
Aid & Attendance
VA Pension Benefits for Widows of Wartime Veterans
What is the Survivors Pension with Aid and Attendance?
The maximum Survivors Pension with additional Aid and Attendance funds is up to $1,228 per month.

Many women are overlooked when it comes to VA Benefits
We’ve actually helped more widows than veterans
Simplifying VA Aid and Attendance Pension Eligibility for Widows
1. Military, 2. Medical and 3. Money 4. Marriage
Do You Meet the “4-Ms” For a Surviving Spouse to Qualify?
1) Military: Was your spouse a veteran who served at least 90 days on active duty, at least one day during wartime, with an honorable discharge? (Persian Gulf War veterans must have two years of active duty or the full period for which they were called for active duty.)
Did your spouse serve during one of the VA Defined War Periods?
- World War II: December 7, 1941-December 31, 1946
- Korean Conflict: June 27, 1950-January 31, 1955
- Vietnam Era: August 5, 1964-May 7, 1975. Veterans who served February 28, 1961-August 5, 1964, must have served “in country” (Vietnam).
- Persian Gulf War: August 2, 1990- date to be prescribed by Presidential Proclamation or law. Persian Gulf veterans must have served active duty for two years or the full period for which they were called for active duty.
2) Medical: Do you have a medical condition causing you to need assistance with activities of daily living?
3) Money: Do you have a net worth at or under $129,094? (Your primary residence and car are exempt. Ongoing, non-reiumbursable medical and long term care expenses may reduce your net worth.)
4) Marriage: Were you married to a wartime veteran for at least one year? Were you married to the veteran at the time of his/her death? Have you remained unmarried or did your remarry after January 1, 1971 and your remarriage ended before November 11, 1990?

Aid and Attendance for Long Term Care
Aid and Attendance is available for those who need the “aid and attendance” of another person for their routine daily living activities on a permanent basis. Often as women age, they need assistance with activities of daily living such as: dressing, bathing, help using the bathroom, meal preparation, laundry and more. This type of assistance is considered “custodial care” even though the need for custodial care is often caused by a medical condition such as congenital heart failure, arthritis, diabetes, etc. When custodial care is needed permanently, health insurance such as Medicare will not cover the cost. On-going custodial care is considered “long-term care.” Fortunately, the VA’s Aid and Attendance benefit can help with the cost of long term care.
“Aid and Attendance” Surviving Spouse Eligibility
Surviving spouses must meet a set of requirements in order to qualify for VA pension benefits:
- You must have been married to a veteran for at least one year.
- You must have been married to a veteran at the time of his death.
- You must present your veteran spouse’s death certificate.
Remarriage does not affect your surviving spouse eligibility for “Aid and Attendance” if you meet all the following requirements:
- You were married to your veteran spouse at the time of his death.
- Your remarriage began after January 1, 1971.
- Your remarriage ended before November 11, 1990.
Remarriage outside the specified dates will disqualify you from VA pension benefits.
You may have what it takes to be eligible for the “Aid & Attendance” benefit.
If you would like to use your VA Aid and Attendance funds primarily for home care or adult daycare, call us today toll free 678-303-4440 for more details.
Check Your Eligibility
The Veteran Wellness® Program is offered exclusively by Avant Care in partnership with Care Planning Institute (CPI).
Avant Care and the Veterans Wellness® Program are not part of any government agency and are not affiliated with the Department of Avant Affairs.