VA benefits for senior care in Vermont can cover more than most families realize. If your loved one is a veteran, the VA offers home-based medical care, nursing home care, monthly cash payments, and flexible budgets to hire caregivers. The challenge isn't usually eligibility. It's knowing what to ask for.

This guide covers every VA program that helps pay for or provide senior care, how to access them in Vermont, and what happens when VA care isn't enough on its own.

In This Guide

VA Senior Care Benefits in Vermont: Long-Term Care Programs

The VA offers multiple long-term care programs. Eligibility for each depends on the veteran's enrollment priority group, service-connected disabilities, and clinical need.

Home Based Primary Care (HBPC)

A VA physician supervises a health care team that visits the veteran at home. HBPC is designed for veterans with complex medical needs who have difficulty getting to a clinic regularly. The team typically includes a doctor, nurse, social worker, and may include rehabilitation therapists and a dietitian.

This isn't the same as home health care through Medicare. HBPC provides ongoing, coordinated primary care at home, not just short-term skilled visits. For veterans who qualify, it's one of the best programs the VA offers.

Adult Day Health Care

Veterans attend a structured daytime program that provides health monitoring, social activities, rehabilitation services, and meals. It also gives family caregivers reliable daytime respite. Programs may be at VA facilities or contracted community adult day centers.

Community Living Centers (VA Nursing Homes)

Community Living Centers are VA-run nursing homes providing full nursing facility care, including help with daily activities and skilled nursing. They are typically located at larger VA medical centers.

CLCs serve veterans who need short-term rehabilitation (after surgery or hospitalization), long-term nursing care, hospice care, or respite care.

Community Nursing Home Program

The VA contracts with community (non-VA) nursing homes to provide care for veterans who need nursing home services but live far from a CLC or when CLC beds aren't available. The VA covers the cost for eligible veterans.

Respite Care

The VA provides at least 30 days of respite care per year for caregivers of enrolled veterans. Respite can be in-home (a substitute caregiver comes to the house) or facility-based (the veteran stays temporarily in a CLC or community nursing home). Contact the VA Caregiver Support Line at 1-855-260-3274.

Not sure which VA program fits your family's situation? Chat with Brevy to get a personalized recommendation.

The Vermont Veterans' Home

Vermont operates one State Veterans Home, the Vermont Veterans' Home at 325 North Street in Bennington. It is a licensed skilled nursing facility that provides 24-hour skilled and long-term nursing care, short-term rehabilitation, and a certified dementia and memory-care unit, along with a small domiciliary ("The Dom") residential component.

Detail Description
Location 325 North Street, Bennington
Care provided Skilled and long-term nursing, short-term rehab, memory care, domiciliary
Who is served Veterans, their spouses or widows/widowers, and Gold Star parents
Admission priority Vermont veterans (veterans from other states may apply)
Payment accepted Medicare, Medicaid, and private insurance

To be eligible for admission, an individual must generally be an honorably discharged veteran who served at least 90 consecutive days of active duty (unless discharged earlier due to a service-connected disability) and be in medical need of skilled nursing care. Eligible spouses, widows or widowers, and Gold Star parents may also be admitted. Contact the home for current availability and rates.

VA Aid and Attendance

The Aid and Attendance pension is a monthly cash benefit for veterans (or surviving spouses) who need help with daily activities.

2026 Rates

Category Monthly Amount
Veteran alone Up to $2,424
Veteran with spouse Up to $2,874
Surviving spouse Up to $1,558

Who Qualifies

To be eligible, the veteran must have:

  • Served during a wartime period
  • Be 65 or older, or permanently disabled
  • Need regular aid and attendance with everyday activities such as bathing, dressing, or eating (the standard is set at 38 CFR 3.352(a))
  • Have a net worth below $163,699 (including assets, not counting the primary home)

The VA enforces a 3-year look-back period on asset transfers.

How to Apply

Apply using VA Form 21-2680 (Examination for Housebound Status or Permanent Need for Regular Aid and Attendance) and Form 21P-527EZ (Application for Pension). Processing times vary, and in practice claims often take several months or longer.

Don't do this alone. The Vermont Office of Veterans Affairs provides free, accredited help with VA claims and can significantly improve your chances of approval.

For the full application walkthrough, see our VA Aid and Attendance guide.

Veteran-Directed Care

The Veteran-Directed Care (VDC) program gives veterans a flexible budget to hire their own caregivers, including family members. The veteran (or their representative) decides who provides care, what services to purchase, and how to manage the budget.

Unlike many Medicaid consumer-directed options, VDC has no blanket prohibition on hiring a spouse. A financial management services provider handles payroll and employer responsibilities, with support from local Aging and Disability Network Agencies such as Area Agencies on Aging and Centers for Independent Living. This is a good option for veterans who want control over their care and prefer family members as caregivers.

Contact your local VA medical center's social work department to ask about VDC availability in your area.

Community Care Through the MISSION Act

The MISSION Act (2018) expanded when veterans can receive care from community (non-VA) providers. You may be eligible for community care if:

  • The VA can't offer an appointment within 20 days (primary care/mental health) or 28 days (specialty care)
  • The drive to a VA facility exceeds 30 minutes (primary care) or 60 minutes (specialty care)
  • The care you need isn't available at your VA facility
  • Community care is in your best medical interest

In May 2025, the Senator Elizabeth Dole Act removed an extra review step, making it faster for eligible veterans to access community care.

For Vermont veterans in rural areas far from a VA medical center, the MISSION Act can be the difference between getting timely care and waiting months.

How VA Benefits Work with Medicare and Medicaid

VA benefits don't replace Medicare or Medicaid. They work alongside them.

  • VA + Medicare: Many veterans use both. Medicare covers care from non-VA providers, while VA covers care at VA facilities. You can't bill both for the same service, but having both gives you more options.
  • VA + Medicaid: A veteran may potentially qualify for both Aid and Attendance and Medicaid long-term care, which in Vermont (Green Mountain Care / Vermont Medicaid) is administered by the Department of Vermont Health Access, primarily through the Choices for Care program. But the programs interact: VA pension, including Aid and Attendance, is generally counted as income when Vermont determines Medicaid eligibility and a recipient's share of cost. Under longstanding federal rules, a single veteran or surviving spouse with no dependents receiving Medicaid-covered nursing home care has their VA pension reduced to a small monthly amount (commonly cited as $90).
  • The Vermont Veterans' Home accepts Medicare, Medicaid, and private insurance, so these payment sources can layer together.

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

How to Get Started With VA Senior Care Benefits in Vermont

1
Step 1

Confirm VA health care enrollment

If the veteran isn't already enrolled in VA health care, apply at va.gov/health-care/how-to-apply. The VA assigns each enrolled veteran to one of eight priority groups based on service-connected disability rating, income, and other factors, and higher priority groups get care with lower or no copays.

2
Step 2

Get free help

Don't file claims or applications alone. The Vermont Office of Veterans Affairs administers a Veterans Service Officer program that provides free, accredited help finding and applying for federal, state, and local benefits, including the Aid and Attendance allowance. Reach it toll-free in Vermont at (888) 666-9844 or at (802) 828-3379; the office is at 118 State Street, Montpelier, VT 05620-4401. Your local VA medical center can also direct you to enrollment and care resources.

3
Step 3

Gather records

You'll need the veteran's DD-214 (discharge papers), medical records documenting the need for care, and financial information. If you can't find the DD-214, the National Personnel Records Center can provide copies (request through va.gov).

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you have to be service-connected disabled to get VA long-term care?

Not for all programs. Veterans in Priority Group 1, which includes those with a service-connected disability rated 50% or higher, generally pay no copays for VA care. Other enrolled veterans can still access many programs, depending on their priority group and available resources. Aid and Attendance doesn't require a service-connected disability at all; it requires wartime service, age or permanent disability, and a documented need for regular aid and attendance.

Can a veteran's spouse live in the Vermont Veterans' Home?

In some cases, yes. The Vermont Veterans' Home gives admission priority to Vermont veterans, but eligible spouses, widows or widowers, and Gold Star parents may also be admitted depending on availability. Contact the home in Bennington for current admission policies.

How long does it take to get Aid and Attendance approved?

Processing times vary; in practice claims often take several months or longer from application to first payment. Working with an accredited Vermont Veterans Service Officer can speed up the process and reduce the chance of errors that cause delays. You can apply while your loved one is already receiving care.

Does the VA pay for assisted living?

The VA doesn't directly operate assisted living facilities, but Aid and Attendance payments can be used to pay for assisted living. The Veteran-Directed Care program can also fund care services, and lets the veteran direct a flexible budget toward the help they need.

Next Steps

If you're caring for a veteran who needs help, start by calling the Vermont Office of Veterans Affairs toll-free at (888) 666-9844. They can help assess which benefits apply and file your claims at no cost.

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. 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. Care TypesNursing Homes in VermontNursing homes in Vermont in 2026: a private room runs about $186,333/year, among the highest in the country. What it costs, who pays, and how to vet a facility. Care TypesCost of Senior Care in VermontWhat senior care costs in Vermont in 2026: assisted living about $103,137 a year, a private nursing-home room about $186,333. See every setting and how to pay. Care TypesAssisted Living vs Nursing Home in VermontAssisted living vs. nursing home in Vermont turns on level of care and who pays: about $103,137 a year private-pay assisted living vs. Medicaid-covered nursing.
Your next step Find personalized help navigating VA senior care benefits 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.

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