Aid and Attendance is one of the most helpful benefits older veterans and their widows never hear about. It is not a separate program. It is an extra amount added to a VA pension when someone needs another person’s help to get through the day, and it can make assisted living or in-home care affordable.
Three things have to line up
To receive Aid and Attendance, a person has to qualify for the basic VA pension, meet the financial limits, and have a care need. Each piece is explained below.
1. Wartime service
The veteran must have at least one day of active duty during a recognized wartime period, plus a minimum length of service. For most who entered before September 8, 1980, that minimum is 90 days. Enlisted members who started after September 7, 1980 generally need 24 months, or the full period they were called up for. Recognized wartime periods include:
- World War II: December 7, 1941 to December 31, 1946
- Korean conflict: June 27, 1950 to January 31, 1955
- Vietnam era: November 1, 1955 to May 7, 1975 for service in Vietnam; August 5, 1964 to May 7, 1975 for service elsewhere
- Gulf War: August 2, 1990 to a future date not yet set
The veteran does not have to have served in combat. The veteran must also be 65 or older, or permanently and totally disabled, or a nursing home patient because of a disability, or receiving Social Security Disability or SSI.
2. Income and net worth
From December 1, 2025 through November 30, 2026, the net worth limit is $163,699. Net worth includes the spouse’s assets and yearly income. The home, the car and most household furnishings are not counted.
The VA also looks back 36 months from the date it receives the claim. If assets were given away or sold for less than they were worth during that window, and they would have pushed net worth over the limit, the VA can impose a penalty period of up to five years with no pension.
3. A care need
At least one of these must be true:
- The person needs another person’s help with daily activities like bathing, eating or dressing.
- Illness keeps them in bed, or in bed for much of the day.
- They live in a nursing home because of lost mental or physical abilities related to a disability.
- Their eyesight is 5/200 or worse in both eyes, or their visual field is 5 degrees or less.
2026 maximum Aid and Attendance rates
These are the VA’s Maximum Annual Pension Rates, effective December 1, 2025. Monthly amounts are the yearly figure divided by twelve and rounded.
| Situation | Per year | About per month |
|---|---|---|
| Veteran, no spouse or dependents | $29,093 | $2,424 |
| Veteran with one dependent (such as a spouse) | $34,488 | $2,874 |
| Two veterans married to each other, both qualifying | $46,143 | $3,845 |
| Surviving spouse, no dependents | $18,697 | $1,558 |
| Surviving spouse with one child | $22,304 | $1,859 |
These are ceilings, not checks. The VA pays the difference between the person’s countable income and the rate in the table. What makes the benefit work for many families is that unreimbursed medical expenses, which can include ongoing care costs, are subtracted from income. Only the portion above 5% of the rate counts. That is why a veteran with a decent Social Security check can still qualify once assisted living or home care bills are factored in.
How to apply
- Apply online at VA.gov, or on the paper Veterans Pension application, VA Form 21P-527EZ.
- Include VA Form 21-2680, the exam for housebound status or need for aid and attendance. A doctor or other medical examiner completes part of it.
- If the person lives in a nursing home, the facility also completes VA Form 21-0779.
- Gather discharge papers, a marriage certificate if a spouse is involved, bank and income statements, and receipts or invoices showing what care costs each month.
Free help from a Utah Veteran Service Officer
The Utah Department of Veterans and Military Affairs offers free help with VA claims through accredited Veteran Service Officers, in person, by phone or by video. Call 801-326-2372. Veterans service organizations with accredited staff in Salt Lake City include Disabled American Veterans (801-326-2375), the American Legion (801-326-2380) and Veterans of Foreign Wars (801-326-2385).
Be wary of paid “benefit advisors.” VA-accredited representatives are not allowed to charge for help with an initial VA claim, and VSO representatives never charge. The VA has warned about outfits that cold-call families, charge thousands of dollars up front, or offer to move a parent’s assets around to qualify. Moving assets can trigger the look-back penalty and can wreck Medicaid eligibility later. Check anyone who offers help against the VA’s accreditation search before you sign anything.
What to do next
- Find the DD-214 and confirm wartime service dates.
- Add up monthly income, savings and monthly care costs.
- Ask your loved one’s doctor to complete the medical section of VA Form 21-2680.
- Book a free appointment with a Utah VSO and file together.
- For the bigger picture, see how families pay for assisted living.
Common questions
Does the VA pay for assisted living?
The VA does not pay assisted living rent directly. Aid and Attendance is paid to the veteran or surviving spouse, who can use it toward assisted living, home care or anything else.
Can a surviving spouse get Aid and Attendance?
Yes. A surviving spouse of a wartime veteran can qualify through the Survivors Pension. The 2026 maximum for a surviving spouse with no dependents who qualifies for Aid and Attendance is $18,697 a year.
Does my parent’s house count toward the net worth limit?
No. The VA excludes the primary home, a car and most home furnishings from net worth.
How long does Aid and Attendance take?
The VA processes claims in the order received unless a claim qualifies for priority handling, and it does not publish a set timeline. A complete application with the medical form and care cost records avoids the most common delays.
Counting on Aid and Attendance to make a move possible? We can help you compare communities that fit the budget, free. Tell us about your loved one or call 801-859-7000.
Sources
- VA: Aid and Attendance benefits and Housebound allowance
- VA: Current Veterans Pension rates
- VA: Survivors Pension rates
- VA: Veterans Pension eligibility
- 38 CFR 3.276: Asset transfers and penalty periods
- Utah Department of Veterans and Military Affairs: VA claims assistance
This guide is general information, not medical, legal or financial advice. Coverage rules change; confirm details with the program or your plan.
