VA Aid and Attendance in Maryland is a federal pension benefit that adds money to a wartime veteran's monthly check when they need regular help with everyday tasks like bathing, dressing, or eating. For a veteran with a spouse, it can reach $2,874 a month ($34,488 a year) in 2026. 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.
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.
In This Guide
- Key Takeaways
- What Is Aid and Attendance?
- Do You Qualify?
- 2026 Aid and Attendance Rates
- The Net Worth Limit and 3-Year Lookback
- How to Apply for VA Aid and Attendance in Maryland
- Free Help in Maryland: the MDVMF Service Program
- How Aid and Attendance Works with Maryland Medicaid
- Frequently Asked Questions
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.
Not sure whether your parent qualifies for Aid and Attendance? Check with Brevy's care navigator at brevy.com.
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. 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.
2026 Aid and Attendance Rates
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. If you're thinking about transferring assets, talk to a VA-accredited attorney or an elder law attorney first. The penalty can be steep, so it's worth getting advice before you move money.
How to Apply for VA Aid and Attendance in Maryland
The application takes two forms and a medical exam.
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.
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.
Step #3: Submit everything. You can file online at va.gov, mail the forms, or file through an accredited representative such as a Maryland veterans service officer. Filing online lets you save your progress and track the claim.
Step #4: Wait for a decision. The VA processes claims in the order received. Expect 3 to 6 months, sometimes 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.
Need help finding a veterans service officer near you? Ask Brevy's care navigator at brevy.com.
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.
- 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
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.
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.
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. Because the exact treatment depends on the Medicaid category, confirm with Maryland Medicaid or a benefits counselor before applying.
Usually 3 to 6 months, though complex claims can take longer. 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.
Learn More
- Medicaid Planning Strategies
- Assisted Living in Maryland
- Nursing Homes in Maryland
- Memory Care in Maryland
- The Cost of Senior Care in Maryland
- Assisted Living vs. Nursing Homes in Maryland
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.