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VA benefits that help pay for care at home

Aid and Attendance, VA home care, and support for family caregivers. For veterans and surviving spouses.

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At a glanceRates through Nov 30, 2026
Reviewed Oct 2026
  • VeteranUp to $2,424 a month
  • Veteran with a spouseUp to $2,874 a month
  • Surviving spouseUp to $1,558 a month
  • Net worth limit$163,699
  • Help filingFree
SourcesHow to start

Who qualifies for Aid and Attendance

It’s extra money added to a VA pension for veterans and surviving spouses who need help with daily life.

  • Served at least one day during a wartime period, with at least 90 days of active duty (24 months if you joined after September 7, 1980).
  • Not dishonorably discharged.
  • 65 or older, permanently disabled, or receiving SSI or SSDI.
  • Needs another person’s help with bathing, dressing or eating, or is bedbound, or has very limited eyesight.
  • Net worth under $163,699. Your home and car don’t count.
  • Surviving spouses who haven’t remarried can qualify too.

The amount depends on your income, and medical costs you pay can count against that income. VA decides the final amount.

A caregiver greeting an older woman at home

How to start

Applying is free. No one should charge you to file.

  1. Get free help

    Accredited veterans service organizations help for free. Charging a fee to prepare or file a first claim isn’t allowed under federal law.

    Free

  2. Fill out the forms

    Veterans use VA Form 21P-527EZ. Surviving spouses use 21P-534EZ. A doctor fills out Form 21-2680 about daily needs.

    Forms

  3. Apply

    Online at VA.gov, by mail, or at a VA regional office.

    Apply

  4. Use it for care

    The money is paid to you each month. You can use it for care from the provider you choose.

    Monthly

Good to know

Other VA help for care at home.

VA Homemaker and Home Health AideFor veterans in VA health care.

Aides from agencies under VA contract help with bathing, dressing, meals and shopping, and give family a break. You need to be enrolled in VA health care and meet VA’s need criteria. A copay may apply.

Start with a VA social worker at Hines VA Hospital or Jesse Brown VA Medical Center.

Veteran-Directed CareA budget you control.

The veteran manages a budget and hires their own workers, which can include a family member or neighbor. Availability varies. Ask a VA social worker.

Family caregiver stipendFor a 70% or higher service-connected rating.

The main family caregiver of a veteran who needs personal care for at least six months, from an injury or illness connected to service, can get a monthly stipend, plus at least 30 days of respite a year.

VA Caregiver Support Line: (855) 260-3274.

Housebound benefitIf you’re mostly confined to home.

A smaller add-on to the pension, up to $1,776 a month for a veteran. You can’t get Housebound and Aid and Attendance at the same time.

Amounts change every DecemberNew rates on December 1.

The amounts on this page run through November 30, 2026. VA updates them, and the net worth limit, each December.

Where VitalTouch fits

Aid and Attendance is paid to you, so you can use it with us today.

  • Aid and Attendance works with usIt’s your money to use for care.
  • Care while your claim is pendingStart now and keep your receipts.
  • VA home care contractsWe aren’t a VA-contracted agency yet. A VA social worker can point you to one.
What we can do todayVitalTouch, Oct 2026
Honest answer
  • Care paid with Aid and Attendance
  • Care while your claim is pending
  • Point you to free filing help
  • VA Homemaker and Home Health Aide program (not yet)
(708) 726-4536Free coverage check

Other ways to pay

Sources

General information, not legal or benefits advice. Rules change, and each program decides for itself. Last reviewed October 12, 2026.

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