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Health and safety are first priority in your mind, while your mother may be most focused on finances and making the most of available benefits payments.
Understanding the differences between the VA death pension vs. Aid and Attendance will make you better able to explain the financial facts.
Consider the specifics of your mother's case in the context of:
1) Service-Connected Compensation vs.
2) a non-service connected VA Pension.
A surviving spouse can qualify for Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) if the veteran's death resulted from a service-related injury or disease. This IS service-connected compensation, and asset limits and transfer penalties DO NOT apply. Here is the summary of DIC compensation, which can include an extra allowance if the surviving spouse is entitled to Aid & Attendance:
https://benefits.va.gov/Compensation/current_rates_dic.asp#BM01
Aid & Attendance is a NON-service connected VA pension which IS subject to asset and transfer rules.
Here is the VA's summary of maximum Aid & Attendance payments:
https://www.benefits.va.gov/pension/current_rates_survivor_pen.asp
Here is an example of how the VA looks at the unreimbursed medical expenses of a surviving spouse to determine the amount of the Aid & Attendance pension:
https://www.benefits.va.gov/pension/spousepencalc.asp
Talk with a Veteran Agent or Elder Law Attorney near you and determine whether room and board at the assisted living can be considered a medical expense in your mother's case.
Compare the amount she receives now in service-connected compensation with the maximum Aid & Attendance pension amount that would be allowed based on her income and total unreimbursed medical expenses.
If the Aid & Attendance pension would produce greater reimbursement, you have a financial talking point to help your mother chose the safer living environment.
….https://www.va.gov/COMMUNITYCARE/programs/dependents/champva/champva_eligibility.asp
Best of luck!
Not every AL accepts VA payment. You will need to speak with the caseworker about the list of accepted AL homes.
There may also be a requirement that your Mom may fall under the requirement her doctor must be VA too.
Good luck. Get your ducks all in a row because you'll be dealing with the Government and you don't always get the same answer twice.