Veterans Benefits for Nursing Home Care in Georgia: Complete Guide to VA Coverage, Aid & Attendance, and Community Care Options
Originally published: October 2025 | Reviewed by Sadie Mays
Originally published: October 2025 | Reviewed by Sadie Mays
Many Georgia veterans and their families face tough choices when long-term care becomes necessary. Nursing home costs add up fast, and it’s not long before family budgets feel the strain.
Georgia veterans can take advantage of several Department of Veterans Affairs programs to help cover the costs of nursing home care.
These options include federal VA long-term care benefits, Aid & Attendance payments, and access to state veterans homes.
These programs offer comprehensive coverage, but unfortunately, many families are unaware of how to utilize them—or even that they exist. The VA covers some long-term care costs for veterans enrolled in VA Health care if it’s medically necessary.
Georgia operates two skilled nursing care homes in Milledgeville and Augusta, specifically for eligible veterans of the war.
Georgia veterans have several options for accessing VA-funded nursing home care. You can get care in a VA facility, a community nursing home, or a state veterans home.
The VA offers three primary types of long-term care services for veterans who require more comprehensive care than routine doctor visits.
VA Nursing Home Care is provided in VA-run facilities, where staff offer medical and personal care. It’s a pretty hands-on approach.
Community Nursing Home Care allows veterans to receive VA-covered care in private nursing homes. The VA contracts with these facilities, which helps if a VA facility isn’t close by or is full.
State Veterans Homes come from partnerships between the state and the VA. Georgia operates two state war veterans homes—one in Augusta and one in Milledgeville.
Home and Community-Based Services help veterans stay at home for longer periods. These services include home health care and assisted living for those who don’t need full nursing home care.
Veterans must meet specific service and clinical requirements to qualify for VA nursing home benefits in Georgia.
Service Requirements refer to an honorable discharge from active duty and serving the minimum time required for VA health care eligibility.
VA Health Care Enrollment is a must before you can use nursing home care. Veterans with high service-connected disabilities, pension recipients, or low-income vets get priority.
Medical Need Assessment comes from the VA medical staff, who decide if you need skilled nursing care you can’t get at home.
VA must provide nursing home care to veterans with a service-connected disability rating of 70% or higher (or TDIU) and to those requiring care for a service-connected condition. Other veterans may qualify based on income and clinical need, but availability varies.
The VA has a structured assessment to determine where each Georgia veteran should receive care.
Clinical Assessment Teams look at your health, abilities, and what kind of care you need. They decide how much nursing supervision and medical help you’ll require.
Available Capacity can change your options. If VA facilities are full, the VA may send you to a contracted community nursing home.
Geographic Location plays a role, too. If you live far from a VA center, you may be eligible for priority placement in a community nursing home closer to your family.
Family Preferences count when possible. The VA strives to accommodate requests for specific care settings, provided your clinical needs permit it.
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VA care settings vary in what they cover and who they serve in Georgia.
| Care Setting | Coverage | Georgia Veteran Eligibility |
| VA Facilities | Full medical and personal care | High service-connected ratings, complex medical needs |
| Community Nursing Homes | VA-approved care services | When VA facilities are unavailable, geographic considerations |
| State Veterans Homes | Partial VA funding support | Georgia residents meeting state and federal requirements |
| Home-Based Services | Limited medical and personal care | Veterans are able to remain safely at home with support |
VA long-term care copays are $0 for the first 21 days in any 12-month period; after day 22, veterans may owe a copay based on income, assets, and service-connected disability rating.
Georgia veterans with a service-connected disability rating of 70% or higher receive priority placement. Veterans with lower ratings or non-service-connected conditions may still qualify, depending on their income and medical needs.
The Aid and Attendance benefit provides tax-free financial assistance to wartime veterans and their surviving spouses who require help with daily living activities.
This additional VA pension can significantly reduce out-of-pocket nursing home expenses for Georgia families who qualify.
Veterans who served before 9/7/1980 need 90 days of active duty (with one wartime day). Veterans who entered service after September 7, 1980, generally require 24 months of active duty or completion of their full call-up period (including wartime service), unless an exception applies.
Medical Requirements:
Financial Limits for 2025:
Your home and car don’t count toward the asset limit. But Social Security, pensions, and investment income do.
Aid and Attendance can help pay for in-home care, assisted living, or nursing home care. Once you get the funds, you can use them as needed.
Approved Care Settings:
Covered Services:
Veterans residing in nursing homes can utilize the benefit to cover out-of-pocket expenses not covered by insurance or Medicaid.
Required Forms:
Supporting Documentation:
Common Mistakes:
Processing usually takes 3-6 months. It’s best to apply after care has begun and your medical needs are well-documented.
2025 Maximum Annual Aid and Attendance Rates:
Georgia Nursing Home Costs
The aid and attendance benefit covers about 23-35% of typical nursing home costs in Georgia. If you add in Social Security and a VA pension, families can cut their care bills down quite a bit.
Monthly Comparison:
| Care Type | Georgia Average Cost | Max A&A Benefit | Coverage Percentage |
| Nursing Home (Private) | $8,500 | $2,296 | 27% |
| Assisted Living | $4,500 | $2,296 | 51% |
| Home Care (40 hrs/week) | $4,800 | $2,296 | 48% |
Discover how Sadie G. Mays coordinates VA coverage, Aid & Attendance, and state benefits so families reduce costs and stress. Schedule an appointment with us now.
If you’re ready to get started, call us now!
Georgia operates two skilled nursing homes for eligible veterans of the war—one in Augusta and another in Milledgeville. They work in conjunction with federal VA benefits.
These state facilities coordinate with programs such as Aid & Attendance and disability compensation to lower costs for qualifying veterans.
Veterans must meet specific criteria to be eligible for Georgia’s state veterans’ homes. Applicants must be current Georgia residents who have lived in the state for at least 2 years immediately prior to the application or for 5 of the past 15 years.
Wartime service is a must. Veterans must have served during a federally recognized war period. All branches are welcome, as long as the wartime service box gets checked.
Discharge status matters too. Only honorable or under honorable conditions make the cut. Dishonorable discharges? That usually means no admission.
Clinical need assessment sorts out who gets in first. Those who require skilled nursing care are given priority.
Space is always an issue. Even if you qualify, you might have to wait if the place is full.
The Georgia Department of Veterans Service assists with applications and eligibility checks. Veterans and families can reach out to GDVS for help with admission requirements.
Georgia’s state veterans’ homes use a daily fee system. The amount depends on your federal benefit status.
If you don’t have qualifying federal benefits, you pay the standard rate. Aid & Attendance pension can significantly reduce those fees—sometimes covering most or even all daily costs.
If you have a service-connected disability rating of 70% or higher, you usually get all daily fees waived. That means free care in Georgia’s state homes.
Disability compensation with lower ratings? You may still be eligible for a fee reduction, but the amount depends on your monthly income.
The housebound benefit can help too. If you get it, you pay less than someone with no federal help at all.
State homes check directly with the VA to verify your benefits. That way, they get the fees right and avoid billing headaches.
Veterans should keep their federal benefit applications up to date while living in state facilities. Any change in disability rating or pension affects your daily fee right away.
If you’re in a private nursing home, you can transfer to a Georgia state home when a bed opens up. You’ll need to coordinate between different benefit programs.
Federal benefits keep going during the move. Aid & Attendance, disability compensation, and pension payments follow you to the new place.
Medicaid becomes a factor for some folks. You may need to adjust your Medicaid coverage when transitioning from private to state care.
Timing matters. It’s smart to apply for a state home while keeping your current care in place, just in case.
The State Veterans Home Program partnership between the federal government and Georgia helps make the transition smoother. This way, you don’t end up with a coverage gap.
You’ll need paperwork, including discharge summaries, benefit verification letters, and all your medical and financial information. State homes require everything to be in order before they accept a transfer.
Families should work with the social workers at both facilities. They know the ropes and help make sure the move and benefit transfers go as smoothly as possible.
Community care allows veterans to receive VA-funded services from non-VA providers in their local area. This program can help cover the costs of home-based care, enabling veterans to remain in their own homes for extended periods.
It also works in conjunction with other benefits to extend your coverage for long-term needs.
The VA Community Care Program connects veterans with home and community-based services through local providers.
These services allow many veterans to stay in their own homes longer and avoid moving into nursing facilities too soon.
Available services include:
Veterans may qualify for VA Community Care if the VA cannot provide timely care. Current access standards are 20 days for primary, mental health, or non-institutional extended care (within a 30-minute drive) and 28 days for specialty care (within a 60-minute drive).
Community care can encompass medical services provided at home, including physical therapy, occupational therapy, and skilled nursing visits.
The veteran-directed care model gives veterans more control. You can pick your own caregivers and set your daily routine.
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Veterans can switch between community care and nursing home care as their needs change. The VA regularly checks in to determine the level of service that best fits.
If you’re getting home health aide care, you might need to move to a nursing home if:
You’ll need a new assessment from VA clinical staff before making the move. They’ll look at your health and care needs.
Veterans in nursing homes can transition back to community care if they improve. The VA and facility staff work together to plan a safe return home.
Respite care helps families handle short-term bumps in care needs. It can help keep veterans out of nursing homes for a little while when things get tough.
Most veterans utilize a combination of funding sources to cover the costs of long-term care. VA health care teams up with other programs to help you get the most coverage possible.
Common benefit combinations:
| Primary Coverage | Secondary Coverage | Services Covered |
| VA Community Care | Medicaid | Home care, adult day programs |
| Private Insurance | VA Benefits | Skilled nursing, therapy |
| Medicaid | VA Copay Support | Nursing home care |
Note: A&A amounts are maximum annual pension rates (MAPR). Actual payments equal MAPR minus countable income, after deducting unreimbursed medical expenses.
Medicaid can cover services that VA community care doesn’t provide. That might mean more hours for a homemaker or home health aide, or special equipment.
If you have private long-term care insurance, it typically pays out before VA benefits take effect. Veterans should coordinate everything to avoid any gaps.
The VA and state Medicaid programs collaborate to prevent duplicate payments. This way, veterans can maximize their benefits without confusion over billing.
Adult day health care programs often take payments from multiple sources. Veterans can use VA community care and Medicaid together to access more hours of care if needed.
If you want nursing home benefits in Georgia, you’ll need to fill out paperwork, gather documents, and work with the right offices.
The application process typically takes a few months and often involves completing several forms for different programs.
Your DD-214 discharge papers are the main proof that you served. You’ll need them for any VA or state program.
Before you apply for nursing home care, you have to complete VA health enrollment. If you’re not enrolled, start with VA Form 10-10EZ.
You’ll also need medical documentation to demonstrate why you require nursing home care. This usually means:
For means-tested benefits like Aid and Attendance, you have to show financial records. That means:
A VA social worker can help you figure out exactly which documents you’ll need, depending on the benefits you’re after.
Veterans can apply in one of several ways, depending on the type of care they need.
To get VA nursing home care, fill out VA Form 10-10EZ to enroll in health care and then complete extra forms for long-term care. You can do this online at VA.gov or at your local VA medical center.
The Georgia Department of Veterans Services has accredited Veterans Service Officers in field offices throughout the state. They’ll help you with your application for free.
Georgia Veterans Homes in Augusta and Milledgeville each have their own admissions process. You’ll need to call the facility directly to initiate the state home application process.
If you want Community Care programs, you’ll need a referral from your VA primary care doctor. Bring it up at your next VA appointment to see if you qualify.
VA health enrollment typically takes between 2 and 4 weeks for most veterans. If you’re in priority groups 1-6, you’ll probably hear back sooner than others.
Nursing home placement through the VA can take anywhere from 30 to 90 days. Bed availability and your medical needs really drive how long you’ll wait.
If you need urgent care, the VA sometimes sets up temporary community care while you wait for a spot in a VA facility. It’s not ideal, but at least you’re not left hanging.
Aid and Attendance pensions are a waiting game, often taking 6 to 12 months for a decision. The VA digs into your financial and medical records before giving the green light.
Retroactive benefits might kick in for Aid and Attendance pensions. If you get approved, you’ll receive back payments starting from your application date or when you first became eligible—whichever comes later.
Georgia Veterans Homes maintain waiting lists when they reach capacity. How long you wait depends on the level of care you need and how many beds are available.
Sadie G. Mays helps Georgia veterans access quality nursing home care with dignity and trusted support. Learn how benefits apply to your family—Contact us today.
What VA benefits cover nursing home care for veterans in Georgia?
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) can cover nursing home care for Georgia-based veterans through approved settings such as VA Community Living Centers, Community Nursing Homes, or a State Veterans Home—provided the veteran is enrolled in VA health care, medically qualifies for full-time care, and space is available.
What is the Aid & Attendance benefit, and how does it help Georgia veterans with nursing home costs?
The Aid & Attendance (A&A) benefit is a tax-free monthly VA pension add-on for wartime veterans (or their surviving spouses) who need help with daily living or reside in a nursing home; in Georgia, it can offset nursing home fees, allowing veterans to apply those funds toward long-term care.
What eligibility requirements must Georgia veterans meet to be admitted to the state war veterans home?
To enter a Georgia state war veterans home, the veteran must be a Georgia resident (2 years immediately or 5 of the past 15), have served on active duty during a qualifying wartime era, have an “other-than-dishonorable” discharge, be approved by the VA for skilled nursing, and not require mechanical life-sustaining equipment.
Will the VA pay 100% of nursing home costs for all eligible veterans?
No. The VA may pay full or partial costs, depending on the service-connected disability rating (typically 70% or higher), the need for skilled care, income/assets, and whether the veteran is using a VA-owned facility or a community/state home.
How do Georgia veterans combine VA benefits, A&A, and state home fees to reduce out-of-pocket costs?
Veterans can stack benefits by applying for VA nursing home coverage (or state veterans’ home admission), then claiming A&A pension to offset personal daily fees, and finally using state home care (where fees may be waived for service-connected disabilities of 70% or higher) to minimize or eliminate out-of-pocket long-term care costs.