Guides About
Get Help
Home Search Saved Recently viewed Compare
Paying for care

VA Benefits That Help Pay for Nursing Home Care

Many families never claim the veterans benefits that can cover part, or all, of a nursing home. Here is what the VA offers, who qualifies, and how to apply, with links to the official VA sources.

Aid and Attendance, veteran alone$2,424 a month

Up to $29,093 a year, before income is counted.

Veteran with a spouse$2,874 a month

Up to $34,488 a year.

Surviving spouse$1,558 a month

Up to $18,697 a year for a surviving spouse with no children.

Net worth limit$163,699

Savings plus yearly income. The home and car usually do not count.

VA pension rates in effect December 1, 2025 to November 30, 2026. Checked against VA sources October 2026.

1. The VA pension with Aid and Attendance

A monthly, tax-free payment for wartime veterans and their surviving spouses who have limited income and savings. The “Aid and Attendance” increase is for people who need help with daily activities or live in a nursing home because of a disability.

  • Service: generally at least 90 days of active duty with at least one day during a wartime period (24 months for most people who began serving after September 7, 1980), and a discharge other than dishonorable.
  • Age or disability: 65 or older, or permanently and totally disabled, or living in a nursing home for long-term care, or receiving Social Security disability or SSI.
  • Money: net worth (savings plus a year’s income) under $163,699. The home and one car usually do not count.
  • Nursing home costs count as medical expenses. They are subtracted from income before the pension is worked out, so someone in a nursing home often qualifies even with Social Security or a pension. Only costs above a small threshold count ($872 a year for a veteran alone).
  • Gifts are checked: VA looks back 36 months at money given away or sold below value. A transfer that would have put someone over the limit can mean up to 5 years without the pension.
Maximum yearly pension (VA rates)
HouseholdWith Aid and AttendanceHousebound
Veteran, no spouse or children$29,093$21,313
Veteran with a spouse$34,488$26,710
Two veterans married to each other, both needing care$46,143—
Surviving spouse, no children$18,697$14,298
Surviving spouse with one child$22,304—

To estimate the payment: start with the person’s yearly income and subtract the yearly nursing home and other medical costs that are above the threshold. What is left is countable income. The VA pays the maximum minus countable income, so if medical costs are larger than income, the full maximum is paid.

2. Nursing home care through VA health care

Veterans enrolled in VA health care can get nursing home care in three kinds of places:

  • VA Community Living Centers: nursing homes run by the VA. Depending on income and disability rating, there may be a copay of up to $97 a day after the first 21 days.
  • Community nursing homes: private nursing homes under contract with the VA, paid by the VA for veterans who qualify.
  • State veterans homes: run by each state. The VA pays the state part of the cost (a basic daily rate VA sets each October; it was $148.71 a day from October 2025 to September 2026, and the home can tell you the current rate), and the family may pay the rest; it varies by state. Some admit spouses and Gold Star parents.

The VA must provide nursing home care to veterans who need it because of a service-connected condition, and to veterans with a combined disability rating of 70% or more (or 60% plus unemployability). For them, a state veterans home cannot charge the family. Other veterans may be placed as space and funding allow. VA long-term care

State veterans homes in this directory

123 state veterans homes in 38 states, with their Medicare ratings and inspection reports. Some states run more homes than listed here; see the national directory of state veterans homes that VA links to.

Arizona (3)
Arkansas (2)
California (6)
Colorado (5)
Delaware (1)
Florida (8)
Hawaii (2)
Idaho (4)
Indiana (1)
Iowa (1)
Kansas (2)
Kentucky (4)
Louisiana (5)
Maine (5)
Maryland (1)
Massachusetts (2)
Michigan (3)
Minnesota (4)
Montana (3)
Nevada (2)
New Jersey (3)
New Mexico (1)
New York (5)
North Carolina (4)
North Dakota (1)
Ohio (2)
Oregon (2)
Pennsylvania (6)
South Carolina (3)
South Dakota (1)
Tennessee (4)
Texas (10)
Utah (4)
Vermont (1)
Virginia (3)
Washington (4)
Wisconsin (4)
Wyoming (1)

How to apply

  1. Pension with Aid and Attendance: veterans apply online with VA Form 21P-527EZ; surviving spouses use VA Form 21P-534EZ. Include a doctor’s exam on VA Form 21-2680, and if the person is in a nursing home, VA Form 21-0779 completed by the home.
  2. Nursing home care: ask the VA social worker at the nearest VA medical center, or contact the state veterans home directly.
  3. Get free help: an accredited Veterans Service Officer can file the claim for you at no cost. Caregivers can call the VA Caregiver Support Line at 1-855-260-3274.

Questions about VA benefits for nursing home care

Does the VA pay for nursing home care?

Yes, in two ways. VA health care pays for nursing home care for veterans who need it because of a service-connected condition, or who have a disability rating of 70% or more (or 60% with unemployability); others may be covered when space and funding allow. Separately, the VA pension with Aid and Attendance is a monthly payment that wartime veterans and surviving spouses with limited income can put toward the cost of care.

How much is Aid and Attendance?

Up to $29,093 a year for a veteran alone, $34,488 for a veteran with a spouse, and $18,697 for a surviving spouse (December 1, 2025 to November 30, 2026). The actual payment is the maximum minus countable income, after medical costs such as nursing home fees are subtracted.

Can a veteran get both Medicaid and the VA pension?

Yes, but a single veteran or surviving spouse whose nursing home care is paid by Medicaid has the pension reduced to $90 a month, which they keep for personal needs.

Who can help with a VA claim for free?

Accredited Veterans Service Officers at groups such as the American Legion, VFW, DAV and county veterans offices help with claims at no charge. Be wary of anyone who charges to file a pension claim or to move assets so someone qualifies.

Sources

General information, not legal or financial advice. VA decides each claim on its own facts; confirm with the VA or an accredited representative. Medicaid rules by state · Paying for long-term care