VA Aid and Attendance in Virginia 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 Virginia 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 Virginia, including from the Virginia Department of Veterans Services and its statewide network of benefit offices.

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 part of what makes it so useful for Virginia families piecing together long-term care.

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, worth up to $1,558 a month in 2026.

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 Virginia 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 $18,697 $1,558
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 about $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. The house you live in doesn't push you over the limit, which matters for the many Virginia veterans who own their homes outright but live on a modest fixed income.

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 steep, so it's worth getting advice before you move money.

How to Apply for VA Aid and Attendance in Virginia

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 Virginia DVS veterans service representative. 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 Virginia: DVS and Veterans Service Offices

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 Virginia.

The Virginia Department of Veterans Services (DVS)

The Virginia Department of Veterans Services, known as DVS, is the state agency that connects veterans and their families to the federal, state, and local benefits they earned, including federal VA pension benefits like Aid and Attendance. DVS doesn't decide your VA claim itself (the federal VA does that), but its veterans service representatives are trained and accredited to help you identify, apply for, and file claims for VA Pension and the Aid and Attendance enhanced pension, as well as disability compensation and survivor benefits. All DVS benefits services are provided at no charge.

DVS also operates a network of state Veterans Care Centers that provide affordable long-term skilled nursing care, dementia and memory care, and short-term rehabilitative care for Virginia's veterans. These include the Sitter & Barfoot Veterans Care Center in Richmond (a 200-bed facility with single-occupancy rooms and a secure memory care unit), the Veterans Care Center in Roanoke, the Puller Veterans Care Center in Warrenton, and the Jones & Cabacoy Veterans Care Center in Virginia Beach (a 128-bed facility of all-private rooms). Admission is open to eligible veterans, and DVS administers the application and eligibility process, which considers factors such as veteran status, discharge under honorable conditions, and care needs. For a veteran weighing assisted living or nursing care, an A&A award can help cover costs whether they stay at home or move into one of these centers.

Virginia Veterans Service Offices

DVS delivers its free claims help through a statewide network of benefit service offices, reported to number around 38 across the Commonwealth. A DVS veterans service representative can help you determine eligibility, prepare and submit your claim, and develop the evidence the VA needs, all at no cost to you. DVS encourages veterans to work with a representative before filing rather than self-filing or paying a third party.

To find the office nearest you, start with the DVS Benefits and Services directory. Because the representatives are accredited, they can act as your authorized representative with the VA throughout the claim.

Virginia's Veteran Population

Virginia is home to one of the largest veteran populations of any state, commonly ranking among the top ten nationally, according to the VA's National Center for Veterans Analysis and Statistics. With that many veterans, demand on the state's benefit offices is real, so 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 or a Veterans Service Organization like the VFW, American Legion, or DAV.

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

How Aid and Attendance Works with Virginia Medicaid

Aid and Attendance and Virginia Medicaid, called Cardinal Care and administered by the Department of Medical Assistance Services (DMAS), are run separately, under different rules. A veteran can often receive both, but the two count money differently, so a few points are worth understanding.

  • VA pension income generally counts for Medicaid, but the rules differ. VA pension, including A&A, generally counts as income when a senior applies for Medicaid long-term care. For VA purposes, though, unreimbursed medical expenses (such as home health services, premiums, and prescriptions) can reduce your countable income, which is why much of the A&A amount is often effectively tied to medical costs.
  • That medical-expense portion can frequently be offset for Medicaid. Because much of A&A is attributable to care costs, that portion can frequently be deducted so that not all of the VA pension counts against Medicaid's much lower income limits. The precise treatment depends on the Medicaid pathway and is determined case by case.
  • 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 Cardinal Care covers long-term services and supports, including nursing-facility care and home- and community-based waiver services like the Commonwealth Coordinated Care Plus waiver.
  • Get your specific situation reviewed. A veteran receiving A&A who also needs Medicaid long-term care should have the income and unreimbursed-medical-expense treatment reviewed for their case, ideally with a DVS benefits representative and DMAS, before filing.

For the bigger picture of how to protect assets and plan ahead, start with our guide to Medicaid planning strategies.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Contact the Virginia Department of Veterans Services (DVS), which provides free accredited claims help through a statewide network of benefit offices. Their trained representatives prepare and submit VA claims for free. You should never pay to file an initial claim.

Often, yes. VA pension income generally counts for Virginia Medicaid (Cardinal Care, run by DMAS), but unreimbursed medical expenses can reduce countable income, and the programs can complement each other, with A&A covering costs Medicaid doesn't, like assisted living room and board. The precise treatment depends on the Medicaid pathway and your situation, so talk to a DVS representative and DMAS before applying.

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 Virginia 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.