VA Aid and Attendance in Arizona is a federal pension benefit that adds money to a wartime veteran's monthly check when they need regular help with daily tasks. For a veteran with a spouse, it can reach $2,874 a month ($34,488 a year) in 2026. It's one of the most underused VA benefits, and many Arizona veterans and surviving spouses who qualify never apply because they don't know it exists.

This guide walks through who qualifies, how much you can receive, how to apply, and where to get free help filing in Arizona, including from the Arizona Department of Veterans' Services and the Veteran Benefit Counselors who serve all 15 counties.

In This Guide

What Is Aid and Attendance?

Aid and Attendance (A&A) is an enhanced VA pension benefit for wartime veterans and their surviving spouses who need help with everyday activities. It isn't a separate program. It's an extra amount added on top of the base VA pension when you need regular care.

You may qualify if you need help with daily activities such as:

  • Bathing or showering
  • Dressing and undressing
  • Eating or preparing meals
  • Using the toilet
  • Adjusting prosthetic devices
  • Protecting yourself from everyday hazards

You can also qualify if you're bedridden, spend a large part of the day in bed because of illness, live in a nursing home due to mental or physical incapacity, or have severely limited eyesight (5/200 or less in both eyes).

A&A is tax-free, and the money can go toward any purpose, including in-home care, assisted living, or nursing home costs. That flexibility is part of what makes it so useful for Arizona families piecing together long-term care.

Not sure whether your parent qualifies for Aid and Attendance? Check with Brevy's care navigator at brevy.com.

Do You Qualify?

To receive Aid and Attendance, you have to meet all four of these requirements.

1. Wartime service. The veteran must have served at least 90 days of active duty with at least one day during a recognized wartime period. Qualifying periods include World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, and the Gulf War (which includes all post-9/11 service). Gulf War veterans need 24 months of continuous active duty, or the full period they were called up.

2. Age or disability. The veteran must be 65 or older, or permanently and totally disabled.

3. Need for assistance. The veteran or surviving spouse must need regular help with daily activities, be bedridden, be in a nursing home, or have severely limited eyesight as described above.

4. Net worth under $163,699. This is the 2026 limit. It counts your assets plus your annual income combined. Your primary home, one personal vehicle, and basic household items don't count.

Surviving spouses qualify too. If the veteran has passed away and the surviving spouse needs help with daily activities, they can apply for the Survivors Pension with Aid and Attendance, worth up to $1,558 a month in 2026.

2026 Aid and Attendance Rates

The VA calculates your payment as the difference between your countable income and the Maximum Annual Pension Rate (MAPR) for your category. If your income is low enough, you receive the full amount. These rates are federal, so they're the same in Arizona as anywhere else.

Category Annual Rate Monthly Rate
Veteran, no dependents $29,093 $2,424
Veteran with spouse $34,488 $2,874
Two veterans married to each other (both A&A) $46,143 $3,845
Surviving spouse $18,697 $1,558
Veteran, no dependents (Housebound) $21,313 $1,776
Veteran, no dependents (basic pension) $17,441 $1,454
Each additional child +$2,984 +$249

Here's how the math works. If a veteran with a spouse has $12,000 in annual countable income and qualifies for A&A, the VA pays the difference: $34,488 minus $12,000 leaves $22,488 a year, or about $1,874 a month. Out-of-pocket medical expenses, including what you pay for care, reduce your countable income, which raises your benefit.

The Net Worth Limit and 3-Year Lookback

The 2026 net worth limit is $163,699. This combines your assets (savings, investments, and property other than your home) with your annual income.

What counts: bank accounts, stocks, bonds, investment property, IRAs, and other financial assets, plus your annual income.

What doesn't count: your primary residence, one personal vehicle, and basic household goods. The house you live in doesn't push you over the limit, which matters for the many Arizona veterans who own their homes outright but live on a modest fixed income.

The 3-Year Lookback Rule

The VA reviews any assets you transferred for less than fair market value in the three years before you file your claim. If you gave away or sold assets below market value to get under the net worth limit, the VA may impose a penalty period of up to five years during which you won't receive pension benefits.

This rule exists to stop people from simply giving away savings to qualify. If you're thinking about transferring assets, talk to a VA-accredited attorney or an elder law attorney first. The penalty can be steep, so it's worth getting advice before you move money.

How to Apply for VA Aid and Attendance in Arizona

The application takes two forms and a medical exam.

Step #1: Get a medical examination. Your doctor fills out VA Form 21-2680 (Examination for Housebound Status or Permanent Need for Regular Aid and Attendance), documenting which daily activities you need help with and why. Be thorough. The more detail about specific limitations, the stronger the claim.

Step #2: Complete the pension application. If you're not already receiving VA pension, submit VA Form 21P-527EZ (Application for Veterans Pension), which covers your service history, income, net worth, and medical conditions.

Step #3: Submit everything. You can file online at va.gov, mail the forms, or file through an accredited representative such as an Arizona Veteran Benefit Counselor or a county veteran service officer. Filing online lets you save your progress and track the claim.

Step #4: Wait for a decision. The VA processes claims in the order received. Expect 3 to 6 months, sometimes longer. A complete application with strong medical documentation moves faster. Incomplete submissions are the most common reason for delays.

Documents to Gather First

  • DD-214 (discharge papers) showing wartime service dates
  • Medical records documenting the need for daily help
  • Income documentation (Social Security and pension statements)
  • Asset information (bank and investment statements)
  • Marriage certificate, if claiming as a veteran with a spouse
  • Death certificate, if applying as a surviving spouse

Free Help in Arizona: ADVS and Veteran Service Officers

You don't have to file this claim alone, and you should never pay to file an initial VA claim. Free, accredited help is available across Arizona.

The Arizona Department of Veterans' Services (ADVS)

The Arizona Department of Veterans' Services, known as ADVS, is the state agency that helps veterans and their families pursue the federal and state benefits they earned, including federal VA pension benefits like Aid and Attendance. ADVS doesn't decide your VA claim itself (the federal VA does that), but its Veteran Benefit Counselors prepare and develop claims for free. These counselors are accredited by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and certified by the State of Arizona, and they assist veterans across all 15 Arizona counties, including counselors stationed at each of the four Arizona State Veteran Homes. You can reach ADVS to set an appointment by phone at (602) 255-3373 or through the online appointment portal at dvs.az.gov.

ADVS also owns and operates four Arizona State Veteran Homes, all skilled-nursing facilities, each with a memory care unit: a 104-bed home in Phoenix, a 120-bed home in Tucson, an 80-bed home in Flagstaff that opened in fall 2024 as the newest in the system, and an 80-bed home in Yuma. To be eligible for admission, an applicant must be an honorably separated veteran (or the spouse or surviving spouse of a veteran) and must require skilled nursing care as determined by a physician. For a veteran weighing nursing care, an A&A award can help cover costs whether they stay at home or move into one of these homes.

County and Tribal Veteran Service Officers

Beyond the state counselors, Arizona's county and tribal Veteran Service Officers also provide VA-accredited, no-cost claims assistance at the local level. A Veteran Service Officer can prepare and submit your claim, develop the evidence the VA needs, and represent you on an appeal, all at no cost to you. Accredited representatives never charge a fee to prepare or file an initial VA claim.

A word of caution: be wary of companies that charge fees to help with VA claims. VA-accredited attorneys may charge for appeals, but the initial claim filing should be free through an ADVS Veteran Benefit Counselor, a county or tribal Veteran Service Officer, or a Veterans Service Organization like the VFW, American Legion, or DAV.

Arizona's Veteran Population

Arizona is home to one of the larger veteran populations of any state, and it's a major retirement destination, so its veteran population skews notably older than the national average, according to the VA's National Center for Veterans Analysis and Statistics. With many older veterans relocating to Arizona for its climate, demand for help with care benefits is real, so it's worth contacting a counselor early rather than waiting until a care crisis forces the issue.

Need help finding a Veteran Benefit Counselor near you? Ask Brevy's care navigator at brevy.com.

How Aid and Attendance Works with Arizona Medicaid (ALTCS)

Aid and Attendance and Arizona's Medicaid long-term care program, the Arizona Long Term Care System (ALTCS) administered by AHCCCS, are run separately, under different rules. A veteran can receive both at the same time, but the two count money differently, so a few points are worth understanding.

  • A&A income doesn't automatically disqualify you from ALTCS. For ALTCS eligibility, VA pension income generally counts as income, but the portion of A&A attributable to unreimbursed medical expenses is generally excluded under longstanding federal rules, so it typically does not by itself push an applicant over the income limit.
  • The two programs cover different things. A&A can pay for costs ALTCS often doesn't, such as room and board in assisted living, while ALTCS may cover the care services themselves and long-term nursing care.
  • VA pension income affects your Share of Cost. Once a person is enrolled in ALTCS in a nursing facility, most income, including VA pension, is applied to their cost of care as a Share of Cost (SOC). Arizona policy provides a specific protection for residents of an Arizona State Veteran Home who have no spouse or dependent children, allowing up to $90.00 of VA pension benefits, including increases for aid and attendance and unusual medical expenses, to be deducted from the SOC.
  • Timing matters. Because the interaction between VA benefits and ALTCS eligibility and cost-sharing is fact-specific, confirm your situation with AHCCCS/ALTCS or an accredited Veteran Benefit Counselor before you file.

For the bigger picture of how to protect assets while qualifying for Medicaid, see our guide to Medicaid planning strategies.

Frequently Asked Questions

The maximum depends on your situation. A veteran alone gets up to $2,424 a month, a veteran with a spouse gets up to $2,874 a month, and a surviving spouse gets up to $1,558 a month. These are federal rates, identical in Arizona. Your actual payment is reduced by your countable income, and out-of-pocket medical expenses can lower that income and raise your benefit.

Contact the Arizona Department of Veterans' Services and its Veteran Benefit Counselors at (602) 255-3373, or a county or tribal Veteran Service Officer near you. These accredited representatives prepare and submit VA claims for free, in all 15 Arizona counties. You should never pay to file an initial claim.

Yes. For ALTCS, Arizona's Medicaid long-term care program, VA pension income generally counts, but the portion attributable to unreimbursed medical expenses is generally excluded, and the two programs can complement each other, with A&A covering costs ALTCS doesn't, like assisted living room and board. Residents of an Arizona State Veteran Home with no spouse or dependents can have up to $90.00 of VA pension deducted from their Share of Cost. Because the interaction is fact-specific, confirm your situation with AHCCCS/ALTCS or a Veteran Benefit Counselor before applying.

Yes. ADVS operates four Arizona State Veteran Homes, all skilled-nursing facilities with a memory care unit: a 104-bed home in Phoenix, a 120-bed home in Tucson, an 80-bed home in Flagstaff (opened fall 2024), and an 80-bed home in Yuma. Admission requires an honorable discharge (or being the spouse or surviving spouse of a veteran) and a physician-determined need for skilled nursing care, and an A&A award can help cover the cost of that care.

Learn More

Find personalized help applying for VA Aid and Attendance in Arizona at brevy.com.

The information on Brevy.com is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional legal, financial, or medical advice. Rules vary by state and program and change frequently. Always verify with the relevant agency or a qualified professional. Brevy is not a law firm, financial advisor, or healthcare provider.

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Brevy Care Team

Expert eldercare guidance from Brevy's team of healthcare professionals and researchers.