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VA Aid and Attendance, 2026

Current maximum annual pension rates, the net worth limit, and why care costs can make a veteran eligible despite moderate income.

HomeCosts & PayingVA Aid and Attendance, 2026

VA Aid and Attendance, 2026

Short answer

VA Aid and Attendance is a pension add-on for wartime veterans (and surviving spouses) who need help with daily activities. Unreimbursed medical expenses -- including the full cost of assisted living or in-home care -- offset countable income, which is often what makes a veteran

SituationMaximum annual rateApproximate monthly
Veteran needing Aid and Attendance, no dependents$29,093/year$2,424 per month
Veteran needing Aid and Attendance, one dependent$34,488/year$2,874 per month
Surviving spouse needing Aid and Attendance, no dependent children$18,923/year$1,577 per month
Surviving spouse needing Aid and Attendance, one dependent child$22,304/year$1,858 per month

Net worth limit: $163,699 (effective December 1, 2025 - November 30, 2026)

VA Aid and Attendance is a pension add-on for wartime veterans (and surviving spouses) who need help with daily activities. Unreimbursed medical expenses -- including the full cost of assisted living or in-home care -- offset countable income, which is often what makes a veteran with a pension and moderate savings newly eligible even though their income looks too high on paper.

Figures above are the federal Maximum Annual Pension Rate (MAPR) divided by 12 for an approximate monthly figure -- the VA pays the difference between a household's countable income and the MAPR, so most households receive less than the full amount shown. These rates are federal and apply the same in Indiana as anywhere else in the country; they rise most years with a cost-of-living adjustment (2.8% for this cycle). Rates effective December 1, 2025.

Source: VA veterans pension rates

Source: VA survivors pension rates

Questions families ask

What senior care options exist in Hancock County?

Hancock County, anchored by Greenfield, has several verified assisted living, independent living and skilled nursing options and is served by Hancock Regional Health and CICOA Aging & In-Home Solutions.

What's the difference between independent living and assisted living in Indiana?

Independent living is generally unlicensed housing -- apartments or cottages with dining and activities but no personal care. Assisted living communities in Indiana are licensed as Residential Care Facilities and provide medication administration and help with daily activities.

What's the difference between assisted living and memory care in Indiana?

Both can be licensed as Residential Care Facilities, but a memory care unit must also file Indiana's Alzheimer's and Dementia Special Care Disclosure under IC 12-10-5.5 and meet dementia-specific staff training requirements. There is no separate state cost median for memory care, unlike assisted living.

Is in-home care or assisted living cheaper in Indiana?

It depends on hours needed. At Indiana's 2025 median of $35 an hour, a 40-hour week of home care already costs more than Indiana's assisted living median of $5,639 a month. Below roughly 30-35 hours a week, home care is often cheaper; above it, a community usually wins.

What's the difference between a nursing home and assisted living in Indiana?

A nursing home is licensed in Indiana as a Comprehensive Care Facility, providing 24-hour skilled nursing care and carrying a federal CMS star rating. Assisted living is licensed as a Residential Care Facility, a lower level of care with no CMS rating.

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