VA Aid and Attendance Benefit: Eligibility, Application Process, and Approval Tips

The VA’s Aid and Attendance (A&A) program provides a supplemental benefit that can be added to a veteran’s existing VA Pension or Survivors Pension. To qualify for the A&A benefit, veterans must first meet the requirements for the basic VA pension. This needs-based program provides a monthly payment in addition to the basic VA pension for eligible veterans or their surviving spouses.

Suzette Graham, founder and CEO of Patriot Angels, explains that veterans or their surviving spouses needing assistance with at least two activities of daily living (ADLs) can use A&A benefits. Typically, this benefit is used to help cover the costs of an assisted living community, memory care facility, or nursing home. The A&A benefit can also be used for in-home care services.

Veterans who qualify for the VA’s A&A benefit must first be eligible to receive the basic VA pension. Additionally, veterans or their surviving spouse must:^[01]

• Need assistance with two activities of daily living (ADLs), such as dressing, bathing, or toileting, or
• Be bedridden as the result of an illness, or
• Live in a nursing home due to a physical or cognitive disability, or
• Have 5/200 vision or less in both eyes, even with glasses, or a visual field of 5 degrees or fewer.

Read more:VA Benefits Financial Eligibility: Who Qualifies for Veterans Long-Term Care Benefits?

The VA A&A benefit rates increased as of December 1, 2024. How much this benefit pays depends on individual circumstances, including whether the benefit is being paid to a veteran or survivor.

The current amounts for the VA’s A&A benefit, as well as the total Maximum Annual Pension Rate (MAPR), are as follows:

• Surviving spouse: $6,807 (total MAPR: $18,187 with no dependents and $21,696 with dependents)
• Single veteran: $11,335 (total MAPR: $28,300)
• Veteran with dependent: $11,332 (total MAPR: $33,548 + $2,902 for each additional dependent)
• Two married veterans with one qualifying for A&A: $11,332 (total MAPR: $33,548)
• Two married veterans with both qualifying for A&A: $22,670 (total MAPR: $44,886)

How are VA Aid and Attendance benefits paid?

A&A benefits are most commonly paid through direct deposit to the veteran or survivor’s bank account, says Graham. There are credit unions and veteran-friendly banks for anyone who doesn’t have a bank account, but wishes to receive their payment through direct deposit.

Let our care assessment guide you

Veterans or their surviving spouses can apply using VA Form 21-2680, which collects health information related to qualifying for the A&A benefit. This form is available on the VA’s website and is also referred to as the Examination for Housebound Status or Permanent Need for Regular Aid and Attendance. All applications for the A&A benefit must include a completed 21-2680 form.

If the veteran or their surviving spouse lives in a nursing home, an additional form is needed. VA Form 21-0779, or the Request for Nursing Home Information in Connection with Claim for Aid and Attendance, is also available on the VA’s website.

Once these forms have been completed, they can be taken to a local VA office or mailed to:

Department of Veterans Affairs
Pension Intake Center
P.O. Box 5365
Janesville, WI 53547-5365

1. Understand eligibility for Aid and Attendance: First, ensure all eligibility requirements to receive A&A have been met.
2. Use the Fully Developed Claim program: The VA offers two pathways to filing a pension claim, including an A&A claim. These include the standard process and what’s known as the Fully Developed Claim program, or FDC. The FDC is the quickest way to get a VA benefits claim processed. During the standard claim process, the VA requests the necessary information, such as medical records, health history, and employment information. In the FDC program, the veteran or their surviving spouse provides all the information the VA needs. This cuts down on the time the VA needs to spend requesting records.
3. Gather all documentation: Include military service records, medical records, proof of income, assets, and other documentation needed to prove financial need and eligibility for A&A.
4. Document all care costs: Gather all documentation like receipts or invoices for current care and medical costs.
5. Stay organized and be persistent: Keep copies of all documentation and follow up regularly until the claim decision is made. If the claim is denied, ask why it was denied and prepare to appeal the decision.

While veterans and their families can complete a successful application on their own, sometimes extra support can be helpful.

Veterans’ organizations such as the VFW, American Legion, and Disabled American Veterans (DAV), which have local posts and chapters in most cities, assist in completing A&A forms free of charge. Elder law attorneys can also assist veterans and their families with their applications, especially for more complex cases.

Seniors can also receive expert advice from A Place for Mom’s trusted, VA-accredited partner Patriot Angels.

For help with navigating senior care, older adults and their families can reach out to A Place for Mom’s Senior Living Advisors. These thoughtful experts can help you understand care options available in your area and set up community tours – all at no cost to you and your family.

Note: A Place for Mom may be compensated if you choose to use Patriot Angels’ services.

Talk with a Senior Living Advisor

Processing times for the VA’s A&A benefit vary. It’s difficult to identify a timeframe for when a veteran may receive approval. Claims are typically processed in the order they’re received. Some veterans may also qualify for priority processing under specific conditions determined by the VA, such as severe financial hardship, terminal illness, or homelessness.

Once the VA confirms a veteran or their surviving spouse is eligible for Aid and Attendance, they’ll receive retroactive payments covering the previous months when the application was pending. For a veteran to receive retroactive payments, they’ll need to fill out an Intent to File form. This form should be filled out at the beginning of the process and can be submitted while you’re collecting other information for the application.

Note: This article is for informational purposes only. A Place for Mom doesn’t provide legal advice for benefits applications. For professional legal advice, please consult with an elder law attorney or VA-accredited claims representative of your choice. Additionally, VA eligibility requirements may change over time.