Frequently Asked Questions

VA Aid and Attendance is a tax-free monthly benefit available to certain wartime Veterans and surviving spouses who need help with daily care. This benefit may help pay for home care, assisted living, memory care, or other long-term care support. Many families do not realize this VA benefit exists or that they may qualify.

A wartime Veteran, spouse of a living wartime Veteran or surviving spouse may qualify for VA Aid and Attendance if they meet certain service, care, income, and asset requirements. The Veteran generally must have served during an approved wartime period, and the applicant must need help with daily activities such as bathing, dressing, meals, medication reminders, or mobility. VAPS helps families understand whether they may be eligible before starting the application process.

No. VA Aid and Attendance benefits may be available to wartime Veterans, spouses of living Veterans and surviving spouses of wartime Veterans. A surviving spouse may qualify if the Veteran met the required service criteria and the spouse now needs care or assistance. VAPS helps both Veterans and surviving spouses explore eligibility.

Yes. A surviving spouse of a wartime Veteran may be eligible for VA Aid and Attendance if they meet the VA’s requirements. This benefit can provide tax-free monthly income to help pay for care at home, assisted living, or another care setting. Many widows and widowers are unaware they may qualify under the Veteran’s service record.

Yes, but it is important to understand how the benefit works. When a living Veteran’s spouse needs care, the Veteran may be able to qualify for VA Aid & Attendance based on the spouse’s care needs and expenses. The application is filed under the Veteran’s record, and the tax-free monthly benefit is paid to the Veteran.

The best first step is to review the Veteran’s wartime service, current care needs, monthly income, care expenses, and assets. If your loved one is a wartime Veteran or surviving spouse who needs help paying for home care, assisted living, or memory care, VA Aid and Attendance may be worth exploring. VAPS makes the process easier by helping families screen for eligibility and understand the next steps. You can CLICK HERE to take our Eligibility Check at no cost, or contact our team directly.

Yes. You can apply for VA Aid and Attendance on your own. However, the process can be confusing, time-consuming, and easy to delay with missing paperwork or errors. VAPS helps reduce mistakes, cut down on wasted time, and make sure the benefit is properly pursued if you do qualify. There is no upfront cost to use VAPS, no risk to the family, and it is often a better choice to have someone experienced on your side when dealing with the VA.

No. VA Aid and Attendance is generally a tax-free monthly VA benefit. This means eligible Veterans and surviving spouses can receive financial support without it being treated like regular taxable income. Families often use this benefit to help pay for care while protecting other financial resources.

The amount of VA Aid and Attendance depends on the applicant’s status, care needs, income, and other VA factors. Veterans, married Veterans, and surviving spouses may qualify for different monthly amounts.

Currently, the VA distributes VA Aid & Attendance Benefit is as follows:

• Married Veteran (Veteran needs care):  up to $2,874 (per month)

• Single Veteran (Veteran needs care): up to $2,424 (per month)

• Married Veteran (Spouse needs care): up to $1,903 (per month)

• Surviving Spouse: up to $1,558 (per month)

This monthly payment is directly deposited into a bank account of the surviving spouse for lifetime as non-taxable income.

Because benefit rates and eligibility rules can change, VAPS reviews each situation carefully instead of giving a one-size-fits-all answer.

Eligibility for VA Aid and Attendance benefits is based on several key factors: the Veteran’s wartime service, the applicant’s need for personal care, and the household’s financial picture. Qualifying care needs may include help with bathing, dressing, eating, transferring, walking, medication management, or safety supervision due to physical or cognitive decline. The VA also considers income, assets, and care-related expenses when deciding whether a Veteran, married Veteran, or surviving spouse qualifies.

To qualify for VA Aid and Attendance benefits, the applicant must generally meet three main categories: wartime service, medical or care needs, and financial eligibility. This benefit is designed to provide tax-free monthly income to help eligible wartime Veterans, surviving spouses, or qualifying Veteran households pay for home care, assisted living, memory care, nursing home care, or daily personal care support.

Eligible wartime services for VA Aid and Attendance

The VA defines eligible wartime periods as follows:

• 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 War era for Veterans who served in the Republic of Vietnam (November 1, 1955, to May 7, 1975)

• Vietnam War era for Veterans who served outside the Republic of Vietnam (August 5, 1964, to May 7, 1975)

• Gulf War (August 2, 1990, through a future date to be set by law or presidential proclamation)

Medical or Care Need Requirements

The Veteran, surviving spouse, or spouse of a living Veteran must also show a need for regular care or assistance. The VA states that Aid and Attendance may apply when a person needs another person to help with daily activities such as bathing, dressing, feeding, walking, transferring, toileting, medication reminders, or safety supervision. It may also apply if the person is bedridden due to illness, living in a nursing home because of physical or mental decline, or has very limited eyesight.

Financial Requirements

The VA also reviews the applicant’s financial picture, including income, countable assets, and unreimbursed medical or care expenses. Income may include Social Security, retirement income, pensions, investment income, annuities, and other monthly payments. However, certain unreimbursed medical expenses, such as home care, assisted living, memory care, insurance premiums, and qualifying care costs, may reduce the income the VA counts for eligibility.

For the period from December 1, 2025 through November 30, 2026, the VA net worth limit for Veterans Pension and Survivors Pension is $163,699. The VA’s net worth calculation generally includes countable assets and annual income for VA purposes, but does not include the primary residence, one car, or basic household items.

No. The VA Aid and Attendance Benefit does not work like a simple income-limit program. The VA reviews income along with unreimbursed medical and care expenses to determine eligibility. In many cases, high care costs may help a Veteran or surviving spouse qualify even if they receive monthly income from Social Security, pensions, or retirement.

Yes. The VA’s net worth limit for Aid and Attendance benefits is $163,699 as of 2026.

This means your household’s countable assets plus annual income, after allowable medical expense deductions, must generally fall below this amount.

The VA has financial rules that include countable assets, income, and care expenses. Some assets may count, while others may not - such as your primary residence, your car, etc.

Because these rules can be confusing, VAPS helps families understand the asset limit in plain English and determine whether planning may be needed before applying.

Yes for Veterans. Veterans applying for VA Aid and Attendance benefits generally must be 65 years of age or older. Veterans under age 65 may still qualify if they are permanently and totally disabled, live in a skilled nursing facility because of physical or cognitive decline, or receive Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI).

No for Surviving Spouses. There is no minimum age requirement for a surviving spouse.