What this guide will cover
Many of the families we serve in Great Falls have a veteran or a surviving spouse in them, and a surprising number never learn that VA benefits could have helped with the cost of care. This guide is being written to fix that.
- What VA Aid and Attendance is, and how it differs from a standard VA pension
- Who qualifies - service requirements, the care-need test, and the net worth limit
- How much it pays, and why almost no one receives the maximum amount
- How the benefit reaches a family: VA pays the veteran or survivor directly, not the care home
- Benefits available to surviving spouses
- How to apply, and the forms involved
- Local contacts: the Great Falls VA Clinic, VA Montana Health Care, and county veteran service officers
Aid and Attendance in plain terms
Planned: a clear explanation of the benefit as a monthly amount added to a VA pension for people who need another person's help with daily activities such as bathing, dressing, and feeding.
Who qualifies
Planned: the eligibility conditions in plain language, including the care-need test and the current net worth limit, with the rate year clearly labeled since VA updates these figures every December.
How to apply
Planned: a step-by-step walkthrough of the application routes - online, by mail, or in person - and the paperwork families are commonly asked to provide.
Where to get help in Great Falls
Planned: the Great Falls VA Clinic on 29th Street South, VA Montana Health Care at Fort Harrison, and the free assistance available from veteran service officers who help with claims at no cost.
In the meantime
If you are a veteran or a surviving spouse exploring care in Great Falls, call us at (406) 205-4516. We can talk through your options and point you toward the people who handle VA claims for free.