What is Aid and Attendance?

Aid and attendance is an additional amount available to eligible veterans and dependents who are entitled to VA pension or VA compensation.

Who is eligible for aid and attendance?

A veteran, dependent spouse, or surviving spouse who is a patient in a licensed nursing home because of mental or physical incapacity or otherwise determined to be in need of the regular aid and attendance of another person, may be entitled to higher income limitations or additional benefits, depending on the type of benefit received.

(Note: If you currently receive pension benefits under one of the prior pension laws, an election to Improved Pension would be required before the aid and

attendance allowance could be included in your monthly payment.)

How Do I Apply?

If you are a nursing home patient:

The attached nursing home certification must be completed by your physician and the nursing home administrator. It must contain the following information:

Date admitted to the nursing home
Diagnosis
Type of care such as skilled or intermediate
Total cost of daily care, amount paid out of claimant's own funds, and if Medicaid is paying all or part of the cost.
This certification must be signed by the Administrator of the nursing home, the physician and by the claimant who is the patient in the nursing home. Patients unable to sign can make a mark and two witnesses should verify the mark.

ALLOWANCE FOR AID AND ATTENDANCE

If you are not a nursing home patient, furnish a medical statement covering the findings, diagnosis and prognosis of any recent medical treatment or examination. The doctor's statement or medical report should describe how your ability to perform the personal functions of daily living, such as dressing, feeding, bathing and attending to the needs of nature, is limited by your medical condition. It should also include the number of hours you spend in bed and describe your posture and general appearance. You may also furnish any other information indicating that you are unable to care for yourself, or walk or travel beyond your home because of your condition.

Note: You are not required to incur the expense of the physical examination by a private physician to receive consideration. If the detailed medical information about your ability to care for yourself is not available from the doctor's or hospital's current records, VA may arrange for a physical examination.

Related Benefits

Housebound Allowance Compensation

Pension Death Pension

Dependency Indemnity Compensation (DIC)

FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL TOLL-FREE AT 1-800-827-1000