When you have questions about the benefits provided by Veterans Affairs, it can be difficult to find answers. For example, you might think it is time for professional memory care, but assisted living expenses could be substantial. Now, you might be curious if the VA will pay for assisted living. If so, how much will they pay?

Even though understanding the answers to these questions can be difficult, there are experts who are available to help you. Learn more about what the VA will and will not pay for with regard to assisted living, and make sure you reach out to an expert who can help you find the right senior living community to meet your needs.

Will The VA Cover Assisted Living?

Even though your benefits from Veterans Affairs will cover various medical expenses, they will not directly cover costs related to assisted living. On the other hand, there are benefits from the VA that you could use to cover some of your assisted living needs indirectly.

There are different programs that have been established to help veterans who are looking for assistance with professional senior care. Even though they may not directly cover your assisted living expenses, they can cover other aspects of your care that could prove beneficial.

The Aid and Attendance Program

One program that could be beneficial is called the Aid and Attendance Program. This is a program that veterans may qualify for that could provide them with additional benefits on top of the ones they are already getting. These are expenses that you might use to cover your activities of daily living, which may include some aspects of assisted living.

There are several qualifications you may need to meet before you can receive benefits through this program. They include:

• You must have limitations regarding your eyesight.
• You might have to be bedridden.
• Recipients must require assistance from somebody else on a daily basis.
• You must be a veteran of the United States armed forces.
• You must be in an assisted living center, such as a nursing home, due to limitations regarding your mental or physical abilities.

Understand that applications are reviewed on a case-by-case basis. You do not necessarily need to meet all of them to qualify for the program; however, the more of them you meet, the greater your chances of being approved.

You may be able to put some of these benefits towards your assisted living expenses. On the other hand, there is no program from the VA that has been directly designed to cover assisted living costs.

What Veterans Qualify For VA Benefits?

Benefits provided by the VA can help veterans cover medical expenses related to injuries and illnesses. A medical benefits package can include care services that can address serious injuries, treat chronic medical conditions, and prevent future problems from developing. This could include visiting not only the medical doctor but also the eye doctor or the dentist.

In general, benefits are provided to all veterans who have been discharged from the military under any condition except dishonorable. Therefore, if you were discharged honorably, you may qualify for benefits provided by the VA as well.

There are some time limits that might have to be met for you to qualify for benefits from the VA. If you enlisted in the military after 1980, then you must have served in the military for a continuous period of 24 months to qualify for VA benefits.

To get VA benefits, you must apply for them. One of the easiest ways to apply for VA benefits is to do so online. Or, you can bring a signed application to one of the VA benefits centers near you. If you need help filling out your application, you may be able to reach someone via phone.

Will I lose my VA disability if I go to a nursing home?

If you require care 24 hours per day, seven days per week, then you might need to move into a nursing home. Some people are concerned that it could cause them to lose their disability benefits. It is possible that you may have your monthly pension reduced if you enter a nursing home, but there are a number of other factors that play a role.

For example, the nature of your disability, the level of care you receive at the nursing home, and the number of dependents you have could also play a role in your disability benefits check.

It is important for you to reach out to a professional who can help you answer this question before you decide to move into a nursing home.

Does the VA pay you for the rest of your life?

There are a lot of factors that will decide the amount of money the VA pays you and how long they pay you. Chiefly, it depends on the severity of your condition.

If you have a medical condition that prevents you from making a full recovery, then there is a chance that the VA could provide you with a disability benefit for the rest of your life.

This is called a “permanently and totally disabled” designation, and you should expect to receive your VA disability benefits for the rest of your life. Typically, this is a designation that is only applied to extremely severe injuries and conditions.

Partner With North Star Senior Advisors To Find the Right Senior Living Community

Because there are a lot of options available, you should work with a professional who can help you find the right assisted living facilities. We are North Star Senior Advisors, and we have a tremendous amount of experience working with families of all backgrounds.

We can help you review the amenities and programs offered by each community, allowing you to find the right one to meet your needs. If you would like to learn more about how we can help you, contact us today to speak to a member of our team.