The VA does not pay assisted living communities directly, and it never pays room and board in assisted living through VA health care. But wartime veterans and surviving spouses with limited income can get the VA pension with an Aid and Attendance allowance, a monthly cash benefit they can spend on assisted living. For the year starting December 1, 2025, the maximum is $29,093 a year (about $2,424 a month) for a single veteran, $34,488 for a veteran with a spouse, and $18,697 for a surviving spouse. Because assisted living costs count as medical expenses, many residents who seem to have “too much” income still qualify.
This guide covers the 2026 rates, who qualifies, how the net worth and medical expense rules work, how to apply, and the other VA programs that can help pay for care at home or in a facility.
What is VA Aid and Attendance?
Aid and Attendance (often shortened to A&A) is not a separate program. It is an extra amount added to the monthly VA pension (Veterans Pension or Survivors Pension) for people who need help with daily living. There is also a smaller Housebound allowance for people who are confined mostly to their home by a permanent disability. You can receive one or the other, not both.
The VA pension is needs-based. It tops up a household’s countable income to a maximum annual pension rate (MAPR) set by Congress. The higher MAPR that comes with A&A is what makes the benefit useful for assisted living.
Who qualifies for the Aid and Attendance allowance
You must qualify for the VA pension first (see the service and financial rules below), and then meet at least one of these conditions:
- You need another person’s help with daily activities like bathing, eating, dressing or using the bathroom
- You stay in bed, or spend a large part of the day in bed, because of illness
- You live in a nursing home because of a loss of mental or physical abilities related to a disability
- Your eyesight is 5/200 or less in both eyes even with correction, or your visual field is 5 degrees or less
Dementia that requires supervision for safety commonly supports an A&A claim, and many assisted living and memory care residents meet the standard. The Housebound allowance requires that you spend most of your time at home because of a permanent disability.
Veterans on VA disability compensation can get a separate aid and attendance increase (special monthly compensation) with no income test. This guide covers the pension version, which most older wartime veterans and widows use.
2026 VA pension and Aid and Attendance rates
VA pension rates rose 2.8% effective December 1, 2025, in line with the Social Security cost-of-living adjustment. These are the maximum annual pension rates for the period through November 30, 2026.
| Household | Basic pension | With Housebound | With Aid and Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Veteran, no dependents | $17,441/yr | $21,313/yr | $29,093/yr (about $2,424/mo) |
| Veteran with spouse or one dependent | $22,839/yr | $26,710/yr | $34,488/yr (about $2,874/mo) |
| Two married veterans, one needs A&A | $22,839/yr | $26,710/yr | $34,488/yr |
| Two married veterans, both need A&A | n/a | $30,580/yr (both Housebound) | $46,143/yr (about $3,845/mo) |
| Surviving spouse, no children | $11,699/yr | $14,298/yr | $18,697/yr (about $1,558/mo) |
| Surviving spouse with one child | $15,311/yr | $17,902/yr | $22,304/yr |
Source: VA.gov Veterans Pension rates and Survivors Pension rates, effective December 1, 2025. Add $2,984 per additional dependent child. Monthly figures are rounded.
These are maximums. Your actual payment is the MAPR minus your countable income, which is your gross income minus qualifying medical expenses. The example later in this guide shows how assisted living costs can push countable income to zero, so that the person receives the full amount.
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Take the free care quizMilitary service requirements
VA pension is for wartime veterans, but they did not have to serve in combat or overseas. One day of active duty during a recognized wartime period is enough, as long as total service meets the minimum.
The 90-day rule (and the 24-month rule)
- Entered active duty before September 8, 1980: at least 90 days of active duty, with at least one day during a wartime period.
- Enlisted after September 7, 1980: generally at least 24 months of active duty, or the full period you were called or ordered to serve (with some exceptions), with at least one day during wartime.
- Officers who started after October 16, 1981 and had not previously served 24 months: the same 24-month rule generally applies.
- The discharge must be other than dishonorable.
Wartime periods recognized by the VA
| Wartime period | Dates |
|---|---|
| Mexican Border period | May 9, 1916 to April 5, 1917 (service in Mexico, on its borders or in adjacent waters) |
| World War I | April 6, 1917 to November 11, 1918 |
| World War II | December 7, 1941 to December 31, 1946 |
| Korean conflict | June 27, 1950 to January 31, 1955 |
| Vietnam era (served in the Republic of Vietnam) | November 1, 1955 to May 7, 1975 |
| Vietnam era (served elsewhere) | August 5, 1964 to May 7, 1975 |
| Gulf War | August 2, 1990 to a future date set by law or presidential proclamation |
Source: VA.gov, Veterans Pension eligibility.
The veteran must also be 65 or older, or permanently and totally disabled, or a long-term nursing home patient because of a disability, or receiving SSDI or SSI. Surviving spouses qualify based on the deceased veteran’s service and must meet the survivor marriage and income rules.
Net worth limit and the 3-year look-back
The 2026 net worth limit: $163,699
For December 1, 2025 through November 30, 2026, a claimant’s net worth must be $163,699 or less. The VA defines net worth as assets plus annual income, and a spouse’s net worth counts too. Countable income is measured after subtracting unreimbursed medical expenses, so high care costs help on this test as well.
What is excluded from assets:
- Your primary home and its lot, up to 2 acres. The home stays excluded if you move into a nursing home, assisted living, a medical foster home or a relative’s home for care. If you sell it after you are approved, the proceeds count as an asset unless you buy another home in the same calendar year.
- Your vehicle
- Most household furnishings and personal effects
What counts: bank accounts, investments, retirement accounts, cash value of life insurance, other real estate and similar assets, minus debts on them.
The 36-month look-back and penalty
Since October 18, 2018, the VA reviews asset transfers in the 36 months before you file. If you gave away assets, or sold them for less than fair market value, and keeping them would have put your net worth over the limit, the VA imposes a penalty period with no pension.
- How the penalty is calculated: the amount by which the transfer would have pushed you over the limit, divided by a monthly penalty rate. The rate equals the MAPR for a veteran with one dependent needing A&A, divided by 12 and rounded down. For claims in the current period that is $34,488 / 12 = $2,874 a month.
- Maximum penalty: 5 years.
- Example: a widow with $150,000 in savings gives $40,000 to her son and then applies. Had she kept it, her net worth would have been about $190,000, roughly $26,300 over the limit. Dividing $26,300 by $2,874 gives a penalty of 9 months.
- Fixing it: if the assets are returned before the claim date, or within 60 days of the VA’s penalty notice, the VA recalculates or removes the penalty.
Medicaid has its own, separate 5-year look-back. Moving money to qualify for VA pension can cause problems with Medicaid later, so get advice before transferring anything. Our guide to Medicaid and assisted living explains the Medicaid side.
How assisted living counts as a medical expense
This is the rule that makes A&A work for assisted living. The VA subtracts unreimbursed medical expenses from your income, but only the portion above 5% of the basic MAPR (for 2026, $872 for a veteran with no dependents, $1,141 with one dependent, and $584 for a surviving spouse with no child).
Under the VA’s rules, payments to an assisted living community (the VA calls it a “care facility other than a nursing home”) can count in full, including room and board, when:
- The facility provides or contracts for the resident’s health care or custodial care, and
- The resident needs Aid and Attendance or is Housebound, or a physician, physician assistant, nurse practitioner or clinical nurse specialist states in writing that the resident needs a protected environment because of a physical, mental or cognitive disorder.
Payments to in-home caregivers can also count when the person qualifies for A&A or Housebound, or a clinician states the care is needed. Health insurance premiums (including Medicare Part B, which is $202.90 a month in 2026) also count as medical expenses.
Example: a single veteran in assisted living
| Step | Amount (per year) |
|---|---|
| Social Security and other income | $30,000 |
| Assisted living fees ($6,200/month national median) | $74,400 |
| Medicare Part B premiums ($202.90 x 12) | $2,435 |
| Total medical expenses | $76,835 |
| Less 5% threshold | -$872 |
| Deductible medical expenses | $75,963 |
| Countable income ($30,000 minus $75,963, floor of $0) | $0 |
| Pension with A&A ($29,093 MAPR minus $0) | $29,093 (about $2,424 a month) |
Sources: VA.gov 2026 pension rates; CareScout 2025 Cost of Care Survey (assisted living median); CMS 2026 Part B premium. Example is illustrative.
Even with $30,000 of income, this veteran receives the maximum. The pension will not cover the whole bill (the median assisted living cost is about $6,200 a month according to CareScout’s 2025 survey), but it closes a big part of the gap. See how much assisted living costs for state-by-state figures and how to pay for assisted living with no money for other funding options.
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Browse communities by state and city, then ask each one how they work with veterans receiving Aid and Attendance.
Browse assisted living near youHow to apply for Aid and Attendance: step by step
- Set your effective date. If you are not applying online with a verified account straight away, submit VA Form 21-0966 (Intent to File). If approved, you may be paid back to that date. When you start the online application while signed in to a verified VA.gov account, the effective date is set automatically.
- Gather documents: DD-214 or other discharge papers, Social Security numbers, marriage records (and the veteran’s death certificate for survivors), income statements, bank and investment statements, and receipts or a monthly statement from the assisted living community or home care agency.
- Complete the pension application. Veterans use VA Form 21P-527EZ (Application for Veterans Pension). Surviving spouses and children use VA Form 21P-534EZ (Application for DIC, Survivors Pension and/or Accrued Benefits).
- Get the medical exam form filled out. VA Form 21-2680 (Examination for Housebound Status or Permanent Need for Regular Aid and Attendance) must be completed by a medical examiner, usually the person’s doctor. Residents of a nursing home also submit VA Form 21-0779. Assisted living communities can often provide a letter describing the help the resident receives.
- Document medical expenses. VA Form 21P-8416 (Medical Expense Report) lists recurring costs like assisted living fees, caregivers and insurance premiums.
- Submit the claim online at VA.gov, through the QuickSubmit upload tool, in person at a VA regional office, or by mail to: Department of Veterans Affairs, Pension Intake Center, PO Box 5365, Janesville, WI 53547-5365.
- Respond quickly to VA letters asking for more evidence, and check claim status on VA.gov.
How long does it take?
The VA processes claims in the order received and does not publish a fixed timeline for pension claims, so expect several months. Claims can get priority processing in some situations, such as terminal illness, extreme financial hardship or being 85 or older, so say so on the application if it applies. Once approved, payments generally begin the first of the month after the effective date, with back pay to that date. That is why filing an Intent to File early matters.
Get free help, and avoid pension poachers
Only VA-accredited representatives, attorneys and claims agents can legally help prepare a VA claim. Free help is available from:
- Veterans Service Organizations such as the American Legion, VFW, DAV and others
- County Veterans Service Officers and state veterans affairs offices
Search the VA’s accreditation database (on VA.gov, “Find a VA accredited representative”) before working with anyone. The VA Office of Inspector General warns about “pension poachers” who target veterans at senior centers and assisted living communities. Red flags include:
- Guaranteeing that you will qualify
- Charging an upfront fee, or a percentage of your benefit, to file the claim
- Telling you to misreport income or expenses
- Pushing you to move assets into a trust or buy an annuity to qualify (which can also trigger the look-back penalty or ruin Medicaid eligibility)
- Asking for credit card numbers or trying to redirect VA payments into an account someone else controls
Report suspected fraud to the VA OIG at vaoig.gov.
Other VA programs that help with long-term care
A&A is cash you can spend on any care. The VA also provides care services directly through VA health care. You must be enrolled in VA health care first, and most of these programs depend on clinical need, local availability and, for some, service-connected disability rating and income.
Who is eligible for the veterans home care program?
The VA’s home care programs (Homemaker and Home Health Aide care, and Veteran Directed Care) are open to all veterans enrolled in VA health care who:
- Meet the clinical need for the service (for example, needing help with bathing, dressing or eating, being isolated, or having a caregiver under strain)
- Are eligible for VA community care, which commonly applies when the VA cannot meet its access standards (for home and community services, an average 30-minute drive time or an appointment within 20 days)
- Live where the program is offered (availability varies by VA medical center)
A copay may apply depending on service-connected status and income. Long-term care copays start on the 22nd day of care. Ask your VA primary care team or a VA social worker for an assessment.
Homemaker and Home Health Aide care
Trained aides, supervised by a registered nurse, come to the home to help with personal care and daily routines such as bathing, dressing, eating and grocery shopping. Visit frequency ranges from several times a week to occasional, based on assessed need. It can also give family caregivers a break.
Veteran Directed Care
Veterans get a monthly budget for in-home help and hire their own workers with support from a counselor. Workers can include a family member or neighbor. It is a good fit when the veteran wants control over who provides care and when.
State Veterans Homes
There are 172 State Veterans Homes across all 50 states and Puerto Rico. They are owned and run by the states, and the VA pays them a per diem for eligible veterans. Depending on the home, they offer nursing home care, domiciliary care (closer to assisted living) and adult day health care. Admission rules and resident fees vary by state; spouses and Gold Star parents may be admitted at some homes.
Community Nursing Home program
The VA contracts with private nursing homes to care for eligible veterans. Veterans with a 70% to 100% service-connected rating, those who need nursing home care for a service-connected condition, and some other groups can receive this care at VA expense. Others may get short stays based on availability and need. Note that if the VA pays for nursing home care, a pension with A&A may be reduced; ask the VA social worker before admission.
Medical Foster Homes
A Medical Foster Home is a private home where a trained caregiver looks after one to three veterans who can no longer live alone. The veteran pays the caregiver a monthly fee based on income and care needs (it is private pay, and A&A can help cover it), while the VA’s Home Based Primary Care team provides medical care in the home.
Comparison of VA long-term care options
| Program | What it provides | Who qualifies | Pays for assisted living rent? | Typical cost to veteran |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pension with Aid and Attendance | Monthly cash, up to $29,093/yr single veteran, $34,488 with spouse, $18,697 surviving spouse | Wartime veterans and survivors meeting income, net worth and care-need tests | Indirectly, yes (cash can be spent on it) | None |
| Homemaker and Home Health Aide care | Aide visits for personal care at home | Enrolled veterans with clinical need, community care eligible, where available | No | Possible copay |
| Veteran Directed Care | Budget to hire own caregivers, including family | Same as above | No | Possible copay |
| State Veterans Homes | Nursing home, domiciliary, adult day care | Veterans (and some spouses), rules set by each state | Domiciliary care is a lower-cost alternative | Varies by state; VA per diem lowers it |
| Community Nursing Home program | VA-paid care in a contracted private nursing home | Priority for 70%+ service-connected and service-connected care needs | No (nursing home only) | Often none for those who qualify |
| Medical Foster Homes | Live-in care in a caregiver’s private home, plus VA home-based medical care | Veterans who cannot live alone, enrolled in Home Based Primary Care | No, private pay | Monthly fee paid to caregiver |
Sources: VA.gov pension rates; VA Geriatrics and Extended Care; VA State Veterans Home fact sheet (May 2025).
Many families combine these: a veteran might use VA Homemaker and Home Health Aide visits at home first, then move to assisted living funded partly by A&A. If dementia progresses, see how much memory care costs and our memory care vs nursing home comparison. For in-home options, our guide to in-home care costs shows what to budget. VA rules change each December and claims are decided case by case, so confirm details with the VA or an accredited representative.
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Take the free care quizFAQs
Does the VA pay for assisted living?
Not directly. VA health care does not pay room and board in assisted living. But the VA pension with Aid and Attendance pays eligible wartime veterans and surviving spouses a monthly benefit that can be used for assisted living, up to $34,488 a year for a married veteran in 2026.
How much is Aid and Attendance in 2026?
The maximum annual pension rates effective December 1, 2025 are $29,093 for a veteran with no dependents, $34,488 for a veteran with a spouse, $46,143 for two married veterans who both need A&A, and $18,697 for a surviving spouse with no children.
Can a surviving spouse get Aid and Attendance?
Yes. Surviving spouses of wartime veterans can receive Survivors Pension with Aid and Attendance if they meet the income, net worth and care-need rules. They apply with VA Form 21P-534EZ and VA Form 21-2680.
What is the net worth limit for VA pension in 2026?
$163,699 for December 1, 2025 through November 30, 2026. Net worth is assets plus annual income, excluding your home (on up to 2 acres), your vehicle and most personal belongings.
Is there a look-back period for VA Aid and Attendance?
Yes, 36 months. Assets given away or sold below market value in the three years before applying can trigger a penalty of up to 5 years if keeping them would have put you over the net worth limit.
Does a veteran need to have served in combat to qualify?
No. The veteran needs at least 90 days of active duty (24 months for most who enlisted after September 7, 1980) with at least one day during a wartime period. Where they served does not matter, except for the Mexican Border period and the earlier Vietnam era dates.
Can Aid and Attendance pay a family member to provide care?
The pension is paid to the veteran or survivor, who can spend it as they choose, including paying a family caregiver. Payments to an in-home caregiver can also count as medical expenses when the person qualifies for A&A. The VA’s Veteran Directed Care program also lets veterans hire family members.
Who is eligible for the veterans home care program?
All veterans enrolled in VA health care can qualify for VA home care (Homemaker and Home Health Aide or Veteran Directed Care) if they have a clinical need, are eligible for community care and the service is available locally. A VA social worker does the assessment.
How long does it take to get approved?
The VA does not publish a set time for pension claims, and several months is common. File an Intent to File (VA Form 21-0966) or start the online application early, because approved benefits are paid back to that effective date.
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