VA Aid and Attendance is one of the few benefits that puts real cash toward assisted living in Virginia, where the median bill runs about $78,150 a year. It's a monthly pension payment for wartime veterans and their surviving spouses who need help with daily activities, and the money is yours to spend on care, including the cost of an assisted living community.

This guide explains what assisted living costs in Virginia, how much Aid and Attendance pays, how your care bills can actually help you qualify, and where to get free help applying.

In This Guide

How Much Assisted Living Costs in Virginia

Assisted living is a real expense in Virginia. According to the Genworth/CareScout 2024 Cost of Care Survey, the median cost of assisted living in Virginia is about $78,150 per year, or roughly $6,513 a month. That runs somewhat above the national median of about $70,800, and Northern Virginia tends to run higher than rural parts of the state.

These are industry-survey medians, not government figures, so the price at any specific community will vary with location, level of care, and apartment size. But the number tells you what families are up against, and it's why a benefit like Aid and Attendance can make the difference between affording care and not.

How Aid and Attendance Helps Pay for It

Aid and Attendance is an increased monthly amount added to the basic VA Pension for wartime-era veterans and surviving spouses who need help with daily activities. It's paid in cash, and you can use it for whatever care you need, including the monthly bill at an assisted living community.

Here is what the benefit pays in 2026:

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

A few things to keep in mind. The VA does not run assisted living facilities and does not pay a community directly. The benefit comes to you (or your representative) as a monthly pension payment, and you pay the facility. The amounts above are maximums: because Aid and Attendance is a needs-based benefit, the VA pays the difference between your countable income and the applicable yearly limit, so your actual payment depends on your income. That is exactly why your care costs matter, which is the next section.

Wondering how much Aid and Attendance your family could receive? Chat with Brevy for a quick estimate.

How Assisted-Living Costs Lower Your Countable Income

This is the part most families miss, and it's the reason a veteran whose income looks too high can still qualify.

VA Pension is needs-based: the VA pays the difference between your countable income and the applicable Maximum Annual Pension Rate (MAPR). You can lower your countable income by deducting continuing, unreimbursed medical expenses (UMEs). The cost of care in an assisted living facility counts as a deductible medical expense when the facility provides health care or custodial care and the resident qualifies for Aid and Attendance, or a physician or other qualified provider states in writing that the person needs that care.

There is one catch: only the portion of your UMEs that exceeds 5% of the applicable MAPR is deductible. For 2026, that 5% floor is about $872 for a veteran with no dependents and $1,141 for a veteran with one dependent; the floor scales with your MAPR category.

In practice, that floor is small next to a $6,513-a-month assisted living bill. Once a recurring cost that large is deducted, your countable income can drop sharply, often to zero, which is what unlocks a higher monthly payment. So the assisted living bill that feels like the problem is also part of what qualifies you.

Who Qualifies

To receive Aid and Attendance, a veteran must meet all of the following:

  • Have wartime service: at least 90 days of active duty with at least one day during a recognized wartime period (Gulf War service requires 24 months of continuous active duty or the full period called to active duty)
  • Be 65 or older, or be permanently and totally disabled
  • Have a net worth under $163,699 (this includes assets and annual income, but excludes the primary home, a vehicle, and basic household items)
  • Need aid and attendance: help with daily activities such as bathing, dressing, or feeding yourself; being bedridden; being in a nursing home due to incapacity; or having very limited eyesight

The VA enforces a 3-year look-back on assets transferred for less than fair market value before you file, and a penalty period can apply. A surviving spouse of a wartime veteran may qualify under the Survivors Pension, with the same $163,699 net worth limit.

How Aid and Attendance Works with Virginia Medicaid

Many Virginia families need both benefits. Aid and Attendance and Medicaid can work together, but they use different income rules, so coordination matters.

VA Pension, including Aid and Attendance, generally counts as income when a senior applies for Medicaid long-term care. The good news is that the medical-expense portion can frequently be offset or deducted, so 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.

In Virginia, Medicaid is called Cardinal Care and is administered by the Department of Medical Assistance Services (DMAS). It covers long-term services and supports, including nursing-facility care and home- and community-based waiver services such as the Commonwealth Coordinated Care Plus waiver, and DMAS applies special income and resource rules to applicants seeking long-term care. Because the interaction is complex, a veteran receiving Aid and Attendance who also needs Medicaid should have the income and medical-expense treatment reviewed for their specific situation, ideally with a DVS benefits representative or DMAS.

How to Apply and Get Free Help

You apply for Aid and Attendance with two VA forms:

  • VA Form 21-2680 (Examination for Housebound Status or Permanent Need for Regular Aid and Attendance), completed with a doctor's examination documenting the need for help
  • VA Form 21P-527EZ (Application for Veterans Pension), if you are not already receiving a VA pension

Forms can be submitted online at va.gov, mailed, or filed through an accredited representative. Processing often takes 3 to 6 months or longer.

Do not file alone. The Virginia Department of Veterans Services (DVS) provides free benefits claims assistance through a statewide network of benefit offices, with trained and accredited representatives who can help you determine eligibility and prepare your Aid and Attendance claim at no charge. DVS encourages veterans to work with a representative before filing rather than self-filing or paying a third party.

Not sure where to start with the application? Chat with Brevy to find your nearest free claims help.

Frequently Asked Questions

No. The VA does not operate assisted living facilities and does not pay a community on your behalf. Aid and Attendance is a monthly cash pension paid to the veteran or surviving spouse, and you use it to pay the facility yourself.

Often, yes. VA Pension is needs-based, and you can deduct continuing unreimbursed medical expenses, including assisted living costs, from your countable income. Only the portion above 5% of your MAPR (about $872 single or $1,141 with one dependent in 2026) is deductible, but a large assisted living bill usually clears that floor easily and can reduce countable income to near zero.

The median cost of assisted living in Virginia is about $78,150 per year, or roughly $6,513 a month, per the Genworth/CareScout 2024 Cost of Care Survey. That is somewhat above the national median, and Northern Virginia tends to run higher than rural areas.

Aid and Attendance claims often take 3 to 6 months or longer, since the VA processes claims in the order received unless priority processing applies. Working with an accredited Virginia DVS representative can reduce errors that cause delays, and you can apply while your loved one is already living in assisted living.

Compare Care Settings in Virginia

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

Learn More

Find personalized help paying for assisted living with VA benefits 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.

BC

Brevy Care Team

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