Aid and Attendance or “enhanced pension” is a benefit available to certain Veterans or their spouses. This program is primarily designed to help with in-home care or care at an assisted living facility, if the facility participates with the program. A Veteran may be eligible for this program if he or she served at least 90 days on active duty with at least one day during a time of war. One need not have served in a war zone to be eligible. Further, the Veteran must require assistance with at least some of their activities of daily living, such as mobility, bathing, dressing, eating or toileting. A spouse of a Veteran is only eligible to receive services under this program if the Veteran is deceased.

The dollar value of the benefits to which a Veteran or surviving spouse may be eligible in 2021 is $1,936 for an unmarried Veteran, $1,244.00 for a surviving spouse of a Veteran and $2,295.00 for a married Veteran. There are asset limits for Veterans and spouses and for 2021 that limit is $130,772.00. There is also a three year “look back” period for divestments, so it is inadvisable to attempt to give away assets to qualify for this benefit without appropriate counseling. The rules which allow an individual to qualify for Aid and Attendance, and those allowing one to qualify for Medicaid in the State of Michigan,
are different and therefore it is always advisable to speak with an elder law attorney if there is any question as to how one may be eligible to receive benefits under this program.