No one understands sacrifice and service more than our nation’s Veterans and their families. Thankfully, our Nation provides some extensive benefits to ensure our nation’s heroes are cared for throughout their lives, including into retirement. In fact, there are several important VA benefits for veterans looking for senior living facilities.
To help you make the best decisions and take advantage of all opportunities and support available, here is a breakdown of two incredibly important VA benefits:
VA Aid and Attendance Benefit
You may sometimes hear this referred to as an “A&A Pension,” but the VA Aid and Attendance Benefit is an important benefit that is extended to Veterans above and beyond their regular pension. This benefit is available to Veterans as well as their surviving spouses - keep this in mind if you are a widow or widower of a Veteran who is searching for senior living facilities.
A&A provides an additional stipend to Veterans and their spouses who need a little help with daily activities (like finding it difficult to take care of a traditional house), and/or if you are housebound due to a medical condition(s) or other permanent disability.
For those seeking senior living facilities, the Department of Veteran Affairs stipulates that a Veteran or his/her spouse must meet at least one of these requirements to be eligible for the VA Aid and Attendance Benefit:
- You need someone else to help you with daily activities like dressing, bathing, eating, etc., or
- You spend a large portion of the day in bed due to health problems or illness, or
- Your eyesight is limited, even with glasses or contact lenses (specifically, if you have only 5/200 or less in both eyes; or concentric contraction of the visual field to 5 degrees or less).
For those individuals in a full-care nursing home, Veterans could qualify if they live in a nursing home due to loss of mental or physical abilities related to a disability.
How veterans can take advantage of this benefit
Veterans who qualify for the A&A pension can apply in person at their nearest VA regional office, or they can complete VA Form 21-2680 and send it to their nearest pension management center (PMC).
Prospective senior living communities may have experience helping residents complete these forms, so don’t be afraid to ask! Veterans can also take advantage of what they call “accredited representatives” who can help you with completing forms and navigating the processes associated with claiming Veterans benefits.
VA Health Care for Senior Veterans
In some instances, VA health care coverage may also help pay for residency in a senior living community. The VA has some of its own facilities; however, this benefit also extends to senior living communities in your area (like Veranda of Pensacola!).
How you can take advantage of this benefit
An accredited representative can help you navigate your choices and the process of gaining health care coverage for residency in a senior living community. Alternatively, you file a claim for this benefit online at VA.gov, at your local VA regional office, or by completing and submitting form 21–526EZ to this address:
Department of Veterans Affairs
Claims Intake Center
PO Box 4444
Janesville, WI 53547-4444
We are proud to have many Veterans call our community “home.”
We hope that you’ll take advantage of every benefit available to you as one of our nation’s heroes. For help understanding the costs and opportunities available to you as a resident of Veranda of Pensacola, contact a member of our team today. We have assisted many of our Veteran residents in the past, and we are here to help!
