Veterans Day is on November 11, so the team at Gig Harbor Court wants to share resources that can help veterans and their families use VA benefits for assisted living. Our community team honors the men and women who have served by providing compassionate care services, including resources to learn more about the benefits they have earned.
This guide explains how residents can pay for assisted living using their VA benefits, including VA Aid and Attendance and the basic Veterans Pension. Families should note that the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) determines eligibility and payment amounts, so community team members cannot guarantee aid.
How VA Benefits Work for Assisted Living
Pierce County is home to over 75,000 veterans. For these service members, their spouses, and their families, the VA Veterans Pension is a needs-based benefit for those who served during wartime.
VA Aid and Attendance extends this benefit, and qualifying veterans and surviving family members can add it to their pension. The VA Aid and Attendance page contains links to the online and mail-in forms you will need.
Veterans can use their benefits as financial assistance in assisted living if they need help with everyday tasks such as bathing, walking, eating, or grooming. Notably, the veteran’s disability does not need to be service-related to qualify.
Who Could Qualify for the VA Aid and Attendance Benefit
To qualify for Aid and Attendance, veterans must meet several criteria, including:
- Being at least 65 years of age or permanently and totally disabled
- Not having a dishonorable discharge on their record
- Having served on active duty before September 8, 1980, for at least 90 days, or for 24 months or their full call-up period if serving after
- Having served at least one day during a wartime period
- Having a net worth below the federal maximum,* including their spouse
*The federal maximum is $163,699 as of December 1, 2025, though this is subject to change.
Families should note that when determining the veteran’s net worth, their home, car, and most home furnishings do not factor in. To qualify for Aid and Attendance, surviving spouses and dependents follow their own rules under the Survivors Pension. A veterans service officer can help with the specifics in your family’s situation.
Where to Start With a VA Claim in Pierce County
Families can apply for Aid and Attendance online or by mail with VA Form 21-2680. The VA regional office also offers in-person submissions, with a medical examiner who completes the examination section.
Accredited veterans service organization representatives help with benefit claims for free. In addition, the Pierce County Veterans Resource Center serves veterans and their families through a partnership with the Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs, whose site provides more resources for veterans and their families.
The team at Gig Harbor Court can help you understand benefits such as Aid and Attendance. Plan ahead if you’re counting on the benefit to pay for care, since the VA’s processing time varies.
How Gig Harbor Court Helps Families Understand Veterans Benefits for Senior Living
Assisted living at Gig Harbor Court includes a licensed nurse and daily help with bathing, dressing, dining, walking, and taking medications. Round-the-clock support is available for daily activities. Residents also receive daily meals and snacks, ongoing health monitoring, and on-site physical, occupational, and speech therapy.
For residents who have served in the military, or who are married to someone who did, the team also helps with benefits such as Aid and Attendance. Care services at Gig Harbor Court are paid separately from rent, so families should ask a team member how their needs affect their monthly rate.
Other Methods for Paying for Assisted Living in Washington
Families often combine monthly income, such as Social Security and a pension, with personal savings to pay for assisted living or memory care, which is also provided on-site in a secure neighborhood. Proceeds from a house sale can become part of the payment plan, as can long-term care insurance policies.
Speak with a community team member to learn more about different ways to pay for assisted living, including how VA benefits can factor into your long-term plan.
Frequently Asked Questions
VA Aid and Attendance is an added monthly payment on top of a VA pension for qualified veterans and survivors who need help with everyday tasks like bathing, eating, grooming, or dressing. Families can ask an accredited veterans service officer about both eligibility and payment amounts.
The VA looks at yearly family income and net worth, and both must fall within federal limits. Net worth includes a spouse’s net worth, while a veteran’s home, car, and most home furnishings are excluded. Debts owed are subtracted. Speak with a veterans service officer to confirm the current figures.
The VA lists survivors among those who can receive Aid and Attendance payments alongside a pension, and the Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs helps with Survivors Pension claims. The Survivors Pension is a separate program with its own rules. Contact the Pierce County Veterans Resource Center at (253) 798-7449 to learn more.
The VA says processing time depends on the claim and that it handles claims in the order received unless priority processing applies. Families can ask a medical examiner to complete the examination section and gather the other paperwork before their community move-in date.
The team at Gig Harbor Court assists residents and families with benefits such as Aid and Attendance. The team cannot promise eligibility or an amount. Speak with a VA representative to learn more about your situation.
Final Thoughts on Using VA Benefits for Assisted Living
Veterans Day is the perfect time to thank veterans and their families for their sacrifice. The team at Gig Harbor Court helps families understand their VA benefits and take the right steps to plan for long-term support. Families can review our assisted living page to compare care options. Visit our pricing guide to learn more about long-term care costs and how residents pay.
This article should not replace financial advice. If you wish, please talk with your financial advisor regarding your own budgeting and planning.
Schedule a Tour at Gig Harbor Court
See assisted living and memory care in person by visiting Gig Harbor Court in Gig Harbor, Washington. Schedule a tour to speak with a team member about care options and benefits such as Aid and Attendance.