VA Aid and Attendance can add up to $2,874 a month in tax-free pension income for an Illinois veteran or surviving spouse, money that can go straight toward an assisted living community's fees. The VA doesn't run assisted living facilities or pay them directly, but this benefit puts cash in the veteran's hands every month, and the way the VA counts assisted-living costs can help a family that thought their income was too high to qualify.

This guide walks through what assisted living costs in Illinois, how much Aid and Attendance pays, why your care bills can lower the income the VA counts against you, who qualifies, and how to get free help applying.

In This Guide

How Much Assisted Living Costs in Illinois

Assisted living in Illinois costs about $72,645 per year, roughly $6,054 per month, as a statewide median, according to the CareScout 2025 Cost of Care Survey. That figure sits close to the national median, but it's a statewide midpoint: the Chicago metro typically runs higher, and downstate communities run lower.

For most families, that monthly bill is the central problem. Assisted living isn't covered by Medicare, and Illinois Medicaid covers it only through limited waiver programs. So the cost usually comes out of the resident's own income and savings. That's exactly the gap VA Aid and Attendance is built to help close.

Trying to work out whether a veteran in your family can afford assisted living? Chat with Brevy for a personalized look at how VA benefits could help.

How VA Aid and Attendance Helps Pay for Assisted Living in Illinois

Aid and Attendance is an increased monthly VA pension for wartime veterans, and surviving spouses, who need help with daily activities. It's paid as tax-free cash directly to the beneficiary, so the money can go toward assisted-living fees, an in-home aide, or any other care the family chooses.

Here's what the benefit pays in 2026:

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

Against an assisted-living bill of about $6,054 a month, a veteran's $2,424 covers roughly 40 percent of the median cost, and $2,874 for a married couple covers nearly half., It rarely pays the whole bill on its own, but combined with Social Security and savings, it can be the difference between affording a community and not.

How Assisted-Living Costs Lower Your Countable Income

The most misunderstood part of this benefit is that your assisted-living bill can actually help you qualify. VA Pension, including its Aid and Attendance increase, is needs-based: the VA pays the difference between your countable income and a set maximum pension rate. Because the benefit is keyed to countable income, you can deduct continuing, unreimbursed medical expenses (UMEs) from that income, and the cost of assisted-living care is one of the deductible categories.

There's a catch worth understanding: only the portion of your unreimbursed medical expenses that exceeds 5 percent of the applicable maximum pension rate is deductible. For 2026, that floor is $872 for a veteran with no dependents and $1,141 for a veteran with one dependent. So you subtract that floor from your annual care costs, and the rest comes off your countable income.

The practical upshot is significant: a veteran whose income looks too high at first glance can still qualify once a large recurring cost like assisted living is deducted, because those fees easily exceed the 5 percent floor and can substantially reduce, or zero out, countable income. Assisted-living costs count as a deductible medical expense when the facility provides health care or custodial care and the resident either qualifies for Aid and Attendance, or a physician or similar provider states in writing that the person needs that care.

Who Qualifies

To receive Aid and Attendance, the veteran must meet four basic tests:

  • Wartime service: at least 90 days of active duty with at least one day during a wartime period (WWII, Korea, Vietnam, or Gulf War/post-9/11). Gulf War service requires 24 months of continuous active duty or the full period called to active duty.
  • Age or disability: age 65 or older, or permanently and totally disabled.
  • Net worth under $163,699 for 2026, which counts assets and annual income but excludes the primary home, vehicles, and basic household items.
  • Need for aid and attendance: needing help with daily activities such as bathing, dressing, or feeding yourself; being bedridden; being in a nursing home due to incapacity; or having severely limited eyesight.

The VA also enforces a 3-year look-back period on assets transferred for less than fair market value before filing, with a penalty period of up to 5 years. If your family moved money or gave away assets in the last few years, it's natural to worry that you've already disqualified yourself. Don't assume the worst. An accredited Veteran Service Officer or elder law attorney can walk through exactly what the look-back and any penalty calculation mean for your specific timeline, rather than leaving you to guess.

How Aid and Attendance Works with Illinois Medicaid (HFS)

Many Illinois families eventually need both Aid and Attendance and Medicaid, and the two programs interact in ways worth understanding before you rely on either. Illinois Medicaid is administered by the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS), and eligibility is determined by the Illinois Department of Human Services.

For nursing-home residents, Illinois uses a patient-liability, or applied-income, model: once a resident qualifies, essentially all of their monthly income must go toward the cost of care, except for a personal needs allowance (set at $60 per month for skilled nursing facility residents), Medicare premiums, and any protected allowance for a community spouse.

As a general federal rule, VA pension income is generally counted as income for Medicaid, but the portion that consists of Aid and Attendance paid for unreimbursed medical expenses may be treated differently and is often excluded from the income applied to the cost of care. Because this treatment depends on the specific situation and how the benefit is characterized, you should confirm with HFS, the Illinois Department of Human Services, or an accredited Veteran Service Officer before counting on it.

How to Apply and Get Free Help

You apply for Aid and Attendance with two VA forms:

  • VA Form 21-2680 (Examination for Housebound Status or Permanent Need for Regular Aid and Attendance), with a doctor's examination documenting the need for assistance.
  • VA Form 21P-527EZ (Application for Veterans Pension), if the veteran isn't already receiving a VA pension.

You can submit the forms online at va.gov, by mail, or through an accredited representative. Processing often takes 3 to 6 months or longer, so it's worth applying as soon as the need arises, even while your loved one is already in assisted living.

File an Intent to File first to protect your start date. Before you send the full application, you can notify the VA of an Intent to File using VA Form 21-0966, which sets a potential effective date for your benefits. If the claim is later approved, you may receive payments back to that date, and you then have one year to complete and file the full claim. This matters because the benefit is not paid retroactively to cover the months before your effective date, so families should plan to pay assisted-living costs out of pocket during the 3-to-6-month wait for a decision.

Don't do this alone. The Illinois Department of Veterans' Affairs (IDVA) provides free help through Veteran Service Officers who are trained and accredited by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, and who handle VA pension claims, including Aid and Attendance, at no charge. IDVA operates full-time and part-time offices across the state; you can find the nearest one through the IDVA service office locator or by calling the department. Many Illinois counties also run Veterans Assistance Commissions (VACs) that offer free claims help.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the VA pay assisted living facilities directly in Illinois?

No. The VA doesn't operate assisted living facilities or pay them directly. Aid and Attendance is paid as monthly cash to the veteran or surviving spouse, who can then use it to pay an assisted-living community's fees.

How much can Aid and Attendance pay toward assisted living in Illinois?

In 2026, up to $2,424 a month for a veteran alone, up to $2,874 for a veteran with a spouse, and up to $1,558 for a surviving spouse. Against Illinois's median assisted-living cost of about $6,054 a month, that covers roughly 40 to 50 percent of the bill.

My income seems too high. Can assisted-living costs still get me approved?

Often, yes. The VA lets you deduct unreimbursed medical expenses above 5 percent of the applicable maximum pension rate ($872 for a veteran with no dependents, $1,141 with one dependent in 2026), and assisted-living fees are deductible. Those costs can substantially reduce or zero out your countable income, so apply before assuming you earn too much.

What documents do I need to apply?

Gather these before you start: the veteran's DD-214 (discharge papers), VA Form 21-2680 with the medical exam section completed by a physician, and financial documentation of income, assets, and unreimbursed medical expenses such as assisted-living bills. A surviving spouse should also include the marriage certificate and the veteran's death certificate. An accredited Veteran Service Officer can tell you exactly which records apply to your situation.

Who in Illinois can help me apply for free?

The Illinois Department of Veterans' Affairs (IDVA) provides free help through VA-accredited Veteran Service Officers at full-time and part-time offices statewide, and many counties run Veterans Assistance Commissions that also help at no charge. You can find your nearest IDVA office through the IDVA service office locator.

Compare Care Settings in Illinois

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

Learn More

VA BenefitsVA Aid and Attendance in IllinoisVA Aid and Attendance in Illinois for 2026: who qualifies, monthly rates up to $2,874, how to apply, and free filing help from IDVA and county VACs. VA BenefitsVA Benefits for Senior Care in IllinoisIllinois veterans can access VA home care, Aid and Attendance ($2,424/month), state veterans homes, and community care. Here is which fits and how to apply. Care TypesAssisted Living in IllinoisAssisted living in Illinois averages about $6,054/month. What it is, whether the Medicaid Supportive Living Program pays, and how to vet a facility. VA BenefitsHow VA Aid and Attendance Pays for Assisted LivingHow VA Aid and Attendance helps pay for assisted living: the 2026 monthly amounts, the medical-expense rule, who qualifies, and how to apply for the benefit. VA BenefitsVA Benefits for Senior Care: A Complete GuideA complete guide to VA benefits for senior care: long-term care, Aid and Attendance, pensions, DIC, and home grants for older veterans and surviving spouses.
Your next step Find personalized help paying for assisted living with VA benefits in Illinois 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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Expert eldercare guidance from Brevy's team of healthcare professionals and researchers.