New Orleans Senior AdvisorWhat is VA Aid and Attendance?
Aid and Attendance is an increased VA pension for wartime veterans and surviving spouses who need help with daily activities, are bedridden, live in a nursing home, or have limited eyesight; it is not a separate check but a higher Maximum Annual Pension Rate (MAPR).
VA pays the difference between the MAPR and the claimant's countable income. Unreimbursed medical and care expenses, including assisted living or home care fees, can be deducted from countable income, which is why a veteran with a moderate income may still receive a meaningful amount once care costs are counted.
How much does Aid and Attendance pay in 2025-26?
For December 1, 2025 through November 30, 2026, the maximum annual pension rate with Aid and Attendance is $29,093 for a veteran with no dependents (about $2,424 a month) and $18,697 for a surviving spouse with no dependents (about $1,558 a month).
| Situation | Maximum annual rate | About per month |
|---|---|---|
| Veteran with no dependents, Aid and Attendance | $29,093 | $2,424 |
| Veteran with one dependent, Aid and Attendance | $34,488 | $2,874 |
| Two veterans married to each other, both A&A | $46,143 | $3,845 |
| Surviving spouse, no dependents, Aid and Attendance | $18,697 | $1,558 |
| Veteran with no dependents, Housebound | $21,313 | $1,776 |
VA pension rates effective December 1, 2025 through November 30, 2026.
These are maximums. A veteran with $1,500 a month of income and $5,163 a month of assisted living costs could see countable income fall to zero and receive close to the maximum; the actual award depends on VA's calculation.
What are the asset limits for VA pension?
VA's net worth limit for pension is $163,699 for December 2025 through November 2026, counting assets plus annual income, with the primary residence generally excluded, and VA reviews asset transfers made in the three years before the claim.
That look-back is shorter than Louisiana Medicaid's 60 months, and the two programs count assets differently. A family planning for both should get advice before moving money.
Can Aid and Attendance pay for assisted living or home care in Louisiana?
Yes: because Louisiana Medicaid does not pay for ARCPs, VA pension with Aid and Attendance is one of the few public sources that can help with an assisted living bill, and it can also help pay for home care or adult day health care.
The money goes to the veteran or spouse, not the provider, so it can be used for any care setting. Keep receipts and the provider's statement of care costs for the claim.
Where can New Orleans veterans get help with a claim?
Accredited veterans service officers help with pension claims for free, through Louisiana's state veterans affairs office and veterans service organizations; for health care, the Southeast Louisiana Veterans Health Care System's medical center is at 2400 Canal St. in New Orleans.
Avoid anyone who charges to file a pension claim or who proposes moving assets as a package deal. The VA's own pension rate pages list the current tables.
At a glance
| Aid and Attendance is | Aid and Attendance is not | |
|---|---|---|
| Form | A higher pension rate | A separate monthly check |
| Use | Money the veteran can use for any care | Paid directly to a facility |
| Assets | Limited by a $163,699 net worth test | Subject to Medicaid's 60-month look-back |
| Cost | Free to apply with an accredited officer | Something to pay a consultant for |
Sources include LAC 48:I.Chapter 68 (adult residential care providers), the Louisiana Department of Health's Health Standards Section and Office of Aging and Adult Services pages, the Governor's Office of Elderly Affairs, CareScout and VA rate tables as cited above; see our editorial standards.
