Last verified: October 2026
What 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; it is paid on top of the basic pension rate.
Sources: VA pension rates.
How much is VA Aid and Attendance in 2026?
For December 1, 2025 through November 30, 2026, the maximum annual pension rate with Aid and Attendance is $29,093 for a veteran with no dependents and $34,488 for a veteran with one dependent; the housebound rate is $21,313 and the basic pension is $17,441 for a single veteran.
The VA pays the difference between countable income and that maximum, so most recipients receive less than the full figure.
What is the VA pension net worth limit?
The net worth limit for VA pension is $163,699 for the current rate year, counting assets plus annual income; the primary home and vehicle are generally excluded.
Unreimbursed medical expenses, including personal care home fees for someone who needs that care, can reduce countable income and raise the benefit.
Where can Pittsburgh veterans get help applying?
Veterans and survivors can apply directly with the VA or work with an accredited Veterans Service Officer at no charge; the county Area Agency on Aging can point you to local veterans' services offices.
Be cautious of anyone charging a fee to file a pension claim. Accredited representatives may not charge for help with an initial application.
Does Aid and Attendance pay a personal care home directly?
No. The VA pays the pension to the veteran or surviving spouse, not to the home, and the family uses it toward the monthly rate; because the pension equals the maximum annual rate minus countable income, a veteran's actual payment depends on income after deducting unreimbursed care costs.
For example, a single veteran whose countable income after care costs is $10,000 a year would receive up to $19,093 a year at the 2026 Aid and Attendance rate of $29,093.
Can a surviving spouse receive Aid and Attendance?
Yes. Surviving spouses of wartime veterans can qualify for Survivors Pension with Aid and Attendance under similar income, net worth and care-need rules, at lower maximum rates than a veteran's pension; the VA publishes the survivor rates alongside the veteran rates.
Aid and Attendance: what it is and is not
| It is | It is not | |
|---|---|---|
| Program | an increased VA pension | VA disability compensation |
| Service | wartime veterans and survivors | for all veterans |
| 2026 maximum | $29,093 single / $34,488 with dependent | paid in full to everyone |
| Net worth limit | $163,699 | unlimited |
