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Veteran’s should enjoy a well-deserved retirement that includes the care they may need. Finances shouldn’t come in the way of that. The Aid and Attendance benefit is a tax-free benefit that fills the gap between veteran’s income and assets, and the cost of senior care. The Aid and Attendance benefit provides financial support to veterans and their spouses, or the surviving spouse of a deceased veteran. To receive the benefit, the veteran applying must have been honorably discharged from service, must be eligible for or already receiving VA pension, and does not have to have been injured during service to qualify. 

The Department of Veteran’s Affairs (VA) takes several conditions into consideration when determining a veteran or spouses eligibility for benefits:

- The veteran must be age 65 or older who served at least 90 days of active military service, of which at least one day was during an acknowledged period of war. 

- The wars that meet the requirement set by the Department of Veteran Affairs are:

World War I (April 6, 1917 - November 11, 1918)

World War II (December 7, 1941 - December 31, 1946)

Korean conflict (June 27, 1950 - January 31, 1955)

Vietnam Era (February 28, 1961 - May 7, 1975 for veterans who served in the Republic

of Vietnam; otherwise August 5, 1964 - May 7, 1975)

Gulf War (August 2, 1990 - through a future date to be set by law of presidential

proclamation)

- The veteran must also meet at least one of the following need-based requirements:

Need for another person to perform daily activities such as bathing, feeding, or dressing; or

Must stay in bed, for at least a large portion of the day, because of illness; or

Be a patient in a nursing home due to loss of mental or physical abilities related to disability; or

Have limited eyesight. 

If applying veterans meet the requirements above, the next step is evaluating the yearly family income and net worth standard. While the amounts change from year to year, for those who qualify, the benefit currently ranges from $14,928 a year for a surviving spouse to $27,540 a year for a veteran with a spouse or child. The benefit can make a significant difference in the financial ability to afford senior care. 

Harbison Shores is proud to be home for many United States veterans in Irmo, South Carolina. It is our goal to provide the care, support, relationships, and high-quality of life your beloved veteran deserves in their retirement. Call us today to learn more about this unique benefit for veterans and their spouses. We can’t wait to welcome you home.