How to Get VA Aid and Attendance in Michigan

VA Aid & Attendance (A&A) is one of the most underutilized benefits available to senior Michigan veterans and their surviving spouses. It pays up to $2,795 per month (for a married veteran) in tax-free pension income to qualifying wartime veterans and surviving spouses who need help with daily living, are housebound, are in a nursing facility, or are legally blind.

For Michigan families facing assisted living or memory care costs that run $5,000-$7,500 per month, A&A can be the difference between "we can't afford this" and "we can make this work for years."

By Brevy Care Team · Last verified April 16, 2026

2026 Maximum Monthly A&A Amounts

VA pension rates adjust each December for the following year. 2026 approximate maximums (verify current figures with the VA):

These amounts are the maximum. Actual payment = maximum minus "countable income" (see below). Most Michigan families paying for senior care end up near the maximum because unreimbursed medical expenses offset income.

Who Qualifies

Three tests must be met: service, medical/functional, and financial.

Service Requirements

The veteran must have served 90 days active duty, including at least one day during a recognized wartime period. The veteran doesn't need combat service or a war zone assignment: just active duty overlapping with the period.

Recognized wartime periods include:

• World War II: December 7, 1941 – December 31, 1946
• Korean War: June 27, 1950 – January 31, 1955
• Vietnam Era: February 28, 1961 – May 7, 1975 (for in-country service from 1961; otherwise August 5, 1964 – May 7, 1975)
• Gulf War: August 2, 1990 – present (VA continues this period through a proclamation)

The veteran must also have been discharged under conditions other than dishonorable.

Medical/Functional Requirements

One of the following:

• Need assistance with ADLs (bathing, dressing, toileting, transferring, eating, medications): this is the "Aid & Attendance" criterion.
• Housebound: unable to leave the home except for medical appointments without substantial assistance.
• In a nursing facility due to mental or physical incapacity.
• Legally blind (20/200 or worse in the better eye with corrective lenses, or visual field of 20 degrees or less).

The veteran's primary care physician, specialist, or facility must document the functional limitation. VA Form 21-2680 (Examination for Housebound Status or Permanent Need for Regular Aid and Attendance) is typically used.

Financial Requirements

• Countable income minus unreimbursed medical expenses (UME) must fall below the Maximum Annual Pension Rate (MAPR). This is the crucial math.
• Net worth must be below the 2026 threshold of approximately $159,240 (verify current). Net worth = assets + annual income minus allowable deductions. Primary residence and one vehicle are typically excluded.
• 3-year look-back on asset transfers (started October 18, 2018) for VA purposes. Gifts made within 3 years of application can delay benefits.

The UME Math That Makes A&A Work

UME is the secret of A&A. "Countable income" is monthly income minus UME. If UME reduces countable income to $0 or below, the veteran receives the full MAPR amount.

Worked example:

A widow in a Michigan assisted living facility has:

• $1,400/month in Social Security
• $800/month pension
• $5,000/month AL care cost (all unreimbursed)

Without the UME deduction, her income would be $2,200/month and she might not qualify. With UME:

• Gross income: $2,200/month × 12 = $26,400/year
• Unreimbursed medical expenses: $5,000/month × 12 = $60,000/year
• Countable income: $26,400 − $60,000 = $0 (any negative is treated as $0)

She would receive the full 2026 surviving spouse A&A maximum of $1,515/month on top of her existing $2,200/month income, for a total of $3,715/month toward the $5,000 AL cost.

How to Apply

The application is detailed but doable with help:

Step 1: Gather Documents

• DD-214 (discharge paperwork showing dates of service).
• Marriage certificate (if applying as spouse or married veteran).
• Death certificate of the veteran (if applying as surviving spouse).
• Physician statement (VA Form 21-2680 completed by the applicant's physician).
• Income statements: Social Security award letter, pension statements, bank statements showing dividends and interest.
• Asset statements: bank, investment, retirement account balances.
• Medical expense documentation: contracts, invoices, and proof of payment for nursing home, assisted living, memory care, home health, medications, Medicare premiums.

Step 2: File the Application

Multiple paths:

Online at va.gov: fastest, but complex for older applicants. Use VA Form 21P-527EZ (for veterans) or 21P-534EZ (for surviving spouses).

Through a Michigan Veterans Service Officer (VSO): free, accredited, strongly recommended:

• Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency (MVAA): 800-MICH-VET (800-642-4838). The state veterans agency.
• County VSOs: every Michigan county has at least one accredited VSO. Find yours at michiganveterans.com.
• Accredited non-profits: DAV Michigan, American Legion Michigan, AMVETS Michigan, VFW Michigan.

Through a VA-accredited attorney or claims agent: typically for complex cases. Attorney fees for initial pension claims are tightly regulated; most are free or only charge for appeals.

Do NOT pay "pension consultants" or "benefits planners" who are not VA-accredited. Charging fees for help with initial VA pension claims by non-accredited agents is a federal offense. If someone is charging you for A&A help, they should be an attorney, claims agent, or VSO with VA accreditation.

Step 3: Wait for the Decision

Typical processing time: 90 to 180 days. Claims for veterans 90+ or in hospice are expedited. If approved:

• Benefits backdate to the date of application.
• Payments are retroactive to application.
• Payment begins the month after approval.

Step 4: Report Changes

Once approved, report annually (or when changes occur):

• Changes in income.
• Changes in medical expenses.
• Changes in living situation (moved to a nursing facility, hospice, etc.).
• Death of the veteran or spouse.

Common Pitfalls

Applying without UME documentation. Without unreimbursed medical expense evidence, income often appears "too high" on paper. Document every medical cost.

Transferring assets before applying. The 3-year look-back (effective October 18, 2018) can delay benefits. If you've made recent gifts, wait the 3 years or consult an accredited attorney about planning.

Using a non-accredited "consultant." Common scam targeting senior communities. Check accreditation at va.gov/ogc/accreditation.asp.

Missing the medical exam form. VA Form 21-2680 must be completed by a physician. Some VAs will conduct their own exam for A&A; others accept the form from the applicant's doctor.

Not layering A&A with Medicaid. A&A and Medicaid can both support a family. A&A typically precedes Medicaid (pay privately with A&A help until assets are depleted, then transition to Medicaid). Consult an elder-law attorney for sequencing.

The MVAA and Michigan's VSO Network

Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency (MVAA) is the state's consolidated veterans service agency. It's the best starting point for Michigan veterans. Services include:

• VA claims assistance (free, accredited)
• Michigan-specific veterans benefits
• Referrals to county VSOs
• Emergency grants and temporary assistance
• Coordination with VA Medical Centers

Contact: 800-MICH-VET or michiganveterans.com.

County Veterans Service Officers are embedded in every Michigan county. They are:

• Free.
• Accredited by major veterans organizations.
• Experienced with local VA Medical Center relationships.
• Available for in-person help.

Find your county VSO via the MVAA directory.

How A&A Layers With Other Programs

A&A + Medicare: Both can flow simultaneously. Medicare covers acute medical care; A&A pays cash to the veteran for any expenses.

A&A + Medicaid: Once assets are depleted and Medicaid kicks in, A&A rules change. A Medicaid nursing facility resident who was receiving A&A may see it reduced to the $90/month Improved Pension rate (Medicaid becomes the primary LTC payer, VA pays residual for personal needs).

A&A + VA Community Living Centers or State Veterans Homes: A&A typically continues but may be reduced depending on facility type.

A&A + LTC insurance: Both pay; no offset between them.

Common Misconceptions

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

"A&A is only for veterans with service-connected disabilities." No. A&A (under Pension) is for wartime veterans with non-service-connected disability or age 65+. Service-connected benefits (Compensation) are separate and more generous.

"My mother's net worth is $200,000, so she doesn't qualify." Net worth counts income. If her unreimbursed medical expenses are high, her countable net worth may be below $159,240 because UME reduces the income portion of net worth.

"I can't keep the house." Primary residence is excluded from VA net worth calculations (subject to lot size limits).

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

Related Terms

• Activities of Daily Living (ADLs): The functional basis for A&A medical eligibility.

Learn More

• Michigan VA Senior Care Benefits (Hub)
• How to Get Paid as a Family Caregiver in Michigan
• Michigan Assisted Living
• Michigan Memory Care
• How to Pay for Senior Care in Michigan

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 VA-accredited advice. VA pension rates and net worth thresholds update annually. Always work with a VA-accredited VSO, attorney, or claims agent. Brevy is not a law firm, financial advisor, or healthcare provider.