VA Aid & Attendance
Monthly payments to help veterans and surviving spouses cover long-term care costs. Most eligible families never apply, often because they don't know it exists.
VA Aid & Attendance is a pension benefit that provides monthly payments to wartime veterans and their surviving spouses who need help with daily activities. It doesn't require a service-connected disability. It's not limited to combat veterans. And it pays up to $2,300 per month, yet a large number of eligible families never apply. We help Kansas City families understand whether they qualify and guides them through the application process.
Common Situations
Families we help with VA benefits
Parent entering a care facility
A parent is moving into assisted living or a nursing home. Care costs are significant. The family wants to understand whether VA benefits can offset the expense, and how quickly they can start.
Surviving spouse needing in-home care
A widow or widower needs help at home with daily activities. The family didn't know the surviving spouse could qualify for VA benefits in their own right, up to $1,432 per month.
Assets above the threshold
The family assumes the veteran doesn't qualify because assets are above the net worth limit. With proper planning, it may be possible to restructure assets to meet the threshold while preserving what matters most.
Prior application was denied
A VA application was denied. The family doesn't know why or what to do next. We review what went wrong and help determine whether the decision can be appealed or a new application filed.
Planning ahead while still healthy
The veteran is still relatively healthy but the family wants to understand the benefit now, before a care need becomes urgent. Early planning leaves the most options open.
Coordinating with Medicaid planning
The family is also navigating Medicaid eligibility. VA benefits and Medicaid interact in ways that require careful coordination, the right sequencing matters significantly.
Not sure if you qualify?
One conversation is usually enough to understand whether VA Aid & Attendance is available to your family, and what steps to take next.
Schedule a Planning Session →"Most families who call about VA benefits assumed they didn't qualify. The benefit is underused not because families aren't eligible, but because the rules aren't well understood. One conversation usually changes the picture."Heirloom Estate Planning & Elder Law
How We Help
How we work with your family
Reviewing eligibility
We review the veteran’s service records, medical situation, and financial picture, and give you a clear, honest assessment before any paperwork begins.
Explaining the rules
We explain what the VA actually looks at, what counts toward the net worth limit, and what options exist if assets are currently above the threshold.
Coordinating with other planning
VA benefits and Medicaid interact in ways that require careful sequencing. We help families think through the full picture before making moves that could create unintended consequences.
Preparing the application
VA applications are detailed and unforgiving. We prepare a complete, accurate package and follow up with the VA, because delays are costly when benefits aren’t retroactive.
Common Questions
What clients ask us
The veteran must have served at least 90 days of active duty, with at least one day during a wartime period, World War II, Korea, Vietnam, the Gulf War, and several others. An honorable or general discharge is required. Combat service is not required, and a service-connected disability is not required.
Yes. The surviving spouse of a qualifying veteran can receive up to $1,432 per month if they meet the medical need and financial requirements. The surviving spouse does not need to have served in the military themselves.
The 2024 net worth limit is $155,356. Certain assets, including the primary residence and personal property, are excluded from the calculation. For families above the limit, there may be planning strategies available to restructure assets in a way that meets the threshold. This is worth discussing before assuming disqualification.
VA applications typically take several months to process. Because benefits are not retroactive, payments begin from the date the application is received, not the date eligibility began, applying as early as possible is critical. A complete, accurate application helps avoid unnecessary delays.
In some cases, yes, but the interaction between VA benefits and Medicaid is complex. Assets restructured to qualify for VA benefits can affect Medicaid eligibility, and the sequencing of applications matters. Families navigating both programs should work with an attorney who understands how they interact.
Find out if your family qualifies.
One conversation is usually enough to understand whether VA Aid & Attendance is available to your family, and what the next steps look like. No pressure, no obligation.
Want to understand the details first? Read our complete Veterans Benefits guide →