If you are keeping a veteran parent at home in Vermont, VA Aid and Attendance can put real cash toward the aide who helps them. It is a monthly benefit added to a veteran's or surviving spouse's VA pension, and because it is paid as cash, the money can go straight toward in-home care rather than a specific facility. With Vermont's in-home care among the costliest in the country, that monthly check can be the difference between keeping a parent at home and not.

This guide explains exactly how Aid and Attendance works for in-home care, how much it pays in 2026, who qualifies, and how to get free help filing the claim.

In This Guide

How Much In-Home Care Costs in Vermont

Vermont's long-term care costs run well above the national medians, and in-home care is no exception. According to the CareScout 2025 Cost of Care Survey (released March 2026, the most recent state-level data), a non-medical caregiver in Vermont runs about $8,580 a month, among the ten highest costs in the country and well above the national median of about $80,080 a year.

Beginning with the 2025 survey, CareScout combined the former homemaker and home health aide categories into a single non-medical caregiver rate. A non-medical caregiver helps with errands, meals, and housekeeping, and can add hands-on help with bathing, dressing, and similar daily tasks. These are industry-survey medians, not government figures, so the real number for any one family depends on how many hours of care are needed each week and where in the state you live. Either way, paying for in-home care out of pocket adds up fast, which is why an extra monthly benefit matters.

How Aid and Attendance Helps Pay for In-Home Care

Aid and Attendance is an increased monthly pension the VA pays on top of a qualifying veteran's or surviving spouse's basic VA pension when they need help with daily activities. It is paid as cash, so unlike a benefit that only covers care at a specific facility, the money can go toward an in-home aide, a homemaker, or other care costs at home.

Here is what the benefit pays in 2026 (rates effective December 1, 2025 through November 30, 2026):

Category Maximum Monthly Amount
Veteran alone $2,424
Veteran with one dependent $2,874
Surviving spouse $1,558

Against Vermont's roughly $8,580-a-month cost for a non-medical caregiver, the maximum veteran rate covers a meaningful share of part-time in-home care. It rarely covers full-time care on its own, but combined with other income it can keep a loved one safely at home.

How In-Home Care Costs Lower Your Countable Income

VA Pension, including the Aid and Attendance increase, is a needs-based benefit: the VA pays the difference between your countable income and a set income ceiling called the Maximum Annual Pension Rate (MAPR). Because the benefit is keyed to income, recurring out-of-pocket care costs can be subtracted from your countable income, which can make a family that looked "over income" eligible after all.

The rule has a floor. Only the portion of your unreimbursed medical expenses that exceeds 5% of the applicable MAPR counts. For 2026, that floor is $872 per year for a veteran with no dependents and $1,141 per year for a veteran with one dependent. In-home attendant care for daily activities counts as a deductible medical expense when there is a documented care need.

For example, the VA subtracts only the unreimbursed care costs above the $872 yearly floor. Because Vermont's non-medical caregiver cost of about $8,580 a month far exceeds that floor, nearly the entire amount a family pays for an in-home aide counts, often lowering countable income enough to qualify for the pension or increase the amount paid.,

Who Qualifies

To qualify for Aid and Attendance, a veteran generally must meet all of the following:

  • Wartime service: at least 90 days of active duty with at least one day during a wartime period (such as World War II, Korea, Vietnam, or the Gulf War). Gulf War service has its own length-of-service rules.
  • Age or disability: be 65 or older, or permanently and totally disabled.
  • A need for aid and attendance: need help with daily activities such as bathing, dressing, or eating, or be bedridden, in a nursing home due to incapacity, or have severely limited eyesight.
  • Net worth under $163,699 for 2026, which counts assets and annual income but excludes the primary home, a vehicle, and basic household goods.

The VA reviews asset transfers made for less than fair market value during the three years before you file, so it is worth planning ahead. A surviving spouse can qualify under the Survivors Pension version of the benefit.

Using Aid and Attendance to Pay a Family Caregiver

Because Aid and Attendance is paid as cash, a family can use it to help compensate a relative who provides care at home. There is no VA rule that forces you to hire an outside agency.

If you want a more structured way to pay a family caregiver, ask your VA medical center about Veteran-Directed Care (VDC). VDC gives a veteran a flexible, clinically set budget to hire their own caregivers, including family members and even a spouse, with a financial management service handling payroll. Eligibility requires VA enrollment, a clinical need for personal care, and risk of needing institutional care. VDC is a separate program from the Aid and Attendance pension, but the two can both support care at home.

How Aid and Attendance Works with Vermont Medicaid

Aid and Attendance is a separate federal benefit from Medicaid long-term care, which in Vermont is administered by the Department of Vermont Health Access (DVHA), primarily through the Choices for Care program. A person may potentially qualify for both, but the programs interact: VA pension, including Aid and Attendance, is generally counted as income when determining Medicaid eligibility and the recipient's share of cost.

Because the precise treatment of VA pension income and the order in which to apply varies by situation and by state Medicaid rules, families should confirm how DVHA and Vermont Medicaid will treat the benefit before applying, ideally with an accredited Vermont Veterans Service Officer or DVHA.

How to Apply and Get Free Help

You apply for Aid and Attendance using two VA forms: Form 21-2680 (Examination for Housebound Status or Permanent Need for Regular Aid and Attendance), which a doctor completes to document the need for help, and Form 21P-527EZ (Application for Veterans Pension) if you are not already receiving a pension. You can file online at va.gov, by mail, or through an accredited representative. Processing often takes three to six months or longer. If the VA denies the claim, do not give up: you have the right to appeal, and the same Veterans Service Officer can file that appeal for you at no cost.

Do not do this alone. The Vermont Office of Veterans Affairs runs a Veterans Service Officer program that provides free, accredited assistance with federal, state, and local veterans benefits, including VA pension and the Aid and Attendance allowance. The service officers can prepare and file claims at no cost and help interpret VA correspondence. The program can be reached toll-free in Vermont at (888) 666-9844 or by office phone at (802) 828-3379.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can Aid and Attendance be used to pay for in-home care in Vermont?

Yes. Aid and Attendance is paid as cash added to a VA pension, so the money can go directly toward an in-home aide, a homemaker, or other care at home. It is not tied to a specific facility, which makes it well suited to families keeping a loved one at home.

How much does Aid and Attendance pay in 2026?

Up to $2,424 a month for a veteran alone, up to $2,874 for a veteran with one dependent, and up to $1,558 for a surviving spouse. These are maximums; the actual amount depends on your countable income.

Does my parent's income disqualify them if it looks too high?

Not necessarily. The VA subtracts unreimbursed care costs above a yearly floor of $872 (or $1,141 with one dependent) from countable income, so families that look over the limit often still qualify once in-home care costs are counted.

Can a veteran get both Aid and Attendance and Vermont Medicaid?

Potentially yes, but the programs interact and VA pension is generally counted as income for Medicaid eligibility and share of cost. Confirm your specific case with DVHA and an accredited Vermont Veterans Service Officer before applying.

Compare Care Settings in Vermont

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

Learn More

VA BenefitsVA Aid and Attendance in VermontVA Aid and Attendance in Vermont for 2026: who qualifies, monthly rates up to $2,874, how to apply, and free help from the Vermont Office of Veterans Affairs. VA BenefitsVA Benefits for Senior Care in VermontVA Aid and Attendance pays up to $2,424/month toward senior care in Vermont. Compare VA home care, the Vermont Veterans' Home, and Veteran-Directed Care. Care TypesHome Care vs Home Health in VermontHome care vs. home health in Vermont: home health is skilled, DAIL-designated care Medicare covers; home care is non-medical help it won't. See who pays. VA BenefitsHow VA Aid and Attendance Pays for Assisted LivingHow VA Aid and Attendance helps pay for assisted living: the 2026 monthly amounts, the medical-expense rule, who qualifies, and how to apply for the benefit. VA BenefitsVA Benefits for Senior Care: A Complete GuideA complete guide to VA benefits for senior care: long-term care, Aid and Attendance, pensions, DIC, and home grants for older veterans and surviving spouses.
Your next step Find personalized help using VA benefits to pay for in-home care in Vermont 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.

BC

Brevy Care Team

Expert eldercare guidance from Brevy's team of healthcare professionals and researchers.