VA Aid and Attendance can pay up to $2,424 a month toward nursing home care in Louisiana for eligible wartime veterans. Louisiana already has some of the most affordable nursing home costs in the country -- and Aid and Attendance can cover a substantial share of them. This guide explains how the benefit works, who qualifies, how it interacts with Louisiana Medicaid (Healthy Louisiana), and how to get free help applying through the Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs.

In This Guide

How Much a Nursing Home Costs in Louisiana

A semi-private nursing home room in Louisiana costs about $89,790 per year (roughly $7,483 per month), and a private room runs about $91,250 per year (roughly $7,604 per month), according to the Genworth/CareScout 2024 Cost of Care Survey. Both figures are well below the national medians of approximately $111,325 and $127,750 per year, making Louisiana one of the more affordable states for nursing home care. The New Orleans and Baton Rouge areas generally run higher than rural Louisiana. These are industry-survey medians, not government figures.

Even at Louisiana's lower rates, nursing home care is a significant recurring cost. VA Aid and Attendance -- up to $2,424 a month -- can cover a meaningful portion of it.

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 sent to the veteran or surviving spouse -- not direct payments to the nursing facility. The money can be applied toward facility costs, private aides, or other care expenses.

The VA does not run or pay for private nursing homes. Aid and Attendance is a monthly cash benefit.

How Nursing Home Costs Lower Your Countable Income

VA pension, including Aid and Attendance, is needs-based. The VA pays the difference between your Maximum Annual Pension Rate (MAPR) and your countable income for VA purposes. Lower countable income means a larger payment.

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. For a veteran paying out of pocket for a Louisiana nursing home, those costs can exceed the floor and substantially reduce -- or eliminate -- countable income, making the full Aid and Attendance rate possible even for veterans with moderate income.

Example (annual): A single veteran receives $18,000 in Social Security annually and pays $75,000 out of pocket for nursing home care. Subtracting $872 leaves $74,128 deductible. That more than offsets the $18,000 in income, bringing countable income to $0 and qualifying the veteran for the full $29,093/year 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 applies to asset transfers 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 an important 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 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 care -- while Healthy Louisiana covers the facility cost.

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

How Aid and Attendance Works with Louisiana Medicaid

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

For the VA pension, large unreimbursed care costs can reduce countable income, as described above. For Louisiana Medicaid, long-term-care eligibility is income- and asset-tested under separate rules. As a general federal rule, VA pension income counts as income for Medicaid, except that the portion attributable to unreimbursed medical expenses (and, in many cases, the Aid and Attendance add-on used to pay for care) may be treated differently. Because the precise treatment under Louisiana's Medicaid rules can vary by case, families should confirm how their specific VA pension and Aid and Attendance amounts are counted with the Louisiana Department of Health and an accredited benefits counselor before relying on either program to pay for care.

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 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 Louisiana: The Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs (LDVA) employs VA-accredited Veterans Assistance Counselors at parish service offices statewide who file VA claims on behalf of Louisiana veterans at no charge. Call (225) 219-5000 or visit vetaffairs.la.gov to find your nearest office. No accredited representative may lawfully charge a fee to prepare an initial VA claim.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does being in a nursing home automatically make a Louisiana veteran eligible for Aid and Attendance?

Being in a nursing home due to mental or physical incapacity is one qualifying condition. But the veteran must also meet wartime service, age or disability, and net worth requirements. Placement alone does not guarantee eligibility.

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

Sometimes. The two programs interact. For a single veteran with no dependents whose nursing home stay is paid by Healthy Louisiana, the VA pension is reduced to $90/month under federal law. The impact depends on the individual's situation; confirm with LDVA and the Louisiana Department of Health before applying.

Does the VA count Social Security when calculating pension?

Yes. Social Security is generally countable income for VA pension purposes. However, large nursing home costs can reduce countable income below Social Security levels, making the veteran eligible for the full Aid and Attendance rate.

How long does it take for Aid and Attendance payments to begin?

Claims typically take three to six months or longer after the VA receives a complete application. Working with an LDVA Veterans Assistance Counselor helps ensure the file is complete and reduces delays.

Compare Care Settings in Louisiana

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 Louisiana 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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