What Aid and Attendance is
Aid and Attendance is not a separate program you apply to on its own. It is an add-on to the basic VA pension, an increased monthly payment for someone who needs another person's help with everyday activities like bathing, dressing, eating, managing medications, or getting around safely. That extra money is yours to spend on care, and paying for a home care aide is exactly what it is meant for.
There is a related, smaller benefit called Housebound, for veterans substantially confined to their home. You cannot receive Aid and Attendance and Housebound at the same time; the VA pays the one that fits your situation.
The 2026 monthly amounts
These are the maximum monthly rates for 2026. Your actual payment is the maximum minus your countable income, which is where the care-cost rule below becomes so important.
| Who qualifies | Maximum monthly benefit (2026) |
|---|---|
| Veteran, no dependents | About $2,424 |
| Veteran with one dependent | About $2,874 |
| Two married veterans, both qualify | About $3,845 |
| Surviving spouse of a wartime veteran | A lower amount, confirmed case by case |
Figures are for 2026 and are adjusted by the VA each year. We verify the current amount for your situation at no charge.
The income rule that helps you qualify
This is the part almost everyone gets wrong. Families look at their monthly income, decide they make too much, and never apply. But the VA does not count your gross income. It subtracts your unreimbursed medical expenses first, and ongoing in-home care is a medical expense.
So if a veteran receives 3,000 dollars a month in income but pays 2,500 dollars a month for a home care aide, most of that care cost comes off the income the VA counts. That can drop countable income low enough to unlock the full benefit. In practice, the very care you are paying for is often what makes you eligible. Only care costs above roughly 5 percent of the maximum pension count, which is a small threshold most home care easily clears.
Do you qualify? The three tests
- Service. 90 days of active duty with at least one day during a wartime period, and a discharge other than dishonorable. Service beginning after September 7, 1980 generally requires 24 months. No combat or overseas service is required.
- Care need. A doctor documents that you need help with daily activities, are bedridden, or have significant vision loss.
- Net worth. Combined assets and income must be under 163,699 dollars for the period ending November 30, 2026. Your primary home and one vehicle do not count. A three-year look-back applies to gifts and asset transfers, so plan ahead rather than moving money at the last minute.
Recognized wartime windows include World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam era, and the Gulf War period, which began in 1990 and is still open, so many veterans of more recent service qualify too.
A separate VA benefit worth knowing: Homemaker and Home Health Aide
Aid and Attendance is pension money. The VA also runs a different benefit through its health system, the Homemaker and Home Health Aide program, where the VA arranges and pays an aide directly through a contracted agency for enrolled veterans who need personal care. It is separate from the pension, may involve a copay depending on your VA priority group, and starts with a request to the veteran's VA care team. If your loved one does not qualify for Aid and Attendance, this can be another route to covered care.
And if the veteran wants to hire and direct their own caregiver, including a family member, ask about Veteran-Directed Care, which we cover in getting paid to care for a parent in Nevada.
How to apply
- Gather the veteran's discharge papers (DD-214), medical evidence of the care need, and a summary of income, assets and care costs.
- File VA Form 21-2680, the examination for Aid and Attendance, along with the pension application, online at VA.gov, by mail to the Pension Intake Center, or through a VA regional office.
- Consider working with an accredited Veterans Service Officer, who helps at no charge. Be cautious of anyone charging a fee to "get you approved."
How much does VA Aid and Attendance pay in 2026?
For 2026, the maximum is about 2,424 dollars a month for a single wartime veteran, and about 2,874 dollars a month for a veteran with one dependent. Surviving spouses of wartime veterans may qualify at a lower monthly amount. The exact benefit is the maximum rate minus your countable income, and the VA adjusts these figures each year. We confirm the current numbers for your situation.
Does Aid and Attendance pay for in-home care?
Yes. Aid and Attendance is extra monthly pension money the veteran or surviving spouse can spend on care, including paying for a home care aide. In fact, the cost of that in-home care is deducted from your countable income when the VA calculates the benefit, which often increases the amount you receive.
What is the income limit for Aid and Attendance?
There is no simple income cutoff, because unreimbursed medical and care costs are subtracted from your income first. There is a net worth limit, 163,699 dollars for the period ending November 30, 2026, but your primary home and one vehicle do not count toward it. Many families who assume they earn too much still qualify once home care costs are counted.
Do you have to be a combat veteran to get Aid and Attendance?
No. You need 90 days of active duty with at least one day during a wartime period (and, for service beginning after September 7, 1980, generally 24 months of service), plus a discharge that is other than dishonorable. You did not have to serve in combat or overseas, only during a recognized wartime window, such as World War II, Korea, Vietnam, or the Gulf War, which remains open.
Can a surviving spouse get Aid and Attendance?
Yes. The surviving spouse of a wartime veteran can qualify for a survivors pension with Aid and Attendance if they need help with daily activities and meet the income and net worth rules. The monthly amount is lower than the veteran rate, but it is a meaningful help toward paying for care at home.
Last reviewed August 2026. General information, not benefits or legal advice; VA figures change annually. Source: VA.gov pension and Aid and Attendance pages. We help you confirm current amounts and eligibility.