
VA Aid & Attendance Benefit Rates for 2022
STATUS | 2021 MONTHLY BENEFIT AMOUNT | 2022 MONTHLY BENEFIT AMOUNT | 2022 ANNUAL BENEFIT AMOUNT |
Surviving Spouse | $1,244 | $1,318 | $15,816 |
Single Veteran | $1,936 | $2,050 | $24,610 |
Married Veteran | $2,295 | $2,431 | $29,175 |
Two Married Veterans | $3,071 | $3,261 | $39,036 |
What are aid and attendance allowances with VA compensation?
What are Aid and Attendance Allowances with VA Compensation? An aid and attendance allowance is paid to a veteran on claim with compensation of at least 30% or more due to the need of a spouse needing aid and attendance. A form of aid and attendance or housebound income is also available with Service Connected Compensation (SMC).
What is the criteria for aid and attendance?
You must also meet at least one of the following physical requirements:
- You need another person to help you perform and complete daily activities, such as dressing, bathing, eating, and grooming.
- You stay in bed or spend most of the day in bed due to illness.
- Your eyesight is limited to 5/200 even with glasses or contact lenses, or you have a concentric visual field that’s contracted to 5 degrees or less.
What is the income limit for aid and attendance pension?
Up to December 1, 2020, a claimant for Aid and Attendance Pension cannot have a net worth of more than $129,094. This amount goes up every December 1 with inflation. Net worth is defined as assets plus IVAP (Income for VA Purposes). The net worth limit for Pension or Survivor Pension entitlement is $129,094 for effective dates of payment ...
What is Veterans Aid and attendance?
Aid and Attendance is a monthly allowance on top of the veterans' pension that can help cover care services at home, in assisted living or in a nursing home. Senior care costs are increasing every year, leaving many seniors wondering how they can afford the level of care they need while maintaining their standard of living.

How much does the VA pay for aid and attendance 2020?
Income payments made to Aid and Attendance recipients can vary greatly. In 2020, monthly payments started at $768 and ended at $2,266, depending on the type of claim and the type of medical rating the applicant meets. Generally, income payments depend on the type of claim and the medical rating involved.
How Much Does VA pay for aid and attendance 2021?
The 2021 maximum monthly benefits for those qualifying for the Aid & Attendance level of Pension is: Surviving Spouse of a Veteran: $1,244. Veteran with no Spouse or dependent children: $1,936. Married couple where the Veteran requires care: $2,295.
Does the VA back pay for aid and attendance?
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.
How does VA aid and attendance work?
VA Aid and Attendance or Housebound benefits provide monthly payments added to the amount of a monthly VA pension for qualified Veterans and survivors. If you need help with daily activities, or you're housebound, find out if you qualify.
Which pays more housebound or aid and attendance?
Housebound is based on a higher maximum income level, which is why its pension is lower than that of Aid and Attendance. Connect with us today to find out if you're eligible for the Aid and Attendance pension benefit.
How much extra Social Security Do veterans get?
For those who served between 1957 and 1977, credits equal $300 for each quarter of active-duty pay. Those serving between 1978 and 2001 receive credits equal to an additional $100 in earnings for each $300 they receive in active-duty pay (total credits may not exceed $1,200 a year).
Will the VA pay my wife to be my caregiver?
Spouses, unfortunately, cannot be paid to provide care, as their income is also considered when calculating a veteran's pension amount. However, other relatives, such as adult children, nieces and nephews, and grandchildren, can be paid to be caregivers.
How long does it take to get aid and attendance from VA?
How long does it take before you receive the Veterans' Aid & Attendance benefit? Broadly, it can take anywhere from three months (90 days) to six months. But the VA will expedite your application if you are over 90 years old or in hospice so you can receive this monetary pension benefit more quickly.
Is VA aid and attendance permanent?
Veterans who meet the following criteria are able to qualify for this additional benefit: The veteran has a single, permanent disability evaluated as 100 percent disabling. The veteran is permanently confined to their home (or immediate location) due to this disability.
What are the qualifications for VA aid and attendance?
Be 65 or older with no or limited income. Have a permanent and total disability. Receive Supplemental Security Income. Receive Social Security Disability Insurance.
How Much Does VA pay for housebound?
If the veteran is currently at a 100% va disability rate, and VA finds that the veteran is housebound, they will pay the veteran at the 100% rate with an additional $375 per month....Basic SMC-S Rates with Dependents, Including Children.Dependent StatusCompensationVeteran with Spouse, One Parent and One Child$3,966.548 more rows•Jan 18, 2021
Am I eligible for VA Aid and Attendance or Housebound benefits as a Veteran or survivor?
VA Aid and Attendance eligibility You may be eligible for this benefit if you get a VA pension and you meet at least one of these requirements. At...
How do I get this benefit?
You can apply for VA Aid and Attendance or Housebound benefits in one of these ways: Send a completed VA form to your pension management center (PM...
How long does it take VA to make a decision?
It depends. We process claims in the order we receive them, unless a claim requires priority processing.
What is VA pension?
Veterans Affairs (VA) pensions provide a monetary monthly benefit for wartime veterans (or their survivor spouses) who are in financial need of supplemental income. There are three types of pensions and their cash benefit amounts and eligibility criteria vary with each type. Basic Veterans Pension and the Basic Survivors Pension (sometimes called ...
What is the VA net worth limit?
In 2018, the VA made some dramatic changes to how net worth is treated. They imposed a limit of $123,600, several months later they increased that limit to $127,061, and on December 1, 2020, the limit increased to $130,773. Net worth includes savings and checking accounts, mutual funds, stocks, and vacation homes.
What is housebound pension?
The Housebound Pension is a cash “add on” to the Basic Veterans / Survivors Pension. The benefit amounts below are the maximum monetary amounts a veteran or survivor spouse may be able to receive for Basic Veterans / Survivor Pension plus Housebound Pension.
What is an enhanced pension?
Basic Veterans Pension and the Basic Survivors Pension (sometimes called the Death Pension). Aid & Attendance (A&A) Pension, called an “enhanced pension”, provides cash assistance to help in covering the cost of long-term care. Housebound Pension, also an “enhanced pension”, provides cash assistance specifically for persons with limited ability ...
What are the requirements for a veteran to be a caregiver?
Aid & Attendance Requirements#N#For the A&A Pension, a veteran or his / her survivor must meet ONE of the conditions below: 1 Need assistance with Activities of Daily Living (ADLs), such as bathing, grooming, dressing, eating, and mobility. 2 Be bedridden (confined to one’s bed) 3 Be a resident of a nursing home facility due to the inability to function physically or mentally 4 Have profound visual impairment (both eyes have equal or less than 5/200 visual acuity OR the visual field has concentric contraction equal to 5 degrees or less)
How many days of service do you need to be a veteran?
A veteran must have been discharged from military, air, or naval service, and served a minimum of 90 days of active service (full time duty) with a minimum of 1 day served during a time of war. (See eligibility war time periods below).
Can a veteran spouse have a pension?
In simple terms, a veteran or surviving spouse cannot have annual income greater than the maximum annual VA pension benefit amount he / she potentially can receive. (Maximum annual VA pension benefit amounts are above under the section, Benefits).
What is VA Aid and Attendance?
VA Aid and Attendance is a lesser-known benefit. Aid and Attendance is a bit of a misnomer when it comes to this pension benefit; the term itself is a medical rating that allows for additional allowances in the event that the Veteran or surviving family member is housebound and/or needs the regular aid and attendance of another person.
What are the requirements for VA aid?
Final requirements for qualifying for VA Aid and Allowance include income limits. A Veteran’s household income, or that of their spouse, has to be below the Maximum Allowable Pension Rate (MAPR) as defined by the VA.
How much is Aid and Attendance 2020?
Income payments made to Aid and Attendance recipients can vary greatly. In 2020, monthly payments started at $768 and ended at $2,266, depending on the type of claim and the type of medical rating the applicant meets. Generally, income payments depend on the type of claim and the medical rating involved. Many people don't even know of the existence ...
What is considered a period of war for the VA?
The VA defines “period of war” the following way: World War II: December 7, 1941 – December 31, 1946.
How much does a disabled veteran earn in 2019?
These are variable, according to your circumstances; for example, a disabled Veteran without any dependents that also meets the “aid and attendance” medical rating can earn as much as $22,939 a year under the 2019-20 MAPR. Rates change all the time, however, so this figure may not always be accurate.
What is the VA net worth limit for 2019-20?
The 2019-20 net worth limit is $129,094, though this limit is increased by a percentage every year that coincides with Social Security’s annual COLA increase. As far as the VA is concerned, a Veteran’s “new worth” is the entirety of a Veteran’s assets plus what the VA calls “income for VA purposes” (IVAP).
Is the life of a US armed service member Veteran easy?
The life of a US armed service member Veteran isn't necessarily an easy one. Veterans and their families face unique challenges. For many Veterans, the US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is there to provide the support they may need. One of the ways that the VA provides this much-needed support is through a benefits program known as VA Aid and Attendance.
What is a veteran's disability pension?
Disability Pension and Survivors (Death) Pension are Department of Veterans Affairs disability income programs available to veterans or to the single surviving spouses of deceased veterans. The veteran had to have served on active duty at least 90 days with one of those days during a period of war.
What is a medical need rating?
A medical rating or a medical need for this disability care allows certain medical expenses (like assisted living or home care) and ancillary non-medical expenses to be annualized and subtracted from future annual income in order to meet the income test.
How many people over 65 qualify for a death pension?
Estimates are that about 20% of all people over 65 -- could qualify for Veterans Pension or Death Pension under the right conditions. That's how many war veterans or their surviving spouses or there are in this country.
Can a non-veteran spouse receive a veteran's benefit?
If the non-veteran spouse of a living veteran has a regular medical need for assistance or supervision, under certain conditions , a benefit (not an allowance) may be available for the veteran that otherwise would not have been available. Allowances are granted for the regular need for "aid and attendance" or if the beneficiary is "housebound.".
Can an older veteran have dependent children?
Typically, an older veteran household will only have dependent children if they have one or more totally dependent adult children living in the home. Or the older veteran may be married to a very young woman. If the household has such a situation, the additional dependent child rates are listed in Table 1 below.
Is a veteran's service in combat required?
Service in combat is not required, only that the veteran was in the service during wartime and was discharged honorably. Charts showing the available amount of income and the dates for wartime service are included below. "Aid and attendance" and "housebound" are medical ratings. Being rated means VA recognizes that an individual needs ...
Can a veteran receive pension and compensation at the same time?
This is for veterans who are disabled because of injuries or illnesses incurred while on active duty. A veteran household cannot receive Pension and Compensation at the same time.
What is VA Aid and Attendance Benefit?
The VA Aid and Attendance Benefit is a pension payment program that provides financial support to assist with the cost of senior care for veterans and their spouses. The benefit is only available to veterans who served active duty time in the military or were married to someone who did so. To qualify, you must have served during wartime and had at least 90 days of active duty service or be married to a veteran who fits this description.
Why can't I get VA Aid and Attendance?
Many veterans and their families are concerned they will not qualify for the VA Aid and Attendance Benefit because they are or are not living in a senior community. Where a person lives usually isn’t an issue. Instead, it’s the level of care needed on a daily basis.
Can I pay someone to fill out VA forms?
No, you shouldn’t pay someone to assist you with filling out any forms. In cases where you might want to appeal a VA benefit ruling, which isn’t the case with the Aid and Attendance Benefit, you might need to invest a bit in someone who has experience with the appeals process. However, this extra guidance isn’t needed in every case and many vets successfully file appeals on their own.
Is the VA Aid and Attendance Benefit difficult to understand?
Like many benefits offered by the VA, the Aid and Attendance Benefit is filled with intricate details and can be difficult to understand. It’s common for vets with a service-connected disability to have questions about the Aid and Attendance Benefit, especially if they are determining whether or not they qualify.
Aid & Attendance Allowances for Spouses of Veterans
Gradually increasing allowances for the spouse of a veteran where the spouse needs aid and attendance and the veteran is at least 30% disabled. A different benefit corresponds to each 10% rating increase from 30% up to 100%. See applicable rate table below.
Aid and Attendance or Housebound SMC for Veterans who are Totally Disabled
An income under SMC Schedule L is available for a veteran who needs aid and attendance and is receiving Disability Compensation at 100% disability under a single disability rating.
