Are you a veteran with a will or trust? Discover why traditional plans might fall short—and how estate planning for veterans can help protect your assets, VA benefits, and long-term care.

Estate planning for veterans is more than just paperwork—it’s about protecting your hard-earned assets, ensuring your wishes are followed, and maximizing the benefits you’re entitled to. Whether you’re recently retired from service or decades into civilian life, it’s easy to assume you’re “covered” with a basic will or trust. But for many veterans, those plans might not work the way they think—especially when it comes to long-term care, taxes, or VA benefits.

What Makes Estate Planning for Veterans Different?

Veterans face unique circumstances that most traditional estate plans don’t address. While wills, living wills, or trusts are common tools, they aren’t always structured to support wartime veteran benefits or future eligibility for programs like Medicaid.

If you’ve served, especially during a wartime period, you may qualify for specialized support. But your current estate plan could unknowingly disqualify you.

To better understand what financial assistance may be available, you can check out the current VA disability compensation rates and veterans’ pension rates directly from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

“I thought I Had This Covered…”

A lot of veterans have a will, maybe even a trust. And while that’s a great starting point, those documents don’t always address the full picture, especially when it comes to:

• Long-term care costs
• VA benefits and eligibility
• Tax considerations around retirement and property

It’s easy to assume that having a plan means having protection. But without considering the unique needs and benefits tied to military service, your current plan might be working against you instead of for you.

Misconceptions That Could Cost You

Let’s clear up some of the biggest myths that lead veterans—and their families—into dangerous territory:

• “I have a will, so I’m all set.”
  → A will outlines who gets what when you pass away, but it does not protect your assets from long-term care costs or help with VA benefits like VA Wartime Pension.
• “My trust handles everything.”
  → Not all trusts are built with VA or Medicaid rules in mind. Without the right structure, your trust might not help with certain benefits.
• “I’ll worry about taxes later.”
  → Delaying planning could mean higher taxes on retirement accounts, property, and survivor benefits. A proactive plan helps reduce those burdens.
• “I’m not married and don’t have kids, so I don’t need a plan.”
  → Estate planning isn’t just about passing things down. It ensures you are protected if you become incapacitated and determines who makes medical or financial decisions on your behalf. Without a plan, those choices might end up in the hands of the state.

Even if you’ve already created a plan, it’s worth asking: Was this built with a veteran’s future in mind?

VA Wartime Pension: A Benefit Too Many Veterans Miss

One of the most common things we see? Veterans and their families have never even heard of the VA Wartime Pension.

VA Wartime Pension is a benefit for veterans and their surviving spouses that can provide monthly financial support to help pay for care—including in-home assistance, assisted living, or nursing homes.

To be eligible, veterans must meet certain service, medical, and financial requirements. But here’s the issue:
Most people either don’t know this benefit exists or assume they don’t qualify when they actually might.

We specialize in helping veterans understand and apply for this benefit, and more importantly, structure their estate planning in a way that keeps them eligible without compromising their assets or legacy.

If no one’s talked to you about this benefit before, now’s the time to ask questions. It can be life-changing support and it’s often left on the table.

You can explore more about this on our dedicated Wartime Veterans Pension page, or review how we assist with VA compensation planning for veterans.

Let’s Make Sure Your Plan Protects You

We talk to veterans all the time who are surprised to learn that their well-intentioned plans may not be serving them as well as they thought. That’s why we always encourage a second look—not to start over, but to make sure what you have actually does what you need it to do.

You’ve spent your life protecting others. Let us help make sure your plan protects you.

📞 Call (859) 592-1386 to schedule a free consultation
🌐 Visit elderlawguidance.com for more information