Veterans' Benefits Attorney in Coopersville, MI
Over 30 Years of Elder Law Experience to Support Veterans
What Is Aid And Attendance?
Aid and Attendance, or A&A, allows qualifying veterans and surviving spouses to receive a monthly pension benefit to cover the cost of care needs. As of 2025, the maximum monthly amounts for Aid and Attendance are:
Married Couple: $3,740
(two veterans who need A&A)
Veteran and Spouse or Dependent: $2,795
Single Veteran: $2,538
Surviving Spouse of Veteran: $1,515
The Law Offices of David E. Waterstradt assists veterans in Coopersville, MI, with understanding and applying for Aid and Attendance benefits when eligible.
Who Can Qualify for Aid and Attendance in Ottawa County?
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has several requirements in place for veterans to receive benefits. These include service, disability, asset, and income requirements. Your application serves to prove that you meet the qualifications.
Disability Requirement
Veterans who are above the age of 65 and require the aid and attendance of a caretaker to perform daily tasks, such as dressing, eating, and bathing, may be eligible for benefits. Significant or total blindness or being bedridden are also considered qualifying conditions. A&A helps with the cost of care in an assisted living facility, from a home caretaker, or from a qualifying family member or cohabitant other than a spouse. These care services must be recommended by a licensed health care professional. The VA also requires a written Care Contract between the caregiver and the person receiving care, specifying the services to be provided and compensation at the prevailing local rate. Our office prepares Care Contracts for Coopersville-area clients to keep the application on track.
Service Requirements
A veteran can still qualify for A&A without overseas service, a combat record, or a service-connected disability. The VA requires 90 or more days of active-duty service, with at least one day during a qualifying war period, and an honorable discharge. Surviving spouses of veterans who satisfy these requirements may also be eligible.
Official Declared Wartime Periods as Determined by Congress
World War II:
December 7, 1941 - December 31, 1946
Vietnam War:
August 5, 1964 - May 7, 1975
Begin February 28 1961 if you served in Vietnam
Korean War:
June 27, 1950 - January 31, 1955
Persian Gulf War:
August 2, 1990 - Date not yet determined
A&A Benefits as Part of a Complete Elder Law Plan
For Coopersville and Ottawa County families, applying for A&A is rarely an isolated decision. Veterans and surviving spouses who are beginning to need daily care are often at the same stage where a durable power of attorney, a patient advocate designation, and Medicaid planning all become relevant at once. Having those documents in place before care needs become urgent protects the veteran's wishes and gives family members the legal authority to act when it matters. The Law Offices of David E. Waterstradt handles all of these needs under one roof, helping Ottawa County veterans build a plan that works across VA benefits, Michigan Medicaid, and their broader estate plans.
Start Your A&A Application in Coopersville
Ottawa County has a strong tradition of military service, and many Coopersville-area veterans and their families are entitled to A&A benefits they have never claimed. Whether care is being provided at home, through a local assisted living facility, or by a family member, the Law Offices of David E. Waterstradt can evaluate your eligibility and guide the application from start to finish. Veterans who delay applying risk losing the retroactive benefit available from the month following the date the application was filed.
If you have questions about veterans benefits or would like assistance applying in Coopersville, MI, contact the Law Offices of David E. Waterstradt today.