VA Aid and Attendance can add up to $2,424 a month toward nursing home care in Kansas for qualifying wartime veterans. Most families find out about this benefit only after they have been paying for care out of pocket for months. This guide explains how Aid and Attendance works for nursing home residents, who qualifies, how it interacts with KanCare (Kansas Medicaid), and where to get free, accredited help applying.

In This Guide

How Much a Nursing Home Costs in Kansas

A semi-private nursing home room in Kansas costs about $93,075 per year (roughly $7,756 per month), and a private room runs about $102,200 per year, according to the Genworth/CareScout 2024 Cost of Care Survey. Both figures sit well below the national medians of approximately $111,325 and $127,750 per year. These are industry-survey medians, not government figures, and costs vary within the state and rise as care needs increase.

Even at Kansas's comparatively lower rates, nursing home care quickly becomes one of the largest expenses a family faces. VA Aid and Attendance can substantially offset that cost.

How Aid and Attendance Helps Pay for It

VA Aid and Attendance is an increased monthly payment added to a veteran's basic VA pension for those who need help with daily activities -- such as bathing, dressing, eating, or adjusting prosthetic devices -- or who live in a nursing home due to physical or mental incapacity.

For 2026, the Aid and Attendance rates are:

  • Veteran with no dependents: $2,424 per month ($29,093 per year)
  • Veteran with one dependent (such as a spouse): $2,874 per month ($34,488 per year)
  • Surviving spouse with no dependents: $1,558 per month ($18,697 per year)

These are VA pension payments -- not reimbursements and not payments sent directly to the facility. The veteran or surviving spouse receives the money and can apply it toward nursing home costs.

The VA does not run or pay for private nursing homes. The benefit is a monthly cash payment to help families cover the cost.

How Nursing Home Costs Lower Your Countable Income

VA pension, including Aid and Attendance, is a needs-based benefit. The VA calculates payment as the difference between your Maximum Annual Pension Rate (MAPR) and your countable income for VA purposes. Lowering countable income raises the payment.

The key: the VA lets you subtract unreimbursed medical expenses -- including out-of-pocket nursing home costs -- from your countable income, but only the portion that exceeds 5% of your applicable MAPR.

For 2026, that threshold is:

  • $872 per year for a veteran with no dependents (5% of the $17,441 basic MAPR)
  • $1,141 per year for a veteran with one dependent (5% of the $22,839 basic MAPR)

Only the amount above those annual floors is deductible. When nursing home costs are large, this deduction can zero out countable income and result in the full Aid and Attendance rate.

Example (annual): A single veteran has $20,000 in annual income and pays $80,000 per year out of pocket for a nursing home room. He subtracts $872 (the 5% floor), leaving $79,128 in deductible expenses. That wipes out his $20,000 in countable income, and he qualifies for the full $29,093 per year ($2,424/month) Aid and Attendance rate.

Who Qualifies

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

Wartime service. At least 90 days of active duty with at least one day during a recognized wartime period: World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, or the Gulf War/post-9/11 era. 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. This combines assets and annual income, excluding the primary home, vehicles, and basic household items. A 3-year look-back period applies to asset transfers made for less than fair market value on or after October 18, 2018; penalties can extend up to 5 years.

Need for aid and attendance. The veteran must require help with daily activities, be largely confined to bed, be a nursing home patient due to mental or physical incapacity, or have severe vision impairment (5/200 or less in both eyes, or visual field contracted to 5 degrees).

Surviving spouses of wartime veterans may qualify for the Survivors Pension with Aid and Attendance under similar rules.

The $90/Month Nursing-Home Pension Cap

There is a critical federal rule that applies when a single veteran with no spouse or dependent children is covered by Medicaid for nursing facility care: the VA reduces that veteran's pension to no more than $90 per month for any period after the month of admission to the nursing facility.

This rule comes from 38 U.S.C. 5503(d)(2) and its implementing regulation at 38 CFR 3.551. The $90/month is a personal allowance -- not a payment toward the cost of care -- while Medicaid (KanCare) covers the facility.

This cap applies only to a single veteran with no dependents whose nursing stay is Medicaid-funded. It does not apply to a veteran paying privately or to a veteran with a spouse or dependent child.

How Aid and Attendance Works with Kansas Medicaid

VA Aid and Attendance and Kansas Medicaid (KanCare, administered by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment) are separate programs with different income and asset rules. A senior may qualify for and receive both, but they interact.

VA pension is generally counted as income when KanCare tests Medicaid long-term-care eligibility. Under federal rules, the portion attributable to unreimbursed medical expenses -- which often includes the Aid and Attendance amount -- is generally not counted toward the Medicaid income limit. Because the exact treatment can vary by case, a senior weighing both programs should confirm specifics with a KOVS Veteran Service Representative and with KanCare/KDHE before applying.

How to Apply and Get Free Help

To apply for Aid and Attendance, you will need two VA forms:

  • VA Form 21-2680 (Examination for Housebound Status or Permanent Need for Regular Aid and Attendance) -- completed by a physician documenting the veteran's need for assistance.
  • VA Form 21P-527EZ (Application for Veterans Pension) -- required if the veteran is not already receiving a VA pension.

Forms can be submitted online at va.gov, mailed, or filed through an accredited representative. Processing often takes three to six months.

Free help in Kansas: The Kansas Office of Veterans Services (KOVS) provides free, accredited claims help through Veteran Service Representatives stationed at field offices throughout the state. KOVS can be reached at 1-800-513-7731. No accredited representative may lawfully charge a fee to prepare or file an initial VA claim.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does living in a nursing home automatically qualify a veteran for Aid and Attendance?

Being in a nursing home due to mental or physical incapacity is one of the qualifying conditions for Aid and Attendance -- but the veteran must still meet wartime service, age or disability, and net worth requirements. The nursing home condition alone is not enough.

Can a veteran receive both Aid and Attendance and KanCare at the same time?

Sometimes. The two programs have different rules and interact. For a single veteran with no dependents whose nursing home care is paid by KanCare, the VA pension is reduced to $90/month under federal law. The exact effect depends on the individual's situation; confirm with KOVS and KDHE before applying.

How does the 3-year look-back affect nursing home applicants?

If a veteran transferred assets for less than fair market value within three years before filing for VA pension, the VA may impose a penalty period during which no pension is paid. The penalty can last up to five years. Consult an accredited VSO before any asset transfers.

How long does it take to receive Aid and Attendance?

Claims typically take three to six months or longer after the VA receives a complete application. Working with a KOVS Veteran Service Representative helps ensure the file is complete, which reduces the risk of delays.

Compare Care Settings in Kansas

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

Learn More

Find personalized help using VA benefits to pay for a nursing home in Kansas 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.