VA Aid and Attendance can pay a veteran with a spouse up to $34,488 a year, or $2,874 a month, toward assisted living in Montana. That care runs about $6,200 a month at the national median, a line Montana's own costs broadly track. Even at the maximum, the benefit covers only part of that bill, so families generally pair it with Social Security and savings to close the gap. If you're already paying an assisted-living bill out of pocket, it's worth checking whether the veteran in your family qualifies.

This guide covers what assisted living costs in Montana, how Aid and Attendance can help offset that cost, how the care expenses themselves can improve eligibility, what to do if a claim is denied, and how to apply with free help from the state.

In This Guide

How Much Assisted Living Costs in Montana

Montana's assisted-living costs broadly track the national market. According to the CareScout 2025 Cost of Care Survey (released March 2026, the most recent national data), the median cost of assisted living is about $6,200 per month, or roughly $74,400 per year. Montana's long-term-care costs track broadly with these national medians and vary by region and level of care, so the national figure is the working benchmark used throughout this guide.

Costs vary within the state and rise as care needs increase. The actual monthly bill depends on the facility, location, and the level of care required.

How VA Aid and Attendance Helps Pay for Assisted Living in Montana

VA Aid and Attendance is a pension benefit for veterans and surviving spouses who need help with daily activities. The VA pays it as cash that can be applied to any care-related expense, including assisted living. The figures below are ceilings, not payments: the VA pays the difference between a household's income for VA purposes and the limit Congress sets, so a claimant with countable income receives less than the maximum.

2026 Aid and Attendance Maximum Rates

The VA publishes these rates as annual maximums, so a monthly amount is the yearly award divided by 12.

Category Maximum Per Year About Per Month
Veteran alone Up to $29,093 About $2,424
Veteran with spouse Up to $34,488 $2,874
Surviving spouse Up to $18,697 About $1,558

At the $2,874 monthly maximum for a veteran with a spouse, the benefit would cover roughly 46 percent of the $6,200 national median assisted-living cost., Combined with Social Security or other income, many families can make assisted living affordable.

Not sure whether your family qualifies for Aid and Attendance? Chat with Brevy for a quick eligibility check.

How Montana Assisted-Living Costs Lower Your Countable Income for Aid and Attendance

Many families are surprised to learn that the cost of assisted living can help them qualify for a higher benefit.

The VA calculates pension by comparing your countable income to the Maximum Annual Pension Rate (MAPR). Before making that comparison, it lets you subtract unreimbursed medical expenses (UMEs) that exceed 5 percent of your MAPR. Assisted-living costs, in-home care costs, and health insurance premiums all count as UMEs when the facility provides health or custodial care.

For 2026, the VA puts that floor at $872 for a veteran with no spouse or child. The floor is higher for a veteran with dependents, because it tracks the pension rate that applies to your household, but it never rises with the Aid and Attendance or housebound increase.

Only the portion of expenses above that floor is deductible. But if your loved one is paying about $6,200 a month for assisted living, that is roughly $74,400 a year. After subtracting the 5-percent floor, the deductible amount is substantial, and it can reduce countable income enough to qualify a veteran whose income initially appeared too high.

Who Qualifies for Aid and Attendance in Montana

To qualify for VA Aid and Attendance, a veteran must have a discharge that is not dishonorable and meet all of the requirements below:

  • Wartime service: for a veteran who started active duty before September 8, 1980, at least 90 days of active duty with at least one day during a recognized wartime period (WWII, Korea, Vietnam, or the Gulf War, which began August 2, 1990 and covers post-9/11 service); for someone who started as an enlisted person after September 7, 1980, generally at least 24 months, or the full period for which they were called or ordered to active duty, again with at least one day during wartime; and for an officer who started on active duty after October 16, 1981, that officer must not have previously served on active duty for at least 24 months
  • Age, disability, or care status: any one of these four is enough, and they are independent of each other: age 65 or older; a permanent and total disability; a patient in a nursing home for long-term care because of a disability; or getting Social Security Disability Insurance or Supplemental Security Income
  • Need for care: requires regular help with daily activities, such as bathing, dressing, or eating; or is in a nursing home due to mental or physical incapacity; or has severe vision loss; or has to stay in bed, or spend a large portion of the day in bed, because of illness
  • Net worth under $163,699: VA counts the veteran's and their dependents' assets plus annual income, and excludes the primary home, a vehicle, and basic home items,

The VA also enforces a three-year look-back on asset transfers. If assets were moved for less than fair market value in the three years before filing, a penalty period may apply.

How Aid and Attendance Works with Montana Medicaid

VA Aid and Attendance and Montana Medicaid long-term care are separate programs. Montana Medicaid for long-term care is administered by the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS) Senior and Long Term Care Division, which covers nursing home, home, and community-based care for residents who meet income and asset limits.

Under the general federal rule, the base VA pension counts as income for Medicaid, but the portion of the pension attributable to the Aid and Attendance allowance is generally not counted against Medicaid income limits because it offsets recurring medical costs. That exclusion applies at the eligibility step only: once a person is eligible and living in a nursing facility or another medical institution, the Aid and Attendance amount does count toward the share of cost owed to the facility. It counts only after the deductions federal rules require the agency to make, in this order: a personal needs allowance, a maintenance allowance for a spouse still at home, a maintenance allowance for other family members at home, incurred expenses for medical or remedial care that no third party will pay, and any SSI or state supplement the person keeps receiving (42 CFR 435.725(c)). Those are deductions the agency must make rather than benefits a family applies for, and the amounts are set at the state level, so ask DPHHS for Montana's figures. Home and community-based waiver services are covered by a separate federal post-eligibility rule that sets the maintenance allowance differently, so a family planning around a waiver should confirm that math with DPHHS. Because these rules are technical and depend on a household's exact circumstances, a Montana family should confirm the treatment of VA pension income with DPHHS or an accredited Veteran Service Officer before relying on both programs together.

How to Apply and Get Free Help

Aid and Attendance is an increase added to an existing VA benefit, so how you apply depends on which benefit you receive. The steps below are the pension route, which is the one most assisted-living families use: the VA's condition is that "You may be eligible for this benefit if you get a VA pension." A veteran who receives VA disability compensation rather than pension uses Form 21-2680 to ask for Aid and Attendance to be added to that monthly compensation, and does not file the pension application.

For the pension route, you need two forms:

  • VA Form 21-2680 (Examination for Housebound Status or Permanent Need for Regular Aid and Attendance): a medical examiner fills out the examination information section to document the need for assistance. This is the same form used to request Aid and Attendance added to monthly compensation or pension benefits
  • VA Form 21P-527EZ (Application for Veterans Pension): the wartime, means-tested pension application, filed by a wartime veteran pursuing the pension route who is not already receiving a VA pension

If you are still gathering information, you can file VA Form 21-0966 (Intent to File) first. The VA says "Submitting an intent to file can secure the earliest possible effective date for any retroactive payments you may be eligible to receive."

You can apply online at VA.gov, by mail to the VA Pension Intake Center, or in person at a VA regional office, and an accredited representative can file for you. Asked how long a decision takes, the VA's answer is "It depends." It works through claims in the order it receives them, unless a claim requires priority processing.

Do not do this alone. The Montana Veteran Affairs Division (MVAD) staffs nationally accredited Veteran Service Officers who prepare and submit VA pension and Aid and Attendance claims at no cost to the veteran. MVAD operates nine Veteran Service Offices statewide, located in Belgrade, Billings, Butte, Great Falls, Havre, Helena, Kalispell, Miles City, and Missoula. You can reach MVAD and find your nearest office at veterans.mt.gov.

If Your Claim Is Denied

If the VA denies your Aid and Attendance claim, or grants less than you expected, you are not out of options. You have three decision review paths: file a Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence, request a Higher-Level Review by a higher-level reviewer, who looks for an error or a difference of opinion and cannot take new evidence, or appeal to the Board of Veterans' Appeals for review by a Veterans Law Judge. You generally have one year from the date on your decision letter to request a Higher-Level Review or a Board appeal, and a Supplemental Claim can be filed at any time, though the VA recommends filing within a year to keep your effective date. The same Montana VSO can prepare the review at no cost, and an accredited VSO representative's services on a VA benefit claim are always free. Only accredited attorneys and claims agents may charge you at all, and only for representation provided after the VA has issued notice of its initial decision on the claim, so no one should charge you to prepare and file the initial pension application. For questions about a pension claim or its status, the VA benefits hotline is 800-827-1000 (TTY: 711), Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. ET.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the VA pay the assisted living facility directly?

No. The VA pays Aid and Attendance as a monthly benefit to the veteran or surviving spouse. The recipient uses those funds to pay their care bills, including assisted living costs. The VA does not operate or directly fund assisted living facilities.

Can someone qualify for Aid and Attendance if their income is too high?

Possibly. The VA subtracts unreimbursed medical expenses that exceed 5 percent of the applicable MAPR from countable income before comparing it to the pension rate. For a veteran with no spouse or child, only expenses above $872 a year are deductible, and the floor is higher for a veteran with dependents. Ongoing assisted-living and in-home care costs can reduce countable income enough to bring a higher-income applicant within limits.

How long does the application take?

The VA's own answer is "It depends." It works through claims in the order it receives them, unless a claim requires priority processing. Working with a Montana Veteran Affairs Division accredited Veteran Service Officer reduces the risk of errors that cause delays.

What is the net worth limit for Aid and Attendance in 2026?

The net worth limit is $163,699 for 2026. The VA counts the veteran's and their dependents' assets plus annual income, and excludes the primary home, a vehicle, and basic home items. The VA also enforces a three-year look-back on asset transfers made for less than fair market value.,

Compare Care Settings in Montana

Aid and Attendance can help pay for any care setting. See how it works for the others:

Learn More

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Your next step Find personalized help paying for assisted living with VA benefits 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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Expert eldercare guidance from Brevy's team of healthcare professionals and researchers.