VA Aid & Attendance Pension: Who Qualifies and How to Apply

Long-term care is expensive, and for many veterans and their families, paying for help with daily activities is a serious financial challenge. The VA Aid and Attendance pension benefit provides additional monthly income to wartime veterans and surviving spouses who need regular assistance with everyday tasks. This benefit can add over $1,000 to $2,000 per month to your pension and can be used for any purpose, including in-home care, assisted living, or nursing home costs. Despite its value, Aid and Attendance is one of the most underused VA benefits. This guide explains who qualifies, how much the benefit pays, and how to apply.

What Is the Aid and Attendance Benefit?

Aid and Attendance is not a standalone VA program. It is an enhanced rate of the VA pension that provides additional monthly income to veterans and surviving spouses who need help with activities of daily living. The basic VA pension is available to wartime veterans who are age 65 or older, or permanently and totally disabled, and who meet income and net worth requirements. Aid and Attendance adds to this base pension amount when you can show that you need assistance from another person for daily living tasks.

The benefit is paid directly to you each month, and you can use the money however you choose. There are no restrictions on how you spend it. Many recipients use Aid and Attendance payments to hire in-home caregivers, pay for assisted living, cover nursing home copays, or offset other costs of living. Because the money goes directly to you rather than to a care provider, you have full flexibility in how it is used.

Eligibility Requirements for Aid and Attendance

Qualifying for Aid and Attendance requires meeting two sets of criteria: VA pension eligibility and a demonstrated need for assistance. Both conditions must be met before the VA will approve the enhanced benefit.

For VA pension eligibility, you must be a veteran who served at least 90 days of active duty, with at least one day during a wartime period. Qualifying wartime periods include World War II (December 7, 1941 through December 31, 1946), the Korean War (June 27, 1950 through January 31, 1955), the Vietnam War (February 28, 1961 through May 7, 1975 for those who served in Vietnam, or August 5, 1964 through May 7, 1975 for all others), and the Gulf War era (August 2, 1990 through a date to be determined). You must have been discharged under conditions other than dishonorable.

You must also be age 65 or older, or permanently and totally disabled. Your countable income, which is your gross household income minus unreimbursed medical expenses, must fall below the maximum annual pension rate for your situation. Your net worth must be at or below $150,538 in 2026. This net worth limit is adjusted each year based on cost-of-living increases.

Beyond the pension eligibility requirements, you must also demonstrate a need for Aid and Attendance. You qualify if you meet at least one of the following conditions: you need the regular assistance of another person to perform activities of daily living such as bathing, dressing, eating, adjusting prosthetic devices, or protecting yourself from the hazards of daily life; you are bedridden and spend a majority of your time in bed due to a disability; you are a patient in a nursing home due to physical or mental incapacity; or you have corrected visual acuity of 5/200 or less in both eyes, or a visual field of 5 degrees or less.

Income and Net Worth Limits

The VA pension, including Aid and Attendance, is a needs-based benefit. This means your income and net worth must fall within certain limits. Understanding these financial requirements is critical to determining whether you qualify and how much you might receive.

The VA calculates your countable income by taking your total household income and subtracting unreimbursed medical expenses that exceed 5 percent of the maximum annual pension rate. This is important because many veterans and surviving spouses who initially appear to exceed income limits actually qualify once their out-of-pocket medical expenses, including the cost of caregivers and assisted living, are factored in. Recurring medical expenses such as monthly insurance premiums, regular prescription costs, and ongoing care fees can significantly reduce your countable income.

The net worth limit of $150,538 in 2026 includes most of your assets, such as bank accounts, investments, stocks, bonds, and real estate other than your primary residence. Your home, personal belongings, one vehicle, and certain other exempt assets are not counted. If your net worth exceeds the limit, you may be able to use your excess assets to pay for care or other needs to reduce your net worth to the qualifying level.

The VA enforces a three-year look-back period for asset transfers. If you gave away or transferred assets within three years of applying for the pension in order to meet the net worth limit, the VA may impose a penalty period of up to five years during which benefits are denied. This rule was implemented in 2018 to prevent applicants from simply giving away their assets to qualify. Legitimate expenses, such as paying for care, home repairs, or other necessary costs, are not penalized.

Current Payment Rates for Aid and Attendance

Aid and Attendance payment rates represent the maximum annual pension rate for your situation, paid in monthly installments. The actual amount you receive equals the maximum rate minus your countable income. If your countable income, after deducting unreimbursed medical expenses, is zero or very low, you would receive the full maximum payment.

The approximate maximum monthly rates with Aid and Attendance included are as follows. A veteran without dependents may receive up to approximately $2,229 per month. A veteran with one dependent, typically a spouse, may receive up to approximately $2,642 per month. A surviving spouse with no dependents may receive up to approximately $1,432 per month. A surviving spouse with one dependent may receive up to approximately $1,732 per month. These rates are adjusted annually based on cost-of-living increases published by the VA.

While these amounts may not cover the full cost of a nursing home, they can make a meaningful difference in paying for in-home care, assisted living, or supplementing other income sources. Many families combine Aid and Attendance payments with other resources such as Social Security, personal savings, or Medicaid to create a comprehensive plan for paying for care.

How to Apply for Aid and Attendance

Applying for Aid and Attendance involves submitting a pension application along with medical evidence documenting your need for assistance. The process can be done online, by mail, or with the help of a VA-accredited representative.

If you are not already receiving a VA pension, you will need to apply for the pension and the Aid and Attendance enhancement at the same time. Veterans apply using VA Form 21-527EZ, which is the Application for Pension. Surviving spouses use VA Form 21-534EZ. Along with the application, you must submit VA Form 21-2680, the Examination for Housebound Status or Permanent Need for Regular Aid and Attendance. This form must be completed by your physician, who will document your medical conditions and describe the assistance you need with daily activities.

If you are already receiving a VA pension and your condition has worsened to the point where you now need Aid and Attendance, you can request the enhancement by submitting VA Form 21-2680 along with a letter requesting the increased benefit. You do not need to resubmit your full pension application.

You will also need to provide supporting documents including your DD-214 or other discharge papers, proof of wartime service, income and asset information, medical records or statements from your doctor, and if applicable, a marriage certificate or death certificate. The more complete your initial submission, the faster the VA can process your claim.

Processing Time and What to Expect

After you submit your application, the VA will review your claim, verify your military service, assess your financial eligibility, and evaluate your medical evidence. Processing times for Aid and Attendance claims typically range from 6 to 12 months, though some claims may be resolved faster if all evidence is submitted upfront and there are no complications.

You can check the status of your claim at any time through your VA.gov account or by calling 1-800-827-1000. If the VA needs additional information, they will send you a letter requesting it. Responding promptly to these requests helps prevent delays.

If your claim is approved, the VA will pay you retroactively to the date they received your application. This means that even if the claim takes several months to process, you will receive back pay for the entire period from the date of filing. If your claim is denied, you have the right to appeal the decision. Consider working with a VA-accredited attorney, claims agent, or Veterans Service Organization representative to help with an appeal.

Aid and Attendance for Surviving Spouses

Surviving spouses of wartime veterans are often overlooked when it comes to Aid and Attendance eligibility. If your spouse served during a qualifying wartime period and was discharged under conditions other than dishonorable, you may be eligible for a survivor's pension with Aid and Attendance, even years after your spouse's death.

To qualify, you must not have remarried after your spouse's death. You must also meet the same income and net worth requirements that apply to veterans, and you must demonstrate a need for the regular aid and attendance of another person. The same medical criteria apply: you need help with activities of daily living, you are bedridden, you are in a nursing home, or you have severely limited eyesight.

The maximum monthly payment for a surviving spouse with Aid and Attendance is approximately $1,432 per month without dependents. While this is lower than the veteran rate, it can still provide meaningful financial support, particularly for paying for in-home care or supplementing other income. Many surviving spouses are elderly and may have significant medical expenses that reduce their countable income, making more of them eligible than they might initially expect.

Common Mistakes and Tips for a Successful Application

Many Aid and Attendance applications are delayed or denied due to avoidable errors. Understanding common pitfalls can help you submit a stronger claim and reduce your wait time.

One of the most common mistakes is failing to include VA Form 21-2680 or having it completed incompletely. Your physician must clearly describe your limitations and explain why you need the regular aid and attendance of another person. Vague or incomplete medical evidence is a frequent reason for denial. Ask your doctor to be specific about which activities of daily living you need help with and how often you need assistance.

Another common issue is not reporting all unreimbursed medical expenses. Remember that out-of-pocket costs for caregivers, assisted living, insurance premiums, prescriptions, medical supplies, and other healthcare expenses reduce your countable income. Many veterans and surviving spouses who think they exceed the income limits actually qualify once these expenses are properly accounted for. Keep records of all medical expenses throughout the year.

Be cautious of companies that charge fees to help you file for Aid and Attendance. VA-accredited attorneys, claims agents, and Veterans Service Organizations like the American Legion, VFW, and DAV can assist you for free or at regulated fees. The VA does not charge a fee to apply, and you do not need to pay a private company to submit your application. If someone asks for an upfront fee to file your claim, consider this a warning sign.

Finally, do not transfer assets to qualify for the benefit. The VA's three-year look-back rule means that giving away money or property to get below the net worth limit can result in a penalty period of up to five years during which you receive no benefits. Spend assets legitimately on care, home modifications, or other needs rather than transferring them to family members or trusts.

The VA Aid and Attendance benefit is a valuable resource that can provide critical financial support for veterans and surviving spouses who need help with daily living. Whether you are paying for a caregiver at home, living in an assisted living facility, or covering nursing home costs, the additional monthly income from Aid and Attendance can ease the financial burden of long-term care. If you or a family member might qualify, starting the application process early is the best way to ensure benefits are in place when you need them most.