VA Aid and Attendance can add up to $2,424 a month to a Delaware veteran's income, and because it is paid as cash, that money can go straight toward an aide who comes to the house. It is a monthly benefit added to a veteran's or surviving spouse's VA pension, and for a family trying to keep a parent at home rather than move them to a facility, that check can be the deciding factor.

This guide explains exactly how Aid and Attendance works for in-home care, how much it pays in 2026, who qualifies, and how to get free help filing the claim.

In This Guide

How Much In-Home Care Costs in Delaware

Delaware's long-term care costs run above the national medians across the board. In the CareScout 2025 Cost of Care Survey (released March 2026, the most recent state-level data), homemaker and home health aide services are reported together as a single "non-medical caregiver" rate, which ran a median of about $35 an hour nationally in 2025. Delaware sits above that national line.

A non-medical caregiver helps with errands, meals, and housekeeping as well as hands-on help with bathing, dressing, and similar daily tasks. These are industry-survey medians, not government figures, so the real number for any one family depends on how many hours of care are needed each week and where in the state you live. At roughly $35 an hour, even part-time help adds up fast, which is why an extra monthly benefit matters.

How VA Aid and Attendance Helps Pay for In-Home Care in Delaware

Aid and Attendance is an increased monthly pension the VA pays on top of a qualifying veteran's or surviving spouse's basic VA pension when they need help with daily activities. It is paid as cash, so unlike a benefit that only covers care at a specific facility, the money can go toward an in-home aide, a homemaker, or other care costs at home.

Here is what the benefit pays in 2026 (rates effective December 1, 2025 through November 30, 2026):

Category Maximum Monthly Amount
Veteran alone $2,424
Veteran with one dependent $2,874
Surviving spouse $1,558

Against in-home care that runs above the national median of about $35 an hour in Delaware, the maximum veteran rate covers a meaningful share of part-time in-home care. It rarely covers full-time care on its own, but combined with other income it can keep a loved one safely at home.

How In-Home Care Costs Lower Your Countable Income

Many families assume the income test rules them out before they have even run the numbers; more often than not, it does not. VA Pension, including the Aid and Attendance increase, is a needs-based benefit: the VA pays the difference between your countable income and a set income ceiling called the Maximum Annual Pension Rate (MAPR). Because the benefit is keyed to income, recurring out-of-pocket care costs can be subtracted from your countable income, which can make a family that looked "over income" eligible after all.

The rule has a floor. Only the portion of your unreimbursed medical expenses that exceeds 5% of the applicable MAPR counts. For 2026, that floor is $872 per year for a veteran with no dependents and $1,141 per year for a veteran with one dependent. In-home attendant care for daily activities counts as a deductible medical expense when there is a documented care need.

For example, in-home care in Delaware runs above the national median of about $35 an hour, so a veteran who relies on an aide for daily tasks builds up sizable, recurring care costs over a year. Only the first $872 of those unreimbursed costs does not count; everything above that floor is subtracted from countable income, often lowering it enough to qualify for the pension or increase the amount paid.

Who Qualifies

To qualify for Aid and Attendance, a veteran generally must meet all of the following:

  • Wartime service: at least 90 days of active duty with at least one day during a wartime period (such as World War II, Korea, Vietnam, or the Gulf War). Gulf War service has its own length-of-service rules.
  • Age or disability: be 65 or older, or permanently and totally disabled.
  • A need for aid and attendance: need help with daily activities such as bathing, dressing, or eating, or be bedridden, in a nursing home due to incapacity, or have severely limited eyesight.
  • Net worth under $163,699 for 2026, which counts assets and annual income but excludes the primary home, a vehicle, and basic household goods.

The VA reviews asset transfers made for less than fair market value during the three years before you file, so it is worth planning ahead. A surviving spouse can qualify under the Survivors Pension version of the benefit.

Using Aid and Attendance to Pay a Family Caregiver

Because Aid and Attendance is paid as cash, a family can use it to help compensate a relative who provides care at home. There is no VA rule that forces you to hire an outside agency.

If you want a more structured way to pay a family caregiver, ask your VA medical center about Veteran-Directed Care (VDC). VDC gives a veteran a flexible, clinically set budget to hire their own caregivers, including family members and even a spouse, with a financial management service handling payroll. Eligibility requires VA enrollment, a clinical need for personal care, and risk of needing institutional care. VDC is a separate program from the Aid and Attendance pension, but the two can both support care at home.

How Aid and Attendance Works with Delaware Medicaid

For Delaware seniors who later need long-term care Medicaid, how the VA money is treated matters. Long-term care Medicaid in Delaware is administered by the Division of Medicaid & Medical Assistance (DMMA) within Delaware Health and Social Services. As a general rule, the basic VA pension counts as income for Medicaid, but the Aid and Attendance (and Housebound) allowance paid above the basic pension is generally not counted toward the Medicaid income limit.

Delaware long-term care Medicaid also allows certain unreimbursed medical expenses, such as Medicaid-noncovered equipment, dentures, hearing aids, and private health insurance premiums, to be protected from the income a resident must pay toward facility care. Income rules and limits change, so confirm a veteran's specific situation with DMMA and a VA-accredited Veteran Service Officer.

How to Apply and Get Free Help

You apply for Aid and Attendance using two VA forms: Form 21-2680 (Examination for Housebound Status or Permanent Need for Regular Aid and Attendance), which a doctor completes to document the need for help, and Form 21P-527EZ (Application for Veterans Pension) if you are not already receiving a pension. You can file online at va.gov, by mail, or through an accredited representative. Processing often takes three to six months or longer.

Do not do this alone. Delaware veterans can get free help filing VA claims, including the Aid and Attendance allowance, from Veteran Service Officers employed by the Delaware Commission of Veterans Affairs / Office of Veterans Services, who are state employees trained and accredited by the VA. An accredited Veteran Service Officer never charges for claims services. You can reach the office at DOS_OVS@delaware.gov or (302) 739-2792 to schedule an appointment.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can Aid and Attendance be used to pay for in-home care in Delaware?

Yes. Aid and Attendance is paid as cash added to a VA pension, so the money can go directly toward an in-home aide, a homemaker, or other care at home. It is not tied to a specific facility, which makes it well suited to families keeping a loved one at home.

How much does Aid and Attendance pay in 2026?

Up to $2,424 a month for a veteran alone, up to $2,874 for a veteran with one dependent, and up to $1,558 for a surviving spouse. These are maximums; the actual amount depends on your countable income.

Does my parent's income disqualify them if it looks too high?

Not necessarily. The VA subtracts unreimbursed care costs above a yearly floor of $872 (or $1,141 with one dependent) from countable income, so families that look over the limit often still qualify once in-home care costs are counted.

Can a veteran get both Aid and Attendance and Delaware Medicaid?

Often yes. The Aid and Attendance allowance is generally not counted toward Delaware's Medicaid income limit, though the basic pension may be. Confirm your specific case with DMMA and a VA-accredited Veteran Service Officer.

Compare Care Settings in Delaware

Aid and Attendance can help pay for any care setting. See how it works for the others:

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Your next step Find personalized help using VA benefits to pay for in-home care in Delaware 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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