VA Aid and Attendance in Montana 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 Montana 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 Montana, including from the Montana Veterans Affairs Division and its accredited Veteran Service Officers.

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 Montana 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 Montana 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 Montana 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 Montana

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 Montana Veteran 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 Montana: MVAD and Veteran Service Officers

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 Montana.

The Montana Veterans Affairs Division (MVAD)

The Montana Veterans Affairs Division, known as MVAD, is the state veterans agency, housed within the Montana Department of Military Affairs. Its Veteran Services Program staffs nationally accredited Veteran Service Officers who prepare and submit VA compensation and pension claims, represent veterans and their dependents before the VA, and assist with related benefits, all at no charge. Because Aid and Attendance is an increase to the VA pension, it falls squarely within the pension-claim help these officers provide.

MVAD runs this program statewide through nine Veteran Service Offices, located in Belgrade, Billings, Butte, Great Falls, Havre, Helena, Kalispell, Miles City, and Missoula. A Veteran Service Officer can develop the evidence the VA needs, prepare and submit your claim, and stay with you through an appeal, all without a fee.

Montana's Two State Veterans Homes

Montana also operates two state veterans homes that provide skilled nursing and long-term care to honorably discharged veterans, and to their spouses when space allows: the Montana Veterans' Home in Columbia Falls, in the northwest, and the Eastern Montana Veterans' Home in Glendive, in the east. Both are state facilities operated by the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS) through its Healthcare Facilities Division, and both are certified by Medicare and the VA. 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 one of these homes.

Montana's Veteran Population

Montana is home to roughly 80,000 veterans, who make up one of the highest shares of the adult population of any state, according to the VA's National Center for Veterans Analysis and Statistics. Because Montana is large and rural, it's worth contacting the nearest Veteran Service Office 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 a Montana Veteran Service Officer or a Veterans Service Organization like the VFW, American Legion, or DAV.

Need help finding a veteran service officer near you? Ask Brevy's care navigator at brevy.com.

How Aid and Attendance Works with Montana Medicaid

Aid and Attendance and Montana Medicaid are run separately, by different agencies and under different rules. Montana Medicaid for long-term care is administered by the DPHHS Senior and Long Term Care Division, which pays for nursing-home, home, and community-based care for residents who meet income and asset limits. A veteran can receive both A&A and Medicaid at the same time, but the two count money differently, so a few points are worth understanding.

  • A&A income doesn't automatically disqualify you from Montana Medicaid. Under the general federal rule, the base VA pension counts as income for Medicaid, but the portion attributable to the Aid and Attendance allowance is generally not counted, because it offsets the unreimbursed medical and care expenses you pay.
  • The two programs cover different things. A&A can pay for costs 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.
  • The treatment is technical and turns on your exact circumstances. Because the income rules are detailed and depend on a household's specific situation, confirm how any VA pension income is treated before you rely on it.
  • Timing matters. Because VA pension income factors into Montana Medicaid, the order in which you apply can affect eligibility for one or both. Talk to DPHHS or an accredited Veteran Service Officer who understands both programs before you file.

If you're weighing how to protect savings while qualifying for long-term care, our guide to Medicaid planning strategies lays out the legal options.

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 Montana. 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 Montana Veterans Affairs Division, which staffs accredited Veteran Service Officers through nine Veteran Service Offices in Belgrade, Billings, Butte, Great Falls, Havre, Helena, Kalispell, Miles City, and Missoula. They prepare and submit VA claims for free. You should never pay to file an initial claim.

Yes. Many Montana veterans receive both. Under the general federal rule, the base VA pension counts as income for Medicaid, but the Aid and Attendance portion is generally not counted because it offsets your care expenses, and the programs can complement each other, with A&A covering costs Medicaid doesn't, like assisted living room and board. The rules are technical, so confirm the treatment with DPHHS or an accredited Veteran Service Officer 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

Find personalized help applying for VA Aid and Attendance in Montana 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.