A wartime veteran in Michigan who needs daily help can add up to $2,874 a month to their pension through VA Aid and Attendance (A&A). A surviving spouse can receive up to $1,558 a month. It's one of the most underused VA pension benefits, and many Michigan families who qualify never apply because they don't know it exists.

For families facing assisted living or memory care costs that run several thousand dollars a month, A&A can be the difference between "we can't afford this" and "we can make this work." This guide covers who qualifies, how much you can receive, how to apply, and where to get free, accredited help in Michigan.

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 regular 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 care.

You may qualify if you need help with daily activities such as bathing, dressing, eating, using the toilet, or adjusting prosthetic devices. You can also qualify if you're bedridden, 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 what makes it so useful for Michigan families piecing together long-term care.

Think you or your spouse might qualify for A&A? Chat with Brevy's care navigator at brevy.com.

How Much Does VA Aid and Attendance Pay in Michigan?

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 identical in Michigan and everywhere 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, no dependents $18,697 $1,558
Each additional child +$2,984 +$249

These are the maximums. Your actual payment equals the maximum minus your countable income, but out-of-pocket medical and care expenses reduce that income, so most Michigan families paying for senior care end up near the maximum.

Who Qualifies?

Three tests must be met: service, medical need, and finances.

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 (World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, or the Gulf War, which continues through today). Combat service isn't required; active duty overlapping the period is enough. Veterans who entered service after September 7, 1980 generally need at least 24 months of 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. Medical need. The veteran or surviving spouse must need regular help with daily activities, be bedridden, be in a nursing home due to disability, or have severely limited eyesight. VA Form 21-2680 (Examination for Housebound Status or Permanent Need for Regular Aid and Attendance), completed by a physician, documents this.

4. Net worth under $163,699. This 2026 limit combines your assets (savings, investments, and property other than your home) with your annual income. Your primary residence and one vehicle are excluded. The VA reviews assets transferred for less than fair market value in the 3 years before you file (a 36-month look-back under 38 CFR 3.276); a covered transfer can trigger a penalty period of up to five years.

How the Unreimbursed Medical Expense Math Works

Unreimbursed medical expenses (UME) are what make A&A reachable for many families. "Countable income" is your income minus UME, and if UME reduces countable income to $0 or below, you receive the full MAPR amount.

Consider a widow in a Michigan assisted living facility with $1,400 a month in Social Security and $800 a month in pension income, for $2,200 a month total, who pays $5,000 a month for care. Her $60,000 a year in unreimbursed care costs wipes out her $26,400 a year in income, leaving countable income of $0 (any negative is treated as $0). She would then receive the full 2026 surviving spouse A&A maximum of $1,558 a month on top of her existing income, for a total of $3,758 a month toward the $5,000 care bill.

This is why documenting every medical and care cost matters so much: without unreimbursed medical expense evidence, income often looks "too high" on paper.

How to Apply for VA Aid and Attendance in Michigan

The application takes a medical exam and a pension form, and it's very doable with free help.

1
Step 1

Gather your documents

You'll need your DD-214 (discharge papers showing wartime service dates), a marriage certificate (if applying as a spouse or married veteran), a death certificate (if applying as a surviving spouse), income and asset statements, and documentation of medical and care expenses.

2
Step 2

Get the medical exam

Your physician completes VA Form 21-2680, documenting which daily activities you need help with and why. The more detail about specific limitations, the stronger the claim.

3
Step 3

File the pension application

If you're not already receiving VA pension, submit VA Form 21P-527EZ (for veterans) or VA Form 21P-534EZ (for surviving spouses). You can file online at va.gov, by mail to the Pension Intake Center, or through an accredited representative.

4
Step 4

Wait for the decision

Processing typically takes several months; claims for veterans 90 and older or in hospice are expedited. Once approved, benefits are retroactive to your application date.

An incomplete application is the most common reason for delay, so submit all supporting documents at once and have your physician be thorough on Form 21-2680.

Free Help in Michigan: The MVAA and County VSOs

You should never pay to file an initial VA claim, and in Michigan you don't have to. The Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency (MVAA) connects veterans and their families to the state and federal benefits they've earned, and all of its services are free and confidential. Its VA-accredited Veteran Service Officers (VSOs), along with county and coalition VSOs, help veterans, dependents, and survivors determine eligibility and prepare and file federal VA claims, including Aid and Attendance, at no cost. Start by calling 1-800-MICH-VET (1-800-642-4838).

Every Michigan county has at least one accredited VSO, and accredited nonprofits (DAV Michigan, American Legion Michigan, AMVETS Michigan, and VFW Michigan) offer the same free help. A VSO can prepare your forms, gather the evidence the VA needs, and follow the claim through to a decision.

A word of caution: be wary of anyone charging fees to help with an initial VA pension claim. That help should come free through the MVAA, a county VSO, or an accredited veterans service organization. You can verify accreditation at va.gov/ogc/accreditation.asp.

How A&A Works with Michigan Medicaid and Medicare

Aid and Attendance can run alongside other programs, but they count money differently, so the timing and sequence of applying can matter.

A&A and Michigan Medicaid. VA Aid and Attendance and Michigan Medicaid (administered by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, MDHHS) are separate programs run under different rules, and a veteran or surviving spouse can often receive both at once. VA pension income, including the A&A amount, generally counts as income for Michigan Medicaid and can affect long-term-care eligibility or increase a person's patient-pay amount. One federal cap is important: when a single veteran with no dependents is receiving Medicaid-covered nursing facility care, the VA pension is reduced to $90 a month, which the veteran keeps as a personal needs allowance. Because the programs interact this way, consult a VA-accredited representative or an elder law attorney before applying.

A&A and Medicare. Both can flow at the same time. Medicare covers acute medical care, while A&A pays cash the veteran can use for any care expense, including the room-and-board and personal-care costs Medicare doesn't cover.

For the bigger picture of paying for long-term care in the state, see our guide to how to pay for senior care in Michigan.

Common Misconceptions

"My husband served in peacetime, so A&A doesn't apply." Wartime periods are specific calendar ranges: the Vietnam Era runs through 1975 and the Gulf War continues through today. Many veterans who call themselves "peacetime veterans" actually served during a wartime period.

"A&A is only for service-connected disabilities." No. A&A under the pension program is for wartime veterans with non-service-connected disability or age 65+. Service-connected compensation is a separate, more generous benefit.

"Her net worth is $200,000, so she doesn't qualify." Net worth counts income, and unreimbursed medical expenses reduce the income portion, so high care costs can pull countable net worth below the $163,699 limit.

"The VA will take Mom's assets after she dies." Unlike Medicaid estate recovery, the VA does not recover pension payments from the estate after death.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

For 2026, the monthly maximums are $2,424 for a single veteran, $2,874 for a married veteran, $3,845 for two eligible veterans married to each other, and $1,558 for a surviving spouse. These are federal rates, identical in Michigan. Your actual payment equals the maximum minus countable income, and unreimbursed medical expenses reduce that income, so most families with significant care costs receive near the maximum.

Do I need combat service to qualify for A&A?

No. A&A requires 90 days of active duty with at least one day during a recognized wartime period (World War II, Korea, Vietnam, or the Gulf War through today). Deployment overseas or a combat assignment is not required. Many veterans who think of themselves as "peacetime veterans" actually served during a wartime period.

What is the 2026 net worth limit for A&A?

The 2026 net worth limit is $163,699, combining assets plus annual income. The primary residence and one vehicle are excluded. A 3-year (36-month) look-back on asset transfers applies, and a covered transfer can trigger a penalty period of up to five years.

Where can I get free help applying for A&A in Michigan?

The Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency (MVAA) at 1-800-MICH-VET (1-800-642-4838) and county Veterans Service Officers (VSOs) both provide free, accredited claims assistance, as do DAV Michigan, American Legion Michigan, AMVETS Michigan, and VFW Michigan. Never pay a non-accredited "pension consultant" for an initial VA pension claim.

Can I get A&A and Michigan Medicaid at the same time?

Often yes, but they're separate programs that count money differently. VA pension income counts as income for Michigan Medicaid and can raise your patient-pay amount, and a single veteran with no dependents in Medicaid-covered nursing facility care has the VA pension reduced to $90 a month. Talk to an accredited representative or elder law attorney about the order in which to apply.

Learn More

VA BenefitsMichigan VA Senior Care Benefits (Hub)A guide to VA senior care benefits in Michigan for 2026: Aid & Attendance, Veteran-Directed Care, the PCAFC stipend, State Veterans Homes, and how to apply. CaregiverHow to Get Paid as a Family Caregiver in MichiganSix Michigan programs that pay family caregivers in 2026: Home Help, MI Choice, VA benefits, and more. Who qualifies, what they pay, how to apply. Care TypesMichigan Assisted LivingMichigan 'assisted living' is really Adult Foster Care or a Home for the Aged. 2026 costs, how Medicaid and VA help pay, and how to choose a facility. Care TypesMichigan Memory CareA 2026 guide to Michigan memory care: what it costs, how MI Choice and VA Aid & Attendance can help pay, and what to look for in a dementia-capable facility. FinancialHow to Pay for Senior Care in MichiganEvery way to pay for senior care in Michigan in 2026: Medicare, Medicaid, VA, LTC insurance, reverse mortgages, caregiver agreements, and cost benchmarks.

Find personalized help applying for VA benefits in Michigan 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.