VA Aid and Attendance in Florida is an extra monthly payment added to a wartime veteran's VA pension when they need regular help with daily activities like bathing, dressing, or eating. For 2026, a veteran with a spouse can receive up to $2,874 a month ($34,488 a year), tax-free. It's one of the most underused benefits Florida veterans have earned, and the figures and rules are federal, so they're the same in Florida as anywhere else.
This guide covers who qualifies, how much you can get in 2026, how to apply, and where to find free, accredited claim help across Florida.
In This Guide
- Key Takeaways
- What Aid and Attendance Is
- Do You Qualify?
- 2026 Aid and Attendance Rates
- The Net Worth Limit and 3-Year Lookback
- How to Apply in Florida
- Free Help in Florida
- Florida State Veterans' Homes
- How A&A Works with Other Florida Benefits
- Frequently Asked Questions
What Aid and Attendance Is
Aid and Attendance (A&A) isn't a standalone program. It's an enhanced amount added on top of the basic VA Veterans Pension for wartime veterans, and on top of the VA Survivors Pension for their surviving spouses, when the person needs regular help with everyday activities.
You may qualify if you need help with things like:
- 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 much of the day in bed because of illness, live in a nursing home because of physical or mental incapacity, or have severely limited eyesight (5/200 or less in both eyes).
A&A is tax-free, and the money is yours to use for any purpose: home care, assisted living, or nursing home costs. None of the dollar figures or rules change between states. What changes is where you go for help, which is why the rest of this guide is built around Florida.
Do You Qualify?
To receive Aid and Attendance, the veteran (or surviving spouse) has to meet all of these:
Wartime service. The veteran 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 the VA counts as continuing through all post-9/11 service. Gulf War veterans need 24 months of continuous active duty, or the full period they were called up.
Age or disability. The veteran is 65 or older, or permanently and totally disabled.
A real need for help. The veteran or surviving spouse needs regular help with daily activities, is bedridden, lives in a nursing home, or has the severely limited eyesight described above.
Net worth under $163,699. That's the 2026 limit, and it counts assets plus annual income together. Your primary home, one vehicle, and basic household goods don't count.
Surviving spouses qualify too. If the veteran has died and the surviving spouse needs help with daily activities, they can apply for Survivors Pension with Aid and Attendance.
2026 Aid and Attendance Rates
The VA pays the difference between your countable income and the Maximum Annual Pension Rate (MAPR) for your category. The lower your income, the closer your payment gets to the full amount.
| Category | Annual Rate | Monthly Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Veteran, no dependents | $29,093 | $2,424 |
| Veteran with one dependent | $34,488 | $2,874 |
| Two veterans married to each other (both A&A) | $46,143 | $3,845 |
| Veteran, no dependents (Housebound) | $21,313 | $1,776 |
| Veteran with one dependent (Housebound) | $26,710 | $2,226 |
| Veteran, no dependents (basic pension, no A&A) | $17,441 | $1,454 |
| Each additional child | +$2,984 | +$249 |
The figures below are hypothetical and shown only to illustrate how the calculation works. They are not a real case and not a prediction of your own result. Say a Florida veteran with a spouse has $12,000 in countable annual income and qualifies for A&A. The VA pays $34,488 minus $12,000, or $22,488 a year ($1,874 a month). Out-of-pocket medical costs you pay regularly, including in-home care, can be subtracted from countable income, which often pushes the payment higher.
The Net Worth Limit and 3-Year Lookback
The 2026 net worth limit is $163,699, combining your countable assets (savings, investments, property other than your home) with your annual income.
What counts: bank accounts, stocks, bonds, IRAs, investment property, and your annual income. What doesn't: your primary residence, one personal vehicle, and basic household items.
The VA also looks back. It reviews any assets you transferred for less than fair market value in the three years before you file. Give away or under-sell assets to drop under the limit and the VA can impose a penalty period of up to five years with no pension during it. If you're thinking about moving assets, talk to a VA-accredited attorney or an elder law attorney before you do anything. The penalty is steep, and it's hard to undo.
How to Apply in Florida
The claim takes two forms and a medical exam. The process is federal, so a Florida veteran files exactly the way a veteran in any state does.
Step #1: Get the medical exam. Your doctor completes 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. Detail matters here. The more specific the limitations, the stronger the claim.
Step #2: File the pension application. If you're not already drawing a VA pension, submit VA Form 21P-527EZ (Application for Veterans Pension), covering service history, income, net worth, and medical conditions. A surviving spouse files the VA's survivors pension application instead.
Step #3: Submit everything together. File online at va.gov, by mail, or through an accredited representative. A complete first submission is the single biggest thing you control. Incomplete claims are the most common reason for delays.
Step #4: Wait for a decision. The VA works claims in the order received. Plan on three to six months, sometimes longer for complex cases.
Have these ready before you start: your DD-214 showing wartime service dates, medical records documenting the need for help, income and asset documentation, a marriage certificate if claiming with a spouse, and a death certificate if applying as a surviving spouse.
Free Help in Florida
Don't pay anyone to file the initial claim. Free, accredited help is available statewide, which matters in a state with roughly 1.4 million veterans, the second-largest veteran population in the country behind Texas.
Florida Department of Veterans' Affairs (FDVA)
The Florida Department of Veterans' Affairs is the state agency that connects veterans to the federal and state benefits they've earned. Its Veterans' Claims Examiners and State Veterans' Service Officers sit alongside the VA Regional Office in Bay Pines and at VA medical centers and clinics around Florida, and they file federal claims, including Aid and Attendance, at no charge. You can reach an FDVA Claims Examiner at (727) 319-7440.
County Veteran Service Officers (CVSOs)
Florida counties run County Veteran Service Offices staffed by accredited officers who help with benefits counseling, claim filing, and appeals. The help is free and covers both state and federal programs. A local CVSO is often the fastest place to start, since they know the county and can meet with you in person.
Veterans Service Organizations
National groups like the VFW, American Legion, and DAV have accredited representatives who file claims for free and have deep experience with A&A specifically. Be wary of any company that charges a fee to help with an initial VA claim. Accredited attorneys may charge for appeals, but the first filing should always be free through FDVA, a CVSO, or a VSO.
Florida State Veterans' Homes
Aid and Attendance can help pay for long-term care, and Florida also runs its own care facilities for veterans. FDVA operates a network of nine State Veterans' Homes: eight skilled nursing facilities, in Daytona Beach, Land O' Lakes, Panama City, Pembroke Pines, Port Charlotte, and St. Augustine, plus one assisted living facility, the Robert H. Jenkins Jr. State Veterans' Domiciliary Home in Lake City.
These homes are a separate state resource, not the same thing as your A&A pension. But the two fit together: A&A is money the veteran controls and can put toward care, and the State Veterans' Homes are one place that care can happen. A CVSO can walk you through both at once.
How A&A Works with Other Florida Benefits
Aid and Attendance is a federal benefit, so it stacks with several Florida programs rather than competing with them.
Florida Medicaid. A&A and Florida Medicaid long-term care can work together. VA pension income is counted when Florida decides Medicaid eligibility, but unreimbursed medical expenses, including care costs, can be deducted. A&A can also cover things Medicaid won't, such as assisted living room and board. The timing and order of applications can affect both, so talk to a benefits counselor who understands both programs first. For the long-term care side, see our guide to Florida's SMMC Long-Term Care waiver.
Florida property-tax exemptions. A&A doesn't touch your home, and neither do Florida's separate disabled-veteran property-tax breaks. A resident veteran with a VA-certified service-connected disability of 10 percent or more is entitled to a $5,000 homestead exemption, and a resident veteran with a service-connected total and permanent disability can have their homestead fully exempt from property tax, an exemption that can carry over to a surviving spouse. These are claimed with your county property appraiser through the Florida Department of Revenue and don't reduce your VA pension or A&A payment.
Frequently Asked Questions
The amount is federal, so it's the same in Florida as anywhere else. A veteran alone gets up to $2,424 a month, and a veteran with a spouse up to $2,874 a month, tax-free. Your actual payment is the difference between your countable income and that maximum, and out-of-pocket medical costs can lower your countable income and raise the payment.
Through the Florida Department of Veterans' Affairs (call a Claims Examiner at (727) 319-7440) or your local County Veteran Service Office. Both file federal claims, including A&A, at no charge. National VSOs like the VFW, American Legion, and DAV also help for free. You should never pay to file the initial claim.
Yes, and many Florida veterans do. A&A income counts toward Florida Medicaid eligibility, but unreimbursed medical expenses can be deducted, and A&A can pay for costs Medicaid doesn't cover, like assisted living room and board. Because timing affects both programs, get advice from a counselor who knows both before applying.
Usually three to six months, and longer for complex claims. The most common cause of delay is an incomplete application, so have your doctor be thorough on VA Form 21-2680 and send every supporting document with the first submission.
Learn More
- Medicare Plans and Coverage in Florida
- Florida's SMMC Long-Term Care Waiver
- Your Complete Guide to Florida Medicaid
- How to Get Paid to Care for a Family Member in Florida
- What You Need to Know About Home Care in Florida
Find personalized help applying for VA Aid and Attendance in Florida with Brevy's care navigator 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.