In short
VA Aid and Attendance is an extra amount added to a VA pension for veterans and surviving spouses who need help with daily living. For 2026 the maximum with Aid and Attendance is about $2,424 a month for a veteran with no dependents and $2,874 with one dependent. It is not automatic: wartime service, a need for help, and net-worth limits all apply. Free help filing is available from VA-accredited Veterans Service Organizations. Call (800) 614-8388 and we'll point you to it.
What Aid and Attendance is
VA pension is a needs-based benefit for wartime veterans and their surviving spouses. Aid and Attendance (A&A) is not a separate benefit — it's a higher payment level of that pension for people who need another person's help with everyday activities like bathing, dressing, eating or getting to the bathroom, or who are bedridden or in a nursing home because of a disability. The actual payment is calculated as the maximum rate minus the veteran's countable income, so it varies from person to person.
What the rates look like (2026)
| Who | Maximum with Aid and Attendance (Dec 1, 2025 rates) |
|---|---|
| Veteran, no dependents | $29,093 per year (about $2,424 a month) |
| Veteran with one dependent | $34,488 per year (about $2,874 a month) |
| Surviving spouse, no dependent child | $18,697 per year (about $1,558 a month) |
| Surviving spouse with one child | $22,304 per year |
These are the maximum rates. The amount a person actually receives is the rate minus their income counted for VA purposes, so it can be less — sometimes much less. "Can add well over a thousand dollars a month" is a fair way to describe the top end; it is not a promise.
Who qualifies
- Wartime service. The veteran must have served during a period of war and meet the other pension rules. (This is pension, not service-connected disability compensation, which has different rules.)
- A need for help. Aid and Attendance requires meeting VA's need standard: needing help with daily activities, being bedridden, or being in a nursing home due to disability.
- Net worth and income. Total net worth must be under the limit — $163,699 for the period December 1, 2025 through November 30, 2026 — counting assets and certain income.
- A look-back rule. VA reviews asset transfers from the previous three years. Transferring assets for less than fair market value to get under the limit can trigger a penalty period of up to five years.
Surviving spouses must also have been married to the veteran at the time of death and meet the marriage-duration rules.
Not sure if your parent qualifies?
A free, accredited service officer can tell you in one conversation. We'll help you find the nearest one.
Get free, accredited help
By federal rule, only someone accredited by the VA may help prepare, present or prosecute a VA claim (38 CFR 14.629). Accredited Veterans Service Officers do that work for free. In Kansas, the Kansas Office of Veterans Services places accredited representatives around the state, including in the Kansas City and Overland Park area; call 1-800-513-7731. In Missouri, the Missouri Veterans Commission has accredited Veterans Service Officers in nearly every county; call 1-800-839-8387. You can also start at VA.gov. Bring a copy of the DD-214, marriage and death certificates as needed, and a list of income and assets.
What we do and don't do
We inform; we don't file. We won't prepare or submit a claim, and we will never charge you for help with veterans benefits. Nobody legitimately should for initial-claim help. If a company asks for a fee up front to "get you the Aid and Attendance benefit," be very careful — VA-accredited help is free. If you are ever in crisis, call 988 and press 1 for the Veterans Crisis Line, or dial 911 in an emergency.
Questions about veterans benefits
Is Aid and Attendance the same as a VA disability pension?
No. Service-connected disability compensation is for injuries or illnesses related to military service, and it has its own rules. Aid and Attendance is a higher level of the needs-based VA pension for wartime veterans and surviving spouses who need help with daily living. A person can qualify for both in some cases.
How much will we actually get?
It depends on income and dependents. The payment is roughly the maximum rate for your category minus income counted by VA. That's why the range is wide and why we don't promise an amount — a service officer can estimate it for your situation.
Can we transfer the house to qualify sooner?
We won't advise on transfers. VA has a three-year look-back, and a transfer can create a penalty period of up to five years. Talk with a VA-accredited service officer, and for anything involving assets, a licensed elder law attorney, before you change anything.
Does it cover assisted living or memory care?
The pension is cash paid to the veteran or surviving spouse; how it is spent is up to them. Many families use it toward the cost of assisted living, memory care or in-home help. It is not paid to the community directly.
Sources
- VA.gov — Current pension rates for Veterans (Aid and Attendance rates; net-worth limit; 3-year look-back)
- VA.gov — Survivors pension rates
- 38 CFR 14.629 (only VA-accredited individuals may assist with claims)
- Kansas Office of Veterans Services — accredited VSR locations; Missouri Veterans Commission — Veterans Service