What is Aid and Attendance?

 
 

Aid and Attendance is a special monthly pension that is awarded when a Veteran or surviving spouse requires the aid of another person to perform the functions required by everyday living. If approved, a tax-free, monetary award will be paid to the claimant on a monthly basis, which can be used to help pay for the cost of home care, assisted living, or nursing homes.

Since Aid and Attendance is considered a VA pension, eligibility for the benefit depends on the claimant’s military service, level of disability, and net worth. Claimants must meet all of the requirements in order to be approved for Aid and Attendance.

Keep reading for more information about the eligibility requirements.

 
 
 
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> WARTIME SERVICE

  • The Veteran must not have received a dishonorable discharge.

AND

  • The Veteran must have served at least one day during one of the wartime eras listed below:

  • World War II (December 7, 1941, to December 31, 1946)

  • Korean conflict (June 27, 1950, to January 31, 1955)

  • Vietnam War era (February 28, 1961, to May 7, 1975, for Veterans who served in the Republic of Vietnam during that period. August 5, 1964, to May 7, 1975, for Veterans who served outside the Republic of Vietnam.)

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

> NEED FOR ASSISTANCE

  • You need a caretaker to help you with daily activities such as bathing, feeding or transferring.

OR

  • You are a resident in a nursing home, assisted living facility or adult daycare.

> NET WORTH LIMIT

  • Your total net worth must be below the net worth limit of $130,773.
  • Net worth is calculated as "assets + income".
  • Examples of assets include IRAs, pensions, stocks, bonds, interest bearing accounts or real estate property (excluding your primary residence).

> INCOME LIMIT

  • Your countable income must be below a certain threshhold, known as the Maximum Annual Pension Rate (MAPR).
  • Countable income is how much your household earns, to include Social Security benefits, retirement payments and wages from employment.
 
 
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Your Maximum Annual Pension Rate (MAPR) is the maximum amount of pension that you are eligible for and is based on a few factors, such as how many dependents you have or if you are applying for Aid and Attendance or Housebound benefits.

See what your MAPR is below.

 
 

> MAPR for Veterans with no dependents

  • If you don't qualify for Housebound or Aid and Attendance benefits:
    your MAPR is $13,931.
  • If you qualify for Housebound benefits:
    your MAPR is $17,024.
  • If you qualify for Aid and Attendance benefits:
    your MAPR is $23,238.

> MAPR for Veterans with at least 1 dependent spouse or child

  • If you don't qualify for Housebound or Aid and Attendance benefits:
    your MAPR is $18,243.
  • If you qualify for Housebound benefits:
    your MAPR is $21,337.
  • If you qualify for Aid and Attendance benefits:
    your MAPR is $27,549.

> MAPR for 2 Veterans who are married to each other

  • If neither of you qualifies for Housebound or Aid and Attendance benefits:
    your MAPR is $18,243.
  • If one of you qualifies for Housebound benefits:
    your MAPR is $21,337.
  • If both of you qualify for Housebound benefits:
    your MAPR is $24,428.
  • If one of you qualifies for Aid and Attendance benefits:
    your MAPR is $27,549.
  • If one of you qualifies for Housebound benefits and one of you qualifies for Aid and Attendance benefits:
    your MAPR is $30,635.
  • If both of you qualify for Aid and Attendance benefits:
    your MAPR is $36,861.

> MAPR for surviving spouses with no dependents

  • If you don't qualify for Housebound or Aid and Attendance benefits:
    your MAPR is $9,344.
  • If you qualify for Housebound benefits:
    your MAPR is $11,420.
  • If you qualify for Aid and Attendance benefits:
    your MAPR is $14,934.

> MAPR for surviving spouses with at least 1 dependent

  • If you don't qualify for Housebound or Aid and Attendance benefits:
    your MAPR is $12,229.
  • If you qualify for Housebound benefits:
    your MAPR is $14,300.
  • If you qualify for Aid and Attendance benefits:
    your MAPR is $17,815.
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If you qualify for Aid and Attendance, the VA determines your benefit amount by calculating the difference between your countable income and your MAPR.

The resulting difference is your Aid and Attendance amount.

 
 

Example: You are a qualified Veteran with a dependent non-Veteran spouse. You are considering filing for Aid and Attendance. Your countable household income is $15,000.

  • Your MAPR amount = $27,549.

  • Your household income = $15,000.

  • Your calculated VA Aid and Attendance benefit = $12,549 or $1045.75 (paid monthly).