VA Aid & Attendance for In-Home Care in Oregon

VA Aid and Attendance is one of the most overlooked ways to pay for in-home care in Oregon. It is a monthly cash benefit added to a VA pension for veterans and surviving spouses who need help with everyday activities, and the money can go straight toward a home health aide, a homemaker, or a family member who provides the care. With Oregon's care costs among the highest in the country, that steady payment can change what is affordable.

This guide explains what in-home care costs here, how much Aid and Attendance pays, how your care costs can actually help you qualify, and where to get free help applying.

In This Guide

• Key Takeaways
• How Much In-Home Care Costs in Oregon
• How Aid and Attendance Helps Pay for In-Home Care in Oregon
• How In-Home Care Costs Lower Your Countable Income
• Who Qualifies
• Using Aid and Attendance to Pay a Family Caregiver
• How Aid and Attendance Works with Oregon Medicaid
• How to Apply and Get Free Help
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Learn More

How Much In-Home Care Costs in Oregon

Oregon's long-term care costs are among the highest in the nation. According to the CareScout 2025 Cost of Care Survey (released March 2026), non-medical in-home care in Oregon runs about $91,520 a year, based on roughly 44 hours of care a week. CareScout now reports this as a single "non-medical caregiver" rate, merging the former homemaker and home health aide categories.2

These are survey medians, not government figures, and costs vary within the state, with the Portland metro generally running higher than rural Oregon. The real number for your family depends on how many hours of care your loved one needs. Either way, a steady monthly benefit takes pressure off the budget.

How Aid and Attendance Helps Pay for In-Home Care in Oregon

Aid and Attendance is an increased monthly pension for veterans and surviving spouses who need another person's help with daily activities.1 The payment is tax-free, and you decide how to spend it. Many Oregon families put it directly toward a home health aide, a homemaker, or a family caregiver.

The VA does not run or provide the care itself, and it does not pick your aide or agency. It pays the benefit, and you arrange the care. For a veteran with a spouse, up to $2,874 a month can cover a meaningful share of a part-time aide or homemaker in Oregon.1

How In-Home Care Costs Lower Your Countable Income

Here is the part many families miss. VA pension, including the Aid and Attendance increase, is a needs-based benefit: the VA pays the difference between your countable income and a yearly limit called the Maximum Annual Pension Rate (MAPR). The lower your countable income, the larger your payment.1

When you have a genuine care need, your ongoing in-home care costs count as unreimbursed medical expenses (UMEs) that you can deduct from your income. Only the portion of those costs above 5% of your annual MAPR is deductible. For 2026, that floor is $872 a year for a veteran with no dependents and $1,141 a year for a veteran with one dependent.1

Say a veteran with no dependents pays $35,000 a year for an aide. Subtract the $872 floor, and about $34,128 can be deducted from countable income.1 That deduction can take a veteran who looked "over income" and bring them within the limit, often unlocking a large monthly payment. So if your income looks too high on paper, apply anyway once care costs are in the picture.

Who Qualifies

To qualify for Aid and Attendance, the veteran must:5

• Have served at least 90 days of active duty with at least one day during a wartime period
• Be 65 or older, or be permanently and totally disabled
• Need help with daily activities such as bathing, dressing, or feeding, or be housebound or in a protected setting due to disability
• Have a net worth below $163,699 (this combines assets and annual income and excludes your primary home and vehicle)5

The VA applies a 3-year look-back on assets transferred for less than fair market value before you file.5 A surviving spouse can qualify under the survivor's pension using the same care-need and net-worth tests.

Using Aid and Attendance to Pay a Family Caregiver

Many Oregon families want a son, daughter, or other relative to provide the care. Aid and Attendance cash can be used to pay that person, since you control how the benefit is spent.

There is also a separate VA program built for this. Veteran-Directed Care (VDC) gives the veteran a flexible monthly budget to hire their own caregivers, including family members, and unlike many Medicaid programs there is no blanket rule against hiring a spouse.3 A financial management service handles payroll and taxes. VDC is offered through participating VA medical centers, so ask your VA social worker whether it is available in your area.

How Aid and Attendance Works with Oregon Medicaid

An Oregon senior can potentially receive both VA pension with Aid and Attendance and Oregon Health Plan (OHP) Medicaid long-term-care benefits, but the two programs count income differently. For VA purposes, your countable income is reduced by unreimbursed medical expenses that exceed 5% of the applicable pension limit, which is how the cost of care can bring a higher-income applicant within VA limits.6

For OHP Medicaid eligibility, the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) generally treats VA pension income as countable income, except that the portion of a VA pension paid because of unreimbursed medical expenses is generally not counted, and Oregon raises a nursing-home resident's personal-needs allowance for residents who receive a VA pension based on those expenses.6 Because the two programs use different income tests and the interaction is fact-specific, confirm your own situation with an accredited veteran service officer and OHP/OHA before relying on dual eligibility.

How to Apply and Get Free Help

You apply with two forms: VA Form 21-2680 (Examination for Housebound Status or Permanent Need for Regular Aid and Attendance), completed with a doctor, and VA Form 21P-527EZ (Application for Veterans Pension) if you are not already receiving a pension.7 You can file online at va.gov, by mail, or through an accredited representative. Processing often takes three to six months.7

Do not do this alone, and do not pay anyone to file. The Oregon Department of Veterans' Affairs (ODVA) and county veterans' service officers employ ODVA-trained, VA-accredited service officers who help you determine which benefits you qualify for and walk you through the application at no charge.4 ODVA recommends seeking this free help rather than paying for it; its "Find a VSO" locator connects you to a service officer in your county, and ODVA can be reached toll-free in Oregon at 800-692-9666 or at 503-373-2085.4

If the VA denies your claim or pays less than you expected, you have three decision-review options: a Supplemental Claim (submit new and relevant evidence), a Higher-Level Review (a more senior reviewer looks at the same evidence), or an appeal to the Board of Veterans' Appeals. You generally have one year from the date on the decision letter to request any of them, and the same free ODVA or county VSO who filed your claim can also prepare the appeal.8

Compare Care Settings in Oregon

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

• How Aid and Attendance Pays for Assisted Living in Oregon
• How Aid and Attendance Pays for a Nursing Home in Oregon
• How Aid and Attendance Pays for Memory Care in Oregon

Learn More

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.