Last verified: October 2026. Figures and rules are re-checked against primary sources.
What is VA Aid and Attendance and who can get it?
Aid and Attendance is an add-on to the VA Veterans Pension or Survivors Pension, not a stand-alone benefit. It raises the Maximum Annual Pension Rate (MAPR) 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.
Because it is an add-on, a family first has to be on the pension track, which has its own wartime-service, income and net worth tests. Hampton Roads has one of the largest military retiree and veteran populations in the country, so many families ask this question after a parent has retired from the Navy. Pension and service-connected disability compensation are different programs with different rules.
What are the 2026 Aid and Attendance rates?
Effective December 1, 2025, after a 2.8 percent cost-of-living increase, the maximum pension rate with Aid and Attendance is $29,093 a year, about $2,424 a month, for a veteran with no dependents. A surviving spouse with no dependent child can receive up to $18,697 a year, about $1,558 a month.
These are ceilings, not guaranteed payments. The VA subtracts countable income from the maximum rate, and what is left is paid, so most households receive less than the rate shown. Rates for veterans with a spouse or dependents are higher and are listed on the VA's pension rates page.
| Claimant (with Aid and Attendance) | Annual maximum | Monthly, approx. |
|---|---|---|
| Veteran, no dependents | $29,093 | $2,424 |
| Surviving spouse, no dependent child | $18,697 | $1,558 |
What is the Aid and Attendance net worth limit?
The combined net worth limit is $163,699 for December 1, 2025 through November 30, 2026. Net worth is assets plus annual income, so a household with $120,000 in savings and $30,000 in yearly income is already near the line. The VA decides how each asset is counted, so ask before assuming a particular account is safe.
Savings, investments and other real estate are the usual sources of trouble. Because the limit combines assets and income, a family cannot evaluate it by looking only at the bank balance. Gather statements for every account before applying, and bring the numbers to an accredited veterans service officer rather than relying on a guess.
How do care costs reduce countable income for Aid and Attendance?
The VA subtracts unreimbursed medical and care costs from income, so what the family pays for assisted living or home care can bring countable income down toward zero. A parent paying a large monthly bill at a Virginia Beach assisted living community may have most of their income offset by that bill.
The lower countable income falls, the closer the payment gets to the full rate. Keep monthly invoices from the community or agency, the physician's statement of care need and receipts for aides or home care. Costs the family is reimbursed for do not count. If you are comparing communities, our cost medians page shows what Virginia's typical bills look like.
Where do Hampton Roads veterans apply, and what about military retirees?
Apply to the VA through VA.gov, by mail, or with help from an accredited veterans service officer; the Hampton VA Medical Center, 100 Emancipation Drive, anchors VA health care for the region. Surviving spouses apply for the Survivors Pension, and the process takes time, so file early. Ask the VA for written confirmation that your claim was received, and keep a copy of everything you send.
Military retirees in Norfolk, Virginia Beach and Newport News often have TRICARE For Life alongside Medicare, which handles medical costs but does not pay for assisted living. VA pension is a separate question from either one. A retiree's military retirement pay counts as income, which can shrink or eliminate the benefit, so run the numbers before assuming it will help. See military families managing care from far away for planning when the veteran's children live elsewhere.
Is Aid and Attendance enough to pay for assisted living?
Rarely by itself. The top veteran rate of about $2,424 a month covers a fraction of a typical Virginia assisted living bill of $6,944, though it can meaningfully narrow the gap alongside Social Security and a pension. The benefit is most useful as one piece of a payment plan.
For a surviving spouse, the lower rate of about $1,558 matters even more as a supplement. Pair it with the facts on what Medicare does and does not pay before deciding between home care and a move. Be cautious of anyone who charges a fee to file your claim or pushes you to move assets quickly; accredited representatives help for free.
| Likely a fit | Likely not a fit | |
|---|---|---|
| Service | Wartime veteran or surviving spouse | A veteran without qualifying wartime service |
| Need | Needs help with daily activities, or is bedridden | Fully independent with no care needs |
| Net worth | Under the $163,699 combined limit | Assets and income above that limit |
| Income | Countable income after medical costs falls below the pension rate | Income stays above the maximum rate even after care costs |
| Amount | Up to about $2,424 a month for a veteran alone | Nothing, if income is above the rate |
