Growing older in service to your country comes with entitlements—especially for U.S. military veterans over age 60. This guide covers every detail—VA health care, Aid & Attendance for long‑term care, and burial benefits.
We’ll delve into eligibility criteria, benefit amounts, application procedures, and practical tips—all organized under clear headings. A handy table summarizes the key facts. Whether you’re a veteran, a caregiver, or a survivor, this article equips you with the latest, most accurate information to secure the benefits you deserve.
1. VA Health Care for Veterans Over 60
Eligibility and Enrollment
Veterans aged 60+ are generally eligible for VA health care if they:
- Served in active military, naval, or air service, not under dishonorable discharge.
- For those who enlisted after September 7, 1980, or entered duty after October 16, 1981, typically must have served at least 24 continuous months or the full term of service.
Coverage and Services
Enrollees in VA health care gain access to a comprehensive array of services: preventive, outpatient, inpatient, rehabilitation, prescriptions, prosthetics, radiation oncology, and more.
Geriatric and long-term care programs are specifically tailored for older veterans with complex needs.
Long-Term Care Options
VA supports many care settings:
- VA‑run Community Living Centers
- Contracted community nursing homes
- State Veterans Homes
- Medical foster homes, adult family homes, assisted living facilities.
At-home care includes:
- Home‑based primary care
- Homemaker/home health aide (H/HHA) services
- Adult day health care
- Respite care for caregivers.
What Determines Costs?
Costs may include copays depending on your service-connected disability status, priority group, and income. Veterans with a 50%+ service-connected disability typically receive care at no cost. For those without, copays may apply based on their financial situation.
2. Aid & Attendance and Housebound Benefits for Long-Term Care
What Are They?
- Aid & Attendance (A&A): An extra monthly amount added to a VA Pension when a veteran or surviving spouse needs help with daily living activities, is bedridden, resides in a nursing home, or has severely impaired vision.
- Housebound: A supplemental pension amount when the beneficiary is substantially confined to their immediate premises due to a permanent disability.
Veterans may receive either A&A or Housebound, not both.
Eligibility Criteria
Three key eligibility pillars:
- Service – Minimum: 90 days active duty, with at least one day during wartime; discharge must be other than dishonorable.
- Medical need – One or more of: help with ADLs (e.g., bathing, dressing); bedridden; nursing home patient; severely limited vision (5/200 in both eyes or constricted visual field).
- Financial – Must qualify for VA pension based on income/assets; unreimbursed medical costs may be deducted from income; nursing home costs may be annualized as medical expenses.
Benefit Amounts (as of December 2024)
Monthly benefit amounts (maximum annual pension rate, MAPR):
- Single Veteran: $11,335 (MAPR $28,300)
- Veteran with Dependent: $11,332 (MAPR $33,548; +$2,902 each extra dependent)
- Surviving Spouse: $6,807 (MAPR $18,187 single; $21,696 with dependents)
- Married Veterans: Combined $22,670 (MAPR $44,886).
Application Process
- Submit VA Form 21‑2680 (Examination for Housebound Status or Permanent Need for Regular Aid & Attendance), completed by a physician.
- If residing in a nursing home, also include VA Form 21‑0779.
- Evidence of medical need’s impact on daily living and financial documents are required.
- Send to Pension Intake Center in Janesville, WI.
- For quicker processing, consider the Fully Developed Claim program (FDC).
- Documents: service records, medical records, receipts, financial documentation.
- If in nursing home, VA may annualize care costs automatically.
Interaction with Medicaid
- VA may pay toward nursing home costs, but total pension rarely covers full costs.
- If eligible for Medicaid, the VA will limit pension payment to about $90 per month.
- Pension plus Medicaid may still work in certain planning scenarios, especially with expert assistance.
3. Burial and Funeral Benefits for Veterans After 60
Service-Connected Death
- Up to $2,000 toward burial expenses for deaths on or after September 11, 2001.
- Full reimbursement of transport to VA national cemetery may be covered.
Non-Service-Connected Death (after Oct 1, 2024)
- $978 toward burial and funeral expenses, plus $978 plot/ interment allowance if not in a national cemetery.
Eligibility Conditions
- Claimant paid for burial/funeral and has not been fully reimbursed by another agency.
- Veteran’s discharge was not dishonorable.
- Veteran either died from service-connected disability or was receiving VA pension/compensation at time of death.
Additional Memorial Support
Survivors may also have access to VA cemeteries, grave markers, burial planning, and bereavement counseling.
Veterans Benefits After 60
| Benefit Category | Key Details | Eligibility Criteria | Benefit Value / Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| VA Health Care | Comprehensive medical and long‑term care | Active-duty service; discharge not dishonorable; enroll with VA | Coverage varies; 50%+ service connection = no copay for most services |
| Aid & Attendance (A&A) | Extra monthly pension for ADL assistance, bedridden, nursing home, vision | 90+ days service with wartime day; medical need; income/assets within limits | Single vet: $11,335; Vet+dependent: $11,332; Surviving spouse: $6,807 per month |
| Housebound | Extra pension when confined at home due to permanent disability | Same as A&A, but limited to housebound criteria | Alternative to A&A; cannot receive both |
| Burial – Service‑connected | Funeral/burial expense reimbursement | Qualified service, non‑dishonorable discharge, service-connected death | Up to $2,000 plus transport costs |
| Burial – Non‑service‑connected | Funeral/burial and plot reimbursement | Conditions similar; death not service-connected | $978 funeral + $978 plot allowance (post Oct 2024) |
| Memorial & Survivor Support | Cemetery access, markers, counseling etc. | Depends on survivor status and eligibility | Additional services like grave markers and counseling available |
As veterans age beyond 60, the VA stands ready with robust support—from health care to financial assistance and dignified end‑of‑life services. Understanding the nuances of A&A and Housebound benefits is key to securing long‑term care funding.
Meanwhile, VA health care, including geriatric and home‑based services, offers essential support. And funeral benefits ensure survivors are not burdened financially during loss.
Use the information and table above as your roadmap—and don’t hesitate to leverage resources like veteran service organizations or elder law experts to navigate the application process.
FAQs
No. A veteran or surviving spouse may qualify for either A&A or Housebound—but not both simultaneously.
Yes. Veterans with a 50% or greater service-connected disability are typically eligible for full coverage with no copays for VA health care services.
For deaths on or after October 1, 2024, VA pays up to $978 toward burial and funeral costs, plus an additional $978 for a plot if burial is not in a VA national cemetery.