Serving Oakland · Macomb · Wayne counties
Family guide
Aid and Attendance vs. VA home care: what's the difference?
One is hours of care that VA pays an agency for. The other is extra monthly pension money. Here is how they compare, with 2026 numbers from VA.
Two different benefits
Families often hear "the VA will pay for care" and assume it's one program. It's usually one of two very different benefits:
- VA home care is part of VA health care. A VA care team decides the veteran needs help at home and authorizes hours of care. VA pays the home care agency directly. No cash goes to the family.
- Aid and Attendance is part of VA pension, run by the Veterans Benefits Administration. In VA's words, it is "monthly payments added to the amount of a monthly VA pension." The money goes to the veteran or surviving spouse, who decides how to use it.
A veteran can sometimes have both. They're applied for separately and decided by different parts of VA.
Side by side
| VA home care (Homemaker / Home Health Aide) | Aid and Attendance | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Hours of in-home care authorized by VA | Extra monthly money added to a VA pension |
| Part of | VA health care (Veterans Health Administration) | VA pension (Veterans Benefits Administration) |
| Wartime service needed? | No | Yes, generally at least 90 days of active duty with at least 1 day during a wartime period |
| Income and asset limits? | No limit to qualify; a copay may apply for some veterans | Yes. The 2026 net worth limit is $163,699 |
| Disability rating needed? | No | No. It's based on need for help with daily activities, being bedbound, nursing home care or severe vision loss |
| Who gets paid | VA pays the agency | VA pays the veteran or surviving spouse |
| Covers a surviving spouse? | No | Yes, through Survivors Pension |
| How to start | Ask the veteran's VA care team or social worker | Apply for pension (or add A&A with VA Form 21-2680); an accredited VSO can help for free |
Sources: VA long-term care, VA pension eligibility, VA Aid and Attendance, VA pension rates.
2026 Aid and Attendance amounts
VA publishes a maximum annual pension rate (MAPR). For December 1, 2025, through November 30, 2026, VA lists these Aid and Attendance maximums:
- Veteran with no dependents: $29,093 a year
- Veteran with one dependent, such as a spouse: $34,488 a year
- Two veterans married to each other, both needing A&A: $46,143 a year
- Surviving spouse with no dependents: $18,697 a year
These are maximums, not what everyone receives. VA subtracts countable income to figure the actual payment. Rates usually change each December with the cost-of-living adjustment. Check VA's current rates before you plan around a number.
Which one should we pursue?
Often both, in this order:
- Ask VA health care about home care first. It doesn't depend on wartime service, income or assets, and help can start without waiting on a pension claim. If the veteran isn't enrolled in VA health care, apply now.
- Look at Aid and Attendance next if the veteran served during a wartime period, is 65 or older (or disabled), and has modest income and assets. It can pay for extra hours, a spouse's care, or other costs VA home care doesn't cover.
A county Veterans Service Officer can review both at no cost. VETTED doesn't file or charge for benefit claims, but we're glad to explain how VA home care works: 248-794-9292.
Common questions
Can a veteran get VA home care and Aid and Attendance at the same time?
Often, yes. They are separate benefits. VA home care is authorized hours through VA health care; Aid and Attendance is added money through VA pension. The veteran's VA social worker and a county Veterans Service Officer can explain how they work together in your situation.
Does Aid and Attendance require a service-connected disability?
No. It is part of VA pension, which is based on wartime service, age or disability, income and net worth, plus a need for help with daily activities or one of the other care conditions VA lists.
Is Aid and Attendance paid to the home care agency?
No. VA pays it to the veteran or surviving spouse, who decides how to use it. VA home care is different: VA pays the agency directly for authorized hours.
Can we get Aid and Attendance and Housebound together?
No. VA says you can't get Aid and Attendance and Housebound benefits at the same time.
Who should help us apply?
An accredited Veterans Service Officer, for free. Be careful with companies that charge fees or push financial products to help someone qualify.
Independent and veteran-owned. VETTED is not part of, and does not speak for, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. VA alone decides eligibility and authorized hours. Information on this site is general and is not a benefit determination. Page last updated September 24, 2026.