Benefits Many Veterans Don’t Know About

Louisiana is home to over 280,000 veterans—men and women who served our country and earned benefits many of them don’t even know exist. The VA Aid & Attendance pension benefit can provide over $2,000 per month to help pay for care, yet thousands of eligible Louisiana veterans and surviving spouses never apply.

At Legacy Estate & Elder Law, we help veterans and their families understand and access VA benefits. Our attorneys guide you through the application process, help gather the necessary documentation, and coordinate VA benefits with other planning strategies like Medicaid when appropriate.

What is VA Aid & Attendance?

Aid & Attendance is an enhanced pension benefit for wartime veterans and surviving spouses who need help with activities of daily living or are housebound. Unlike VA disability compensation (which requires a service-connected disability), Aid & Attendance is based on wartime service and current care needs—not on how or where you were injured.

The benefit is paid in addition to any other VA benefits you may receive and can be used for any type of care: in-home caregivers, assisted living facilities, or nursing homes.

2024 VA Aid & Attendance Benefit Rates

The VA adjusts benefit rates annually. Current maximum monthly benefits include $2,727 per month for veterans with a spouse, $2,295 per month for single veterans, and $1,478 per month for surviving spouses.

These are maximum rates—actual benefits depend on income, assets, and medical expenses. The VA calculates benefits based on your “countable income” after deducting unreimbursed medical expenses (including the cost of care).

Who Qualifies for VA Aid & Attendance?

To qualify for Aid & Attendance benefits, you must meet requirements in three categories: military service, medical need, and financial eligibility.

Military Service Requirements

The veteran must have served at least 90 days of active duty with at least one day during a wartime period. Qualifying wartime periods include World War II (December 7, 1941 – December 31, 1946), Korean War (June 27, 1950 – January 31, 1955), Vietnam War (August 5, 1964 – May 7, 1975, or February 28, 1961 if served in Vietnam), and Gulf War (August 2, 1990 – present).

The veteran must have been discharged under conditions other than dishonorable.

Medical Need Requirements

The veteran or surviving spouse must need assistance with activities of daily living (bathing, dressing, eating, toileting, transferring), or be blind or nearly blind, or be a patient in a nursing home due to mental or physical incapacity, or require the regular aid and attendance of another person to protect them from hazards of daily living.

Financial Eligibility Requirements

The VA has both income and asset limits for Aid & Attendance eligibility. For 2024, the net worth limit (assets plus annual income) is $155,356. However, the VA excludes certain assets including your primary residence and personal property.

Unlike Medicaid, the VA uses a 3-year lookback period for asset transfers—and the rules for calculating penalties are different.

VA Aid & Attendance vs. Medicaid

Many families wonder whether to pursue VA benefits, Medicaid, or both. Understanding the differences helps you make informed decisions.

VA Aid & Attendance can be used for any type of care (in-home, assisted living, nursing home), is paid directly to the veteran/spouse to use as they choose, has a 3-year lookback period, has a net worth limit of approximately $155,000, and has no estate recovery after death.

Medicaid primarily covers nursing home care (some home and community-based waiver programs exist), is paid directly to the care provider, has a 5-year lookback period, has much stricter asset limits ($2,000 individual), and may have estate recovery apply.

For many families, the best approach is coordinating both programs—using VA benefits for assisted living or in-home care, and Medicaid planning for potential future nursing home needs.

The VA Application Process

Applying for VA Aid & Attendance requires gathering substantial documentation, including discharge papers (DD-214) or service records, marriage certificate (if applicable), death certificate (for surviving spouse claims), medical evidence of care needs, financial documentation (income, assets, medical expenses), and care provider information and costs.

The VA application process can take several months. Our attorneys help you gather documentation, complete forms correctly, and avoid common mistakes that delay approvals.

Coordinating VA Benefits with Other Planning

VA Aid & Attendance doesn’t exist in isolation. For many families, the best outcomes come from coordinating VA benefits with Medicaid planning when appropriate, estate planning documents (powers of attorney, healthcare directives), long-term care insurance benefits, and other available resources.

Our attorneys look at your complete situation—not just one program—to develop a strategy that maximizes benefits and protects your family.

Contact Louisiana VA Benefits Attorneys Today

If you’re a veteran, the spouse of a veteran, or the surviving spouse of a veteran, you may be eligible for benefits you don’t even know about. Legacy Estate & Elder Law helps Louisiana veterans and their families access the benefits they’ve earned.