Financial assistance · federal
VA Aid and Attendance and Housebound benefits
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
VA Aid and Attendance (A&A) and Housebound benefits are monthly payments added to a qualifying veteran's or survivor's VA pension. The two benefits cannot be received concurrently. Aid & Attendance is intended for those who need another person's help with activities of daily living, are bedridden, are nursing-home patients due to disability, or have severely limited eyesight. Housebound is for those who spend most of their time at home because of a permanent disability.
Who qualifies
You must already qualify for a VA pension. For A&A, at least one of the following must be true: (1) you need another person to help with daily activities like bathing, feeding, dressing; (2) you must stay in bed (or spend a large portion of the day in bed) because of illness; (3) you are a nursing-home patient due to loss of mental or physical abilities related to a disability; (4) your eyesight is limited to 5/200 or less in both eyes (with corrective lenses) or visual field is concentric contraction to 5 degrees or less. For Housebound: you must get a VA pension and spend most of your time in your home because of a permanent disability.
What it covers
A monthly cash payment added to your VA pension amount. The exact amount depends on the year's Maximum Annual Pension Rate (MAPR) tables published by VA. Cannot receive both A&A and Housebound at once.
Cost
No cost to apply. Benefit amount is determined by the VA pension rate tables (MAPR) which change annually; see VA pension rate tables for current numbers. Page does not state specific dollar limits.
How to apply
Apply online via the VA Form 21-2680 online tool, by mail, or in person at a VA regional office. A medical examiner must complete the examination section of VA Form 21-2680 (Examination for Housebound Status or Permanent Need for Regular Aid and Attendance). Veterans residing in a nursing home must additionally submit VA Form 21-0779 (Request for Nursing Home Information in Connection with Claim for Aid and Attendance). Mailing address: Department of Veterans Affairs, Pension Intake Center, PO Box 5365, Janesville, WI 53547-5365.