an entitlement. The program has sat idle, and most VA employees aren't even told about it. The A&A program’s low visibility is not assisted by the VA's bureaucratic sprawl, and several unmaintained web pages.

The charity VeteranAid.org was launched in 2005 to provide information about A&A eligibility and how to apply⁴. To qualify, a veteran need not have suffered a service-related injury. He or she only had to have clocked at least one day of his or her 90-day minimum military service during a time of war and need caregiving for activities of daily living⁵.

Applying can be a long process with confusing requirements for eligibility⁶. The Veterans Affairs application used to be only four pages, now it comprises multiple forms, some or all which may be required. Despite these challenges, when the benefit comes through, it can make a big difference for recipients who support our nation's heroes⁷.

The A&A benefit can be more than 50 percent higher than the basic veteran’s pension ($24,239 annually for a veteran and spouse with A&A, versus $16,051 for a basic pension). The income and asset cutoffs are also higher than for A&A benefits⁶.

Sign the pledge to advocate for veterans benefits like A&A and support those who care for our veterans!

More on this issue:

1. Military Benefits, Veteran.com, (17 October 2022), "Aid and Attendance."
2. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (12 October 2022), "VA Aid and Attendance benefits and Housebound allowance."
3. Susan Seliger, The New York Times (19 September 2012), "A Little-Known Benefit for Aging Veterans."
4. VeteranAid.org, "VA Aid and Attendance (A&A) Benefit Eligibility."
5. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (May 2021), "America’s Wars."
6. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, "Eligibility for Veterans Pension."
7. VeteranAid.org, "U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs."