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VA Aid and Attendance & Veterans Benefits
Wartime veterans and their surviving spouses can get a monthly VA pension that helps pay for assisted living or care at home. Most eligible families never apply. Help filing is free from accredited representatives, so never pay someone to apply for you.
Rules and phone numbers differ by state.Open your state's guide for the local version.
Veterans benefits: the 2026 numbers
What VA Aid and Attendance requires
Aid and Attendance is an add-on to VA pension (not a separate program). The person must receive or qualify for pension and meet at least one of these: needs another person's help with daily activities like bathing, feeding and dressing; must stay in bed much of the day due to illness; is a nursing home patient due to loss of mental or physical abilities; or has eyesight of 5/200 or less in both eyes. Apply with VA Form 21-2680 (completed by a doctor) and, for nursing home residents, VA Form 21-0779. A person cannot get Housebound and Aid and Attendance at the same time.
VA Pension with Aid and Attendance, veteran with no dependents
Effective December 1, 2025 (about $2,424 a month maximum). Assisted living and nursing home costs usually count as unreimbursed medical expenses that reduce countable income, which is why many residents qualify.
VA Pension, two veterans married to each other, both Aid and Attendance
Effective December 1, 2025. Other rates for two veterans married to each other: basic $22,839; one housebound $26,710; both housebound $30,580; one A&A $34,488; one housebound and one A&A $38,350.
VA Veterans Pension MAPR, veteran with no dependents
Maximum Annual Pension Rate effective December 1, 2025. VA pays the difference between the veteran's countable income (after deducting unreimbursed medical expenses above $872) and this amount.
Applies December 1, 2025 through November 30, 2026, for both Veterans Pension and Survivors Pension. Net worth means assets plus annual income. The primary residence and the car are not counted.
VA reviews assets transferred in the 3 years before the pension claim. Transfers for less than fair market value that would have put net worth over the limit can bring a penalty period of up to 5 years with no pension. Moving money to qualify, often pushed by paid advisers, can backfire with both VA and Medicaid.
Monthly tax-free payments for wartime veterans with limited income and net worth. Apply online or mail VA Form 21P-527EZ to the Pension Intake Center, PO Box 5365, Janesville, WI 53547-5365.
When to use it: When a parent served during a wartime period and their income, after subtracting care costs, is low.
VA looks back 3 years at asset transfers and can impose a penalty of up to 5 years; never pay anyone to move assets so a parent can qualify.
Extra monthly money added to a VA pension for veterans and surviving spouses who need help with daily activities, are bedridden, live in a nursing home, or have severe vision loss. Apply with VA Form 21-2680 completed by a doctor, plus VA Form 21-0779 for nursing home residents.
When to use it: When a veteran or surviving spouse in assisted living, memory care or a nursing home needs help with bathing, dressing or eating.
Use a VA-accredited representative, and be wary of anyone who charges to prepare a claim or sells annuities or trusts to help a parent qualify.
Monthly payments for a surviving spouse of a wartime veteran who has not remarried and has limited income and net worth, with higher amounts for Aid and Attendance. Apply with VA Form 21P-534EZ.
When to use it: When your widowed parent was married to a wartime veteran and now needs care.
Search for a VA-accredited Veterans Service Organization representative, attorney or claims agent who is authorized to help with a pension or Aid and Attendance claim. Some accredited representatives help for free on initial claims.
When to use it: Before signing up with anyone offering to help a parent get VA benefits.
So-called pension poachers who are not VA-accredited may charge fees or sell financial products to help a parent qualify, which can backfire; you can file a complaint with VA's Office of General Counsel.
Overview of VA Community Living Centers, State Veterans Homes, contracted community nursing homes, VA-inspected assisted living and medical foster homes, and who is eligible.
When to use it: When a veteran enrolled in VA health care needs nursing home or residential care.
VA does not run assisted living facilities and standard VA health benefits may not cover assisted living room and board; ask about Aid and Attendance pension.
VA's own nursing homes, over 100 nationwide, providing skilled nursing and help with daily activities. Eligibility depends on clinical need, service-connected status and income; apply with VA Form 10-10EC through a VA social worker.
When to use it: When a veteran enrolled in VA health care needs nursing home care.
Training, coaching, peer support and respite for family caregivers of veterans enrolled in VA health care. The Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers adds a monthly stipend for caregivers of veterans with a service-connected rating of at least 70%.
When to use it: When you are caring for a veteran parent at home and need support or may qualify for a stipend.