VA Planning

The benefit of the A&A Program is not insignificant: up to $2,019 monthly for a veteran and spouse, and up to $1,094 for the widow of a veteran.

This financial benefit can then be used to cover the costs of caregivers in the home (including sons and daughters who are paid to be caregivers, though not spouses) or be used for assisted living or a nursing home.

The A&A benefit can be more than 50 percent higher than the basic veteran’s pension ($24,239 annually for a veteran and spouse with A&A, versus $16,051 for a basic pension). The income and asset cutoffs are also higher than for A&A benefits.

To qualify for the A&A program, the veteran or spouse must have less than $80,000 in assets, excluding their home and vehicle. In addition, the veteran’s income must be less than the Maximum Annual Pension Rate (MAPR).

Income does not include welfare benefits or Supplemental Security Income.
Also, it does not include unreimbursed medical expenses paid by the veteran or a member of his or her family, which can include Medicare, Medigap and long-term care insurance premiums as well as all of the following:

• Over-the-counter medications taken at the recommendation of a doctor
• Nursing home fees and other long term health care costs
• Costs associated with an in home attendant who provides some medical or nursing services
• Costs associated with an assisted living facility

These expenses must be unreimbursed – and not paid by insurance – and they must also recur on a monthly basis.

NOTE: All information mentioned above are as of 2019.