Greensboro Senior AdvisorWhat is VA Aid and Attendance?
An increase to a VA pension for a wartime veteran or surviving spouse who needs another person's help with daily activities, is bedridden, lives in a nursing home or has limited eyesight; it raises the maximum annual pension rate rather than paying a separate benefit.
VA pays the difference between that maximum rate and the claimant's countable income. Unreimbursed medical expenses, including adult care home fees and in-home care costs for someone who needs help, reduce countable income, which is how many residents of assisted living qualify for a meaningful monthly payment.
How much is VA pension with Aid and Attendance in 2026?
For the year beginning December 1, 2025, the maximum is $29,093 a year (about $2,424 a month) for a veteran with no dependents and $18,697 (about $1,558 a month) for a surviving spouse with no dependents.
| Who | Maximum per year | About per month |
|---|---|---|
| Veteran with no dependents, Aid and Attendance | $29,093 | $2,424 |
| Veteran with one dependent, Aid and Attendance | $34,488 | $2,874 |
| Two veterans married to each other, both A&A | $46,143 | $3,845 |
| Surviving spouse, no dependents, Aid and Attendance | $18,697 | $1,558 |
| Veteran with no dependents, Housebound | $21,313 | $1,776 |
VA pension rates in effect December 1, 2025 through November 30, 2026.
Who qualifies for VA pension?
A veteran with at least 90 days of active duty including at least one day during a wartime period (24 months for later service, with exceptions), discharged other than dishonorably, who is 65 or older or disabled, and whose net worth is no more than $163,699, counting income with assets.
Surviving spouses qualify on the veteran's service if they meet the income and net worth limits. VA reviews transfers of assets in the three years before a claim, and a home and car are generally excluded. The rules are detailed, which is why free accredited help is worth using.
Where can Greensboro veterans get free help with a claim?
County veterans services officers in Guilford, Randolph and Rockingham counties prepare and file VA pension claims at no charge, as do accredited representatives of veterans service organizations.
Be wary of anyone who charges to file an initial claim or who suggests moving assets into products to qualify; VA accreditation rules prohibit charging for preparing an initial claim. The Kernersville VA Health Care Center serves Triad veterans for medical care, separately from the pension claim.
Can VA pension and Special Assistance be combined?
Sometimes, but VA pension counts as income for Special Assistance and Medicaid, so a larger VA payment can reduce or end Special Assistance eligibility; run the numbers before choosing a path.
For a surviving spouse in an adult care home with modest income, VA pension with Aid and Attendance may pay more than Special Assistance would. For a veteran with almost no income, the combination of Special Assistance and Medicaid may be the better fit. The county veterans services officer and the DSS caseworker can each explain their side.
Side by side
| VA pension with Aid and Attendance is | VA pension with Aid and Attendance is not | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | An increased VA pension for those needing help | A separate check on top of any pension |
| Eligibility | Wartime service plus income and net worth limits | Available to every veteran |
| Care costs | Reduce countable income when unreimbursed | Ignored by VA |
| Help | Free from county veterans services officers | Something you should pay to file |
Drawn from G.S. Chapter 131D, 10A NCAC 13F and 13G, DHSR and NCDHHS publications, NC Medicaid, CareScout, CMS, the VA and the Piedmont Triad aging agency cited in the text; our editorial standards explain how we check them.
