How to Qualify for Veterans Aid and Attendance Benefits

There are many financial resources for families that they may not know about. And Emily, I'm very interested in you touched on it earlier, but I would say probably 80% of people that have aging parents have no idea about what's called Aid and Attendance benefits or VA benefits. Their loved one may qualify for a benefit from the military based on certain criteria. Emily Schwarz, VP of Sales for ElderLife Financial, is also the President of AidInAttendance.com. Emily joins Suzanne to tell us a little bit about Aid and Attendance benefits and how to qualify for them, courtesy of MorningStar Senior Living. Emily talks about the four criteria to qualify, and for spouses to qualify, and also provides ways to find out when your senior loved one served in the military if you aren't sure of the dates. "There are actually more spouses on this benefit than veterans, because more spouses are living into their 90s. A spouse is eligible based on her wartime husband's service. She always applies on the most recent husband, so if she was married to a wartime veteran who passes, and she remarries a non wartime veteran, then she is likely no longer eligible. You're not going to be eligible if divorced from a veteran — you need to be married to that wartime veteran at the time of death. Maybe you've never gotten a benefit from the VA before, but your husband's service left you this wonderful benefit." Listen to hear all about qualifying. For more information, call ElderLife Financial at 888-228-4500, and if you want to explore VA benefits, just let the financial concierge know that. Also visit ElderLife Financial's website. Courtesy of MorningStar Senior Living. Lead image © Can Stock Photo / photography33See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.