Last fact-check: July 27, 2026 · Primary sources: VA, 38 CFR 3.351 · General information, not a benefits determination
Quick answer
Aid and Attendance is an increased monthly pension amount — not a standalone benefit. If you receive a VA pension (or Survivors Pension) and you need help with daily activities, are largely confined to bed, are in a nursing home because of lost mental or physical abilities, or have severely limited eyesight, you may qualify for the higher Aid and Attendance rate. Housebound is a separate increased rate for those substantially confined to home by permanent disability — you cannot receive both at once.
Key takeaways
- Effective December 1, 2025: the Aid & Attendance MAPR is $29,093 (veteran, no dependents) or $34,488 (one dependent); Housebound is $21,313 / $26,710.
- Actual pension generally equals the MAPR minus countable income — these maximums are not automatic payments.
- Evidence usually requires VA Form 21-2680 completed by a medical examiner (plus 21-0779 for nursing-home residents).
Who qualifies for Aid & Attendance
You must be receiving (or eligible for) a VA pension, and at least one of the following must apply: you need another person’s help with daily activities such as bathing, feeding or dressing; you must stay in bed, or spend much of the day in bed, because of illness; you are a nursing-home patient due to the loss of mental or physical abilities related to a disability; or your eyesight, even corrected, is 5/200 or less in both eyes or your visual field is concentrically contracted to 5 degrees or less.
Housebound — the other increased rate
Housebound applies when you get a VA pension and spend most of your time at home because of a permanent disability. It pays a lower increase than Aid & Attendance, and VA will not pay both increases at the same time.
2026 rates (effective December 1, 2025)
| Category | No dependents | With 1 dependent |
|---|---|---|
| Basic pension | $17,441 | $22,839 |
| Housebound | $21,313 | $26,710 |
| Aid & Attendance | $29,093 | $34,488 |
| Two married veterans, both A&A | $46,143 | |
Each additional dependent child adds $2,984. These are annual maximums: VA generally pays the difference between the applicable MAPR and your income for VA purposes, and unreimbursed medical expenses can reduce that countable income. The pension net-worth limit is $163,699 through November 30, 2026.
Don’t confuse the benefits: Aid & Attendance under the pension program is different from disability compensation and from Special Monthly Compensation (SMC). Qualifying for one does not qualify you for the others.
How to apply
- Have a medical examiner complete VA Form 21-2680 (Examination for Housebound Status or Permanent Need for Regular Aid and Attendance).
- Nursing-home residents also submit VA Form 21-0779 (Request for Nursing Home Information).
- Apply online, by mail to the Pension Intake Center (PO Box 5365, Janesville, WI 53547-5365), or in person at a VA regional office.
Related guides
Official sources
- VA — Aid & Attendance and Housebound
- VA — current pension rates (MAPR)
- 38 CFR 3.351 — legal criteria
Editorial status: This guide has been checked against the cited official sources. Independent subject-matter review has not been completed. The criteria, forms, rates and both-benefits rule were checked against the linked VA and eCFR sources on July 27, 2026. VA determines each claim. The Guru Gazette is independent and is not affiliated with VA.