VA Aid and Attendance in Maryland can add up to $2,874 a month ($34,488 a year) to a wartime veteran's pension when they need regular help with everyday tasks like bathing, dressing, or eating. It's one of the most underused VA benefits, and many Maryland veterans and surviving spouses who qualify never apply because they don't know it exists. Aid and Attendance is a federal benefit, so the rates are the same in Maryland as anywhere else.

This guide walks through who qualifies, how much you can receive, how to apply, and where to get free help filing in Maryland, including from the Maryland Department of Veterans & Military Families and its statewide Service Program.

In This Guide

What Is Aid and Attendance?

Aid and Attendance (A&A) is an enhanced VA pension benefit for wartime veterans and their surviving spouses who need help with everyday activities. It isn't a separate program. It's an extra amount added on top of the base VA pension when you need regular care.

You may qualify if you need help with daily activities such as:

  • 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 a large part of the day in bed because of illness, live in a nursing home due to mental or physical incapacity, or have severely limited eyesight (5/200 or less in both eyes).

A&A is tax-free, and the money can go toward any purpose, including in-home care, assisted living, or nursing home costs. That flexibility is part of what makes it so useful for Maryland families piecing together long-term care.

Do You Qualify?

To receive Aid and Attendance, you have to meet all four of these requirements.

1. Wartime service. The veteran must have 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 includes all post-9/11 service). Gulf War veterans need 24 months of continuous active duty, or the full period they were called up.

2. Age or disability. The veteran must be 65 or older, or permanently and totally disabled.

3. Need for assistance. The veteran or surviving spouse must need regular help with daily activities, be bedridden, be in a nursing home, or have severely limited eyesight as described above.

4. Net worth under $163,699. This is the 2026 limit. It counts your assets plus your annual income combined. Your primary home, one personal vehicle, and basic household items don't count.

Surviving spouses qualify too. Filing a new benefit claim in the months after losing a spouse is hard, and it often falls to someone already worn down by grief and caregiving. If the veteran has passed away and the surviving spouse needs help with daily activities, they can apply for the Survivors Pension with Aid and Attendance, worth up to $1,558 a month in 2026, and an accredited Maryland specialist can carry most of the paperwork for them.

2026 VA Aid and Attendance Rates in Maryland

The VA calculates your payment as the difference between your countable income and the Maximum Annual Pension Rate (MAPR) for your category. If your income is low enough, you receive the full amount. These rates are federal, so they're the same in Maryland as anywhere else.

Category Annual Rate Monthly Rate
Veteran, no dependents $29,093 $2,424
Veteran with spouse $34,488 $2,874
Two veterans married to each other (both A&A) $46,143 $3,845
Surviving spouse $18,697 $1,558
Veteran, no dependents (Housebound) $21,313 $1,776
Veteran, no dependents (basic pension) $17,441 $1,454
Each additional child +$2,984 +$249

Here's how the math works. If a veteran with a spouse has $12,000 in annual countable income and qualifies for A&A, the VA pays the difference: $34,488 minus $12,000 leaves $22,488 a year, or about $1,874 a month. Out-of-pocket medical expenses, including what you pay for care, reduce your countable income, which raises your benefit.

The Net Worth Limit and 3-Year Lookback

The 2026 net worth limit is $163,699. This combines your assets (savings, investments, and property other than your home) with your annual income.

What counts: bank accounts, stocks, bonds, investment property, IRAs, and other financial assets, plus your annual income.

What doesn't count: your primary residence, one personal vehicle, and basic household goods. The house you live in doesn't push you over the limit, which matters for the many Maryland veterans who own their homes outright but live on a modest fixed income.

The 3-Year Lookback Rule

The VA reviews any assets you transferred for less than fair market value in the three years before you file your claim. If you gave away or sold assets below market value to get under the net worth limit, the VA may impose a penalty period of up to five years during which you won't receive pension benefits.

This rule exists to stop people from simply giving away savings to qualify. When care costs are already draining a family's savings, it's tempting to move money quickly to get under the limit, but a fast transfer is exactly what triggers the penalty. Before you shift any assets, talk to a VA-accredited attorney or an elder law attorney who can weigh your options with you and help you avoid a penalty you didn't see coming.

How to Apply for VA Aid and Attendance in Maryland

The application takes two forms and a medical exam. Gathering forms and medical records during a care crisis isn't easy, and it's exactly the kind of legwork an accredited MDVMF benefits specialist is there to take off your plate.

1
Step 1

Get a medical examination

Your doctor fills out 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. Be thorough. The more detail about specific limitations, the stronger the claim.

2
Step 2

Complete the pension application

If you're not already receiving VA pension, submit VA Form 21P-527EZ (Application for Veterans Pension), which covers your service history, income, net worth, and medical conditions.

3
Step 3

Submit everything

You can file online at va.gov, mail the forms to the Pension Intake Center, or file through an accredited representative such as a Maryland MDVMF benefits specialist. Filing online lets you save your progress and track the claim.

4
Step 4

Wait for a decision

The VA processes claims in the order received, and in practice a decision often takes several months or longer. A complete application with strong medical documentation moves faster. Incomplete submissions are the most common reason for delays.

Documents to Gather First

  • DD-214 (discharge papers) showing wartime service dates
  • Medical records documenting the need for daily help
  • Income documentation (Social Security and pension statements)
  • Asset information (bank and investment statements)
  • Marriage certificate, if claiming as a veteran with a spouse
  • Death certificate, if applying as a surviving spouse

Free Help in Maryland: the MDVMF Service Program

You don't have to file this claim alone, and you should never pay to file an initial VA claim. Free, accredited help is available across Maryland.

The Maryland Department of Veterans & Military Families

The Maryland Department of Veterans & Military Families (MDVMF, formerly the Maryland Department of Veterans Affairs) runs a Service Program staffed by VA-accredited benefits specialists who help veterans and families develop, prepare, submit, and track VA claims, including VA pension and the Aid and Attendance allowance, at no cost. The department is clear that veterans should never have to pay to access the benefits they earned.

Unlike states that run a separate office in every county, Maryland delivers these services through MDVMF service offices located across the state, including a Baltimore regional office and offices in communities such as Annapolis, Bel Air, Cumberland, Frederick, Gaithersburg, and Glen Burnie, generally by appointment, Monday through Friday. You can reach the program through the Baltimore Regional Office at 410-230-4444 ext. 16453 or toll-free at 800-446-4926 ext. 6450. An accredited specialist can prepare and submit your claim and develop the evidence the VA needs, all for free.

Charlotte Hall Veterans Home

Maryland operates one state veterans home, the Charlotte Hall Veterans Home in Charlotte Hall, in St. Mary's County, overseen by MDVMF. The home offers a continuum of care on one campus: a 126-bed assisted living program and a 318-bed skilled nursing program, which includes memory care in secure units and a 16-bed Women's Unit. To be eligible, an applicant generally must be a Maryland resident who served on full-time active duty and was discharged under honorable conditions, and be at least 62 years old or deemed disabled by the Social Security Administration or VA. Cost is based on the resident's resources. For a veteran weighing assisted living or nursing care, an A&A award can help cover costs whether they stay at home or move into the home.

Maryland's Veteran Population

Maryland is home to a large veteran population, with hundreds of thousands of veterans living across the state, according to the VA's National Center for Veterans Analysis and Statistics. With that many veterans, demand on accredited service offices is real, so it's worth contacting one early rather than waiting until a care crisis forces the issue.

A word of caution: be wary of companies that charge fees to help with VA claims. VA-accredited attorneys may charge for appeals, but the initial claim filing should be free through the MDVMF Service Program or a Veterans Service Organization like the VFW, American Legion, or DAV.

How Aid and Attendance Works with Maryland Medicaid

Aid and Attendance and Maryland Medicaid long-term services and supports are run separately, by different agencies and under different rules. A veteran can often receive both at the same time, but the two count money differently, so a few points are worth understanding.

  • A&A is a different program with its own tests. Aid and Attendance is an increased monthly amount added to a VA pension, while Maryland Medicaid long-term care, administered by the Maryland Department of Health's Medical Assistance program, has its own much stricter income and asset limits.
  • The two programs cover different things. A&A can pay for costs Maryland Medicaid often doesn't, such as room and board in assisted living, while Medicaid may cover the care services themselves and long-term nursing care.
  • Income counting differs between the programs. Under general federal rules, when a state Medicaid program counts income, the VA pension is treated as income except for the portion attributable to unreimbursed medical expenses, which is excluded. The precise treatment depends on the Medicaid category and how Maryland applies the rules to your situation.
  • A nursing-home pension reduction can apply. Under federal law, a single veteran or surviving spouse with no dependents who is receiving Medicaid-funded nursing-home care has their VA pension reduced to $90 per month, and that $90 is kept by the veteran rather than paid to the facility.
  • Confirm before you rely on it. Because the programs use different income and asset tests, confirm the exact effect on your benefits with Maryland Medicaid (Maryland Health Connection or your local Department of Social Services) or an accredited benefits counselor before you file.

For the bigger picture of protecting assets while qualifying for care, start with our guide to Medicaid planning strategies.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does VA Aid and Attendance pay in Maryland in 2026?

The maximum depends on your situation. A veteran alone gets up to $2,424 a month, a veteran with a spouse gets up to $2,874 a month, and a surviving spouse gets up to $1,558 a month. These are federal rates, identical in Maryland. Your actual payment is reduced by your countable income, and out-of-pocket medical expenses can lower that income and raise your benefit.

Where can I get free help applying in Maryland?

Contact the Maryland Department of Veterans & Military Families Service Program, which has VA-accredited specialists at service offices across the state, through the Baltimore Regional Office at 410-230-4444 ext. 16453 or toll-free at 800-446-4926 ext. 6450. Their staff prepare and submit VA claims for free. You should never pay to file an initial claim.

Can I receive Aid and Attendance and Maryland Medicaid at the same time?

Often, yes. A&A and Maryland Medicaid are separate programs with different rules. Under general federal rules, VA pension counts as income for Medicaid except the portion tied to unreimbursed medical expenses, and the programs can complement each other, with A&A covering costs Medicaid doesn't, like assisted living room and board. One exception to note: a single, childless veteran already receiving Medicaid-funded nursing-home care has the VA pension reduced to $90 a month, which the veteran keeps. Because the exact treatment depends on the Medicaid category, confirm with Maryland Medicaid or a benefits counselor before applying.

How long does it take to get approved?

In practice, a decision often takes several months or longer, and complex claims can take more time. The most common cause of delay is an incomplete application, so have your doctor be detailed on VA Form 21-2680 and submit all supporting documents at once.

What if the VA denies my claim?

A denial isn't the end of the road. If the VA turns down your Aid and Attendance claim or grants less than you expected, you have three decision review options: a Supplemental Claim (submit new and relevant evidence the VA didn't have before), a Higher-Level Review (a more senior reviewer re-examines the same evidence), or an appeal to the Board of Veterans' Appeals (a Veterans Law Judge reviews your case). You generally have one year from the date on the decision letter to request a Higher-Level Review or a Board appeal. An accredited MDVMF specialist or a VSO can prepare and file the review for you at no charge, and the VA benefits hotline is 800-827-1000 (TTY 711).

Learn More

MedicaidMedicaid Planning StrategiesSee which assets you keep, how the 5-year look-back works, and the legal moves that qualify you for Medicaid long-term care without losing the house. Care TypesAssisted Living in MarylandAssisted living in Maryland runs about $7,165/month. What an Assisted Living Program is, its care levels, what it costs, and how Medicaid and SOAR can help. Care TypesNursing Homes in MarylandNursing homes in Maryland in 2026: what a skilled nursing facility costs, how to check a facility's quality, and how Maryland Medicaid pays for long-term care. Care TypesMemory Care in MarylandMemory care in Maryland is an Assisted Living Program's Alzheimer's Special Care Unit. See the Disclosure Form, what it costs, and how to vet a place. Care TypesThe Cost of Senior Care in MarylandWhat senior care costs in Maryland in 2026: assisted living runs about $7,165 a month, a nursing home about $155,125 a year. See every setting and how to pay. Care TypesAssisted Living vs. Nursing Homes in MarylandAssisted living vs. a nursing home in Maryland comes down to care level and who pays: about $7,165/mo private-pay vs. roughly $155,125/yr for a nursing home.
Your next step Find personalized help applying for VA Aid and Attendance in Maryland 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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