Benefits you earned shouldn’t be out of reach just because the rulebook is complex. We sit down on Veterans Day to map a practical path to VA Aid and Attendance—a pension that can help pay for in‑home care, assisted living, or nursing home care—without draining a lifetime of savings. Drawing on years of elder law practice, we unpack the real asset limits, the home and acreage rules, and the underused Veterans Asset Protection Trust that can shield excess resources and still keep you in control.

Across the conversation, we focus on preserving dignity and choice. You’ll hear how to balance everyday access to funds while sheltering the rest, how to select a trusted third‑party trustee, and why a well‑timed trust can be Medicaid‑compliant so you can stack Aid and Attendance with Medicaid when health needs escalate. We also lay out the essential foundation: a general durable power of attorney, a health care power of attorney, and a living will—documents that prevent guardianship and keep decision‑making with the people you choose. For the home, we explain probate‑avoidance strategies like a Lady Bird deed to protect equity and ensure it passes cleanly to your heirs.

Whether you’re a veteran, a spouse, or a surviving spouse, the goal is clear: protect what you’ve built, activate the benefits you deserve, and keep control over where you live and how you’re treated. If you’ve wondered how to qualify for VA Aid and Attendance, avoid unnecessary spend‑downs, and steer clear of probate, this guide offers the steps and the reasoning behind them. Subscribe for more elder law insights, share this with a veteran who could use it, and leave a review to help others find trustworthy planning advice.