Aid and Attendance Benefits for Veterans

The Department of Veterans Affairs has a secret.  It is not really something that they want to keep a secret, but it is something most veterans are not aware of.  If you are a veteran or a spouse of a veteran, you may be entitled to aid and attendance benefits. Aid and Attendance funds can be used for an in-home care provider, assisted living community or nursing home. To be eligible you must meet certain criteria and must have served 90 or more days of active duty, one day of which was during wartime. 

Qualifying military service includes:

• World War II- 12/4/1941- 12/31/1946
• Korea-6/27/1950- 1/31/1955
• Vietnam- 8/5/1964- 5/7/1975 or “in country” 2/28/1961- 8/4/1964
• Gulf War- 8/2/1990- present

Other criteria include but are not limited to:

• Permanently and totally disabled, or over 65
• Less than $80,000 in assets
• Does it realistically appear that the veteran or surviving spouse may outlive their assets?
• A statement by a physician that the claimant suffers from a condition to such a degree that the claimant has the need for the regular aid and attendance of another person to care and protect them from hazards or dangers in their daily environment.

If you are a veteran or you know a veteran who is in need, contact the Suffolk County Veterans Service Agency.  The Veterans Service Agency can answer any eligibility questions that you might have as well as assist veterans in filling out the necessary forms.  Be sure to ask about pension and burial benefits as well.

Hauppauge office:
P.O. Box 6100, Hauppauge, NY 11788, 631-853-8387

Riverhead office:
300 Centre Dr., Riverhead, NY 11901, 631-852-1410

Additional information can be found on the Suffolk County Government website.