Allentown Senior AdvisorWhat is VA Aid and Attendance?
Aid and Attendance is an increased VA pension amount for a wartime veteran or surviving spouse who needs help with daily activities, is bedridden, lives in a nursing home because of disability, or has limited eyesight, and it can be used toward a personal care home, a dementia unit or care at home.
It is part of the needs-based VA pension, so income and net worth limits apply. Unlike Medical Assistance, the money goes to the veteran or survivor, who decides how to spend it.
How much does VA Aid and Attendance pay in 2026?
For the year starting December 1, 2025, the maximum annual pension rate with Aid and Attendance is $29,093 for a veteran with no dependents and $34,488 with one dependent; the VA pays the difference between that rate and the household's countable income.
| VA pension situation | Maximum annual pension rate | About per month |
|---|---|---|
| Veteran, no dependents, basic pension | $17,441 | $1,453 |
| Veteran, housebound, no dependents | $21,313 | $1,776 |
| Veteran needing Aid and Attendance, no dependents | $29,093 | $2,424 |
| Veteran needing Aid and Attendance, one dependent | $34,488 | $2,874 |
VA rates effective December 1, 2025 to November 30, 2026; net worth limit $163,699.
Unreimbursed medical expenses, including personal care home fees for a resident who needs help with daily activities, can be deducted from income, which is how many residents qualify.
What is the VA's net worth limit?
The VA's pension net worth limit is $163,699 for the year from December 1, 2025, counting assets plus annual income, and the VA applies a three-year look-back to asset transfers made to get under it.
The home and a vehicle generally do not count. Be wary of anyone who charges to 'restructure' assets for VA pension; accredited representatives help with claims free of charge.
Who qualifies for the VA pension in the first place?
A veteran qualifies who served at least 90 days of active duty with at least one day during a wartime period (with some exceptions for later service), was not dishonorably discharged, and is 65 or older or permanently disabled, subject to the income and net worth limits.
Surviving spouses of qualifying veterans may receive a survivors pension with Aid and Attendance at lower rates. The VA's wartime periods include World War II, Korea, Vietnam and the Gulf War.
Where do Lehigh Valley veterans get help with a claim?
Each county has a veterans affairs office that helps file pension claims free of charge, and accredited service organization representatives can help as well; you can also file online at VA.gov.
Gather the DD-214, a doctor's statement of the need for daily help, proof of income and assets, and the personal care home's fee statement. Processing takes months, but benefits are generally paid back to the date the intent to file was received.
At a glance
| VA Aid and Attendance is | VA Aid and Attendance is not | |
|---|---|---|
| Benefit | An increased VA pension paid to the veteran or survivor | Paid directly to the home |
| Limits | Income and a $163,699 net worth limit | Available regardless of savings |
| Use | Any care setting, including at home | Restricted to VA facilities |
Sources include 55 Pa. Code Chapters 20, 2600 and 2800, Pennsylvania DHS, Department of Health and Department of Aging pages, CMS, VA and CareScout rate tables as cited above; see our editorial standards.
