VA Aid and Attendance estimator

Aid and Attendance is extra money added to a VA pension for wartime veterans and surviving spouses who need help with daily activities. The cost of assisted living can count against income, so many families qualify who assume they don’t. This uses VA’s rates in effect December 1, 2025 to November 30, 2026.

Who is applying?

Additional dependents beyond one VA adds $2,984 a year for each additional dependent (not used for a surviving spouse with no child).

The veteran served at least 90 days of active duty, with at least 1 day during a wartime period

Needs help with daily activities (bathing, dressing, eating), or lives in assisted living or a nursing home because of a disability

Household income per month Social Security, pensions, other regular income, before deductions.

Care and medical costs per month not reimbursed Assisted living counts as a medical expense when the community provides personal care (38 CFR 3.278). Add Medicare and insurance premiums.

Savings and assets Not counting the home they live in (on up to 2 acres) or a car.

They gave away or sold assets for less than they were worth in the last 3 years

Next steps

Apply with VA Form 21P-527EZ (veterans) or 21P-534EZ (surviving spouses), plus Form 21-2680 completed by a doctor. See VA’s Aid and Attendance page.
Get free help from an accredited Veterans Service Officer. No one may charge you to prepare or file an initial claim (38 CFR 14.636).
VA decides eligibility; this estimate cannot.

An estimate to help you plan, not financial, legal, tax or benefits advice. Nothing you enter leaves this page. Rates change every December 1. Medicare does not pay for assisted living or long-term care (who does). Medicaid rules vary by state; an elder law attorney can advise on your situation.

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