VA Aid and Attendance for Omaha veterans and spouses

What is VA Aid and Attendance?

Aid and Attendance is an increase to the VA's needs-based pension for wartime veterans and surviving spouses who need help with daily activities, are bedridden, live in a nursing home because of disability, or have limited eyesight; it raises the Maximum Annual Pension Rate (MAPR), and the VA pays the difference between that rate and the person's countable income.

VA pension rates effective December 1, 2025 through November 30, 2026.

Unreimbursed medical expenses, including assisted living and home care costs paid for care reasons, reduce countable income, which is how a veteran with a modest pension or Social Security can still receive a monthly payment. The net worth limit, combining assets and annual income, is $163,699 for the December 2025 through November 2026 period.

Can Aid and Attendance help pay for assisted living in Omaha?

Yes. The pension can be used for any purpose, and because assisted living fees paid for care reduce countable income, Aid and Attendance is one of the most common ways Omaha-area veterans and surviving spouses help pay for assisted living; a veteran with no dependents can receive up to $29,093 a year if countable income is zero.

A surviving spouse's rates are lower than a veteran's. Applications take time, often several months, and the VA can pay back to the date it receives an intent to file. Ask the facility for an itemized statement showing which charges are for care; the VA wants to see them.

Is there a look-back for VA pension?

Yes. The VA reviews asset transfers in the three years before a pension claim and can impose a penalty period of up to five years for transfers that reduce net worth below the limit; this is separate from Nebraska Medicaid's five-year look-back.

Because the two programs treat assets differently, a plan that works for the VA may not work for Medicaid, or the reverse. Get advice before moving money, from an accredited veterans service officer, who helps at no cost, or an attorney accredited by the VA.

What is the Eastern Nebraska Veterans' Home?

The Eastern Nebraska Veterans' Home in Bellevue is a state-run, 144-bed licensed nursing facility operated by the Nebraska Department of Veterans' Affairs, listed on the DHHS roster with an Alzheimer's/special care unit and therapy services.

It is licensed by the state but not certified by CMS, so it has no CMS star rating. Admission requires veteran eligibility and an application to the Department of Veterans' Affairs. Many Bellevue and Offutt-area families consider it alongside private nursing homes; ask a county veterans service officer about current wait times and costs.

Who helps Omaha veterans apply for VA benefits?

County veterans service officers in Douglas, Sarpy, Cass, Saunders and Washington counties help veterans and survivors file pension claims at no cost, as do accredited representatives of veterans service organizations; the VA's own regional benefits office also accepts claims.

Be cautious of anyone who charges a fee to file a pension application or who recommends moving assets into an annuity or trust to qualify. Accredited representatives may not charge for preparing an initial claim. Gather the veteran's discharge papers (DD-214), marriage and death certificates if relevant, income records and a list of care costs before the appointment.