What is VA Aid and Attendance?
Aid and Attendance is not a separate check: it raises the VA's Maximum Annual Pension Rate for a wartime veteran or surviving spouse who needs help with daily activities, and VA pays the difference between that rate and the person's countable income.
Unreimbursed care costs such as assisted living or home care fees reduce countable income, which is why a veteran with a moderate pension can still receive a meaningful monthly amount once paying for care. The pension also has a net worth limit, which VA set at $163,699 for the current rate year.
How much is VA Aid and Attendance in 2026?
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 |
Effective December 1, 2025 through November 30, 2026. Source: VA pension rate tables.
These are maximums before subtracting countable income; actual payments are lower for most people.
Can Aid and Attendance pay for assisted living in Salt Lake City?
Yes, indirectly: the pension is paid to the veteran or spouse, who can use it toward any care, and assisted living fees count as unreimbursed medical expenses that lower countable income when the care is needed because of a disability.
Utah's assisted living median of about $5,233 a month is well above even the highest single-veteran rate, so Aid and Attendance usually supplements income and savings rather than covering a stay on its own. Combine it with a realistic plan for how long savings will last.
Where can Salt Lake veterans get help applying?
Apply through VA directly or with free help from an accredited Veterans Service Officer; never pay anyone to file a pension claim, because VA-accredited representatives may not charge for helping with an initial application.
Be wary of “pension planning” sales pitches that recommend moving assets into annuities or trusts to qualify. VA applies a look-back to asset transfers and can impose a penalty period. The VA Salt Lake City medical center is federal and separate from Utah's state-licensed facilities.
How long does an Aid and Attendance claim take?
VA does not promise a fixed processing time, so families should plan for several months and keep paying for care from other funds in the meantime.
Gather the DD-214 or other discharge papers, marriage and death certificates for a surviving spouse claim, a physician's statement about the need for help with daily activities, and proof of care costs. Submitting a complete package is the best way to avoid follow-up requests.
At a glance
| Aid and Attendance is | Aid and Attendance is not | |
|---|---|---|
| Payment | A higher pension rate minus countable income | A flat monthly care allowance |
| Eligibility | Wartime veterans and surviving spouses with care needs and limited means | Available to every veteran |
| Use | Money the family can put toward any care | Paid directly to a facility |
| Help | Free from accredited representatives | Something to pay a planner to file |
Sources include Utah Admin. Code R432-270, Utah DHHS and DLBC pages, Salt Lake County and DAAS pages, CareScout and VA rate tables as cited above; see our editorial standards.
