VA Aid and Attendance in New York 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 New York 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 New York, including from the New York State Department of Veterans' Services and your county Veterans Service Agency.

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 what makes it so useful for New York families piecing together long-term care, where the cost of a home health aide or an assisted living residence runs high.

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.

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 New York as anywhere else.

Category Annual Rate Monthly Rate
Veteran, no dependents $29,093 $2,424
Veteran with spouse $34,488 $2,874
Surviving spouse $18,697 $1,558
Two veterans married to each other (both A&A) $46,143 $3,845
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 $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. In a high-cost state like New York, where home values downstate can be substantial, that home exclusion matters. The house you live in doesn't push you over the limit.

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 severe, and the VA lookback works differently from New York Medicaid's separate lookback, so don't assume planning for one covers the other.

How to Apply for Aid and Attendance in New York

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 New York Veterans Benefits Advisor or county Veterans Service Agency. 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 New York: DVS and County Veterans Service Agencies

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 the state.

The New York State Department of Veterans' Services (DVS)

The New York State Department of Veterans' Services (DVS), known until recently as the Division of Veterans' Services, is the state agency that connects New York veterans, service members, and their families to local, state, and federal benefits. Its Veterans Benefits Advisors, all veterans themselves, prepare and file VA claims free of charge. They help gather your military and VA health records, complete the applications, and file the claim or an appeal on your behalf. You can reach an advisor at 1-888-838-7697 or book a phone or video consultation through the DVS website.

County and City Veterans Service Agencies

Most New York counties run a Veterans Service Agency staffed by accredited officers, and DVS keeps field offices across the state, more than 100 in all, where you can meet with a Veterans Benefits Advisor in person. A local agency can prepare and submit your claim, develop the evidence the VA needs, and represent you on an appeal, all at no cost. In New York City, the NYC Department of Veterans' Services runs a VA Claims Unit whose staff are trained and accredited by the state to handle claims for city veterans and their families, also for free.

New York State Veterans' Homes

For a veteran who needs skilled nursing care, New York runs five State Veterans' Homes, owned and operated by the New York State Department of Health and SUNY, in Oxford, Montrose, St. Albans, Long Island, and Batavia. An eligible veteran has no out-of-pocket cost while living in a State Veterans Home, and this benefit carries no means test or income limit. Other honorably discharged veterans and their spouses may obtain skilled nursing care, subject to bed availability, at a cost well below a private facility. An A&A award can help cover care costs whether a veteran stays at home, moves to assisted living, or is on a waiting list for one of these homes.

A Note on New York's Veterans

New York is home to one of the largest veteran populations of any state, which means demand on Veterans Benefits Advisors and county offices is real. It's worth contacting yours 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 DVS, a county Veterans Service Agency, or a Veterans Service Organization like the VFW, American Legion, or DAV.

Need help finding a veterans benefits advisor near you? Ask Brevy's care navigator at brevy.com.

How Aid and Attendance Works with New York Medicaid

Aid and Attendance and Medicaid in New York are run separately, by different agencies and under different rules. A&A is a federal VA pension benefit administered by the VA; New York Medicaid is administered by the State Department of Health. A veteran can receive both 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 Medicaid. VA pension income is counted when New York Medicaid looks at your finances, but for VA purposes, unreimbursed medical and care expenses can be deducted from your countable income.
  • 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 New York Medicaid may cover the care services themselves and long-term nursing care.
  • New York Medicaid uses its own income and asset tests. Long-term-care Medicaid in New York has its own resource limits and planning tools, such as pooled income trusts, that work differently from the VA net worth limit.
  • Timing matters. Because VA pension income factors into Medicaid, the order in which you apply can affect eligibility for one or both. Talk to a Veterans Benefits Advisor or a benefits counselor who understands both programs before you file.

For the bigger picture of how New York Medicaid pays for care, see our guide to getting Medicaid to pay for a nursing home in New York.

Frequently Asked Questions

The maximum depends on your situation. A veteran alone gets up to $2,424 a month, a veteran with a spouse up to $2,874 a month, and a surviving spouse up to $1,558 a month. These are federal rates, identical in New York. Your actual payment is reduced by your countable income, and out-of-pocket medical expenses can lower that income and raise your benefit.

Yes. Many New York veterans receive both. VA pension income is counted for Medicaid, but unreimbursed medical expenses can be deducted, and the programs can complement each other, with A&A covering costs Medicaid doesn't, like assisted living room and board. Talk to a benefits counselor before applying, because timing can affect eligibility.

Call the New York State Department of Veterans' Services at 1-888-838-7697, or contact your county Veterans Service Agency. In New York City, the NYC Department of Veterans' Services VA Claims Unit helps for free. Their accredited advisors prepare and submit VA claims at no cost. You should never pay to file an initial claim.

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 New York 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.