A wartime veteran in Tennessee who needs daily help with bathing or dressing can add up to $2,874 a month to their pension, and a surviving spouse up to $1,558. VA Aid and Attendance in Tennessee is one of the most underused VA benefits, and many families who qualify never apply because they don't know it exists.

This guide covers who qualifies, how much you can receive, how to apply, and where to get free help filing in Tennessee, including from the Tennessee Department of Veterans Services and your county service officer.

In This Guide

What Is Aid and Attendance?

Aid and Attendance (A&A) is an enhanced VA Veterans 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 Tennessee families piecing together long-term care.

Not sure whether your parent qualifies for Aid and Attendance? Chat 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 VA 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 Tennessee 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, no dependents $18,697 $1,558
Veteran, no dependents (Housebound) $21,313 $1,776
Surviving spouse, no dependents (Housebound) $14,298 $1,191
Veteran, no dependents (basic pension) $17,441 $1,454
Surviving spouse, no dependents (basic pension) $11,699 $975
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 Look-Back

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.

The 3-Year Look-Back Rule

The VA reviews any assets you transferred for less than fair market value in the three years (36 months) before you file your claim, under 38 CFR 3.276. 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.

How to Apply for VA Aid and Attendance in Tennessee

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 Tennessee Department of Veterans Services officer or your county 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 Tennessee: TDVS and County 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 the state.

The Tennessee Department of Veterans Services (TDVS)

The Tennessee Department of Veterans Services (TDVS) runs State Veterans Services field offices across Tennessee. Their accredited Veterans Service Officers help veterans and families file claims for federal benefits, including pension and Aid and Attendance, and the help is free. As the state puts it, an accredited representative is available to assist at no cost, and the VA will never charge you for help filing for benefits. Find your nearest field office and make an appointment with a Veterans Resource Coordinator to start your claim.

County Service Officers

TDVS works in partnership with county veterans service officers to reach veterans in all 95 of Tennessee's counties, providing local, free help filing federal claims. A county service officer can prepare and submit your claim, develop the evidence the VA needs, and represent you, all at no cost. If you're not sure where to start, TDVS keeps a County VSO lookup so you can find the officer nearest you.

A Note on Tennessee's Veteran Population

Tennessee has one of the larger veteran populations in the country, with several hundred thousand veterans living across all 95 counties. With that many veterans, demand on service officers is real, so it's worth contacting yours early rather than waiting until a care crisis forces the issue. For the current count, TDVS and the VA's National Center for Veterans Analysis and Statistics publish state and county figures.

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 TDVS, a county service officer, or a Veterans Service Organization like the VFW, American Legion, or DAV.

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

Tennessee State Veterans' Homes

For a veteran who needs more care than family can provide at home, Tennessee runs its own veterans' homes. The Tennessee State Veterans' Homes operate state-run skilled nursing facilities in Murfreesboro, Humboldt, Knoxville, Clarksville, and Cleveland, with a new home under construction in Arlington. They provide long-term care, short-term skilled nursing, and rehabilitative therapy with 24-hour clinical oversight for eligible honorably discharged veterans and their families, and they're governed by a state board whose members the Governor appoints.

An A&A award can help cover the cost of care whether a veteran stays at home, moves into assisted living, or enters one of these homes. Because the benefit is flexible cash, it follows the veteran to wherever they receive care.

How Aid and Attendance Works with TennCare

Aid and Attendance and TennCare, Tennessee's Medicaid program, are run separately, under different rules. 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 TennCare. VA pension income, including the A&A amount, is counted when TennCare looks at your finances, though unreimbursed medical and care expenses can reduce your countable income for VA purposes.
  • The two programs cover different things. A&A is flexible cash that can pay for costs TennCare often doesn't, such as room and board in assisted living, while TennCare's long-term care program covers care services themselves.
  • Timing matters. Because VA pension income factors into TennCare eligibility and any patient liability, the order in which you apply can affect eligibility for one or both. Talk to a benefits counselor who understands both programs before you file.

For how TennCare itself pays for nursing-home and long-term care, see our guide to Tennessee Medicaid long-term care and nursing homes.

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 Tennessee. Your actual payment is reduced by your countable income, and out-of-pocket medical expenses can lower that income and raise your benefit.

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

Contact the Tennessee Department of Veterans Services or your county service officer. Their accredited staff prepare and submit VA claims for free, and TDVS field offices serve all 95 counties. 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 Tennessee 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.