How Much Will the VA Pay for Assisted Living? 

How much you can get for assisted living through the VA depends on which VA program you qualify for. 

Assisted living benefits are provided through two VA programs: 

I explain more below👇 

Summary of Key Points 

Assisted living benefits are provided through two VA programs: Aid and Attendance and Housebound Allowance.

Aid and Attendance benefits are paid out through Special Monthly Compensation (SMC) or Special Monthly Pension (SMP). 

Housebound benefits are paid out by increasing your VA pension. 

There are three ways to apply for Housebound and Aid and Attendance benefits. 

Surviving spouses and dependents can also qualify for Aid and Attendance and Housebound benefits. 

You can’t get Aid and Attendance and Housebound benefits at the same time. 

How Much Will the VA Pay for Assisted Living Through the Aid and Attendance Program? 

Aid and Attendance is an additional monthly payment you can use to help pay for assisted living services. 

You can also get Aid and Attendance benefits if a family member cares for you. 

If the VA decides you’re eligible for Aid and Attendance benefits, your additional compensation will usually come in the form of Special Monthly Compensation (SMC) or Special Monthly Pension (SMP) payments. 

Special Monthly Compensation (SMC)

Special Monthly Compensation is a higher rate of compensation the VA pays veterans, their spouses, surviving spouses, and parents with certain needs or disabilities. 

NOTE: SMC is only available if you’re already receiving VA compensation for a service-connected disability. 

There are twelve categories of SMC (but one hasn’t been awarded since 1968). 

How much you can get depends on which category your disability falls into and how many dependents you have. 

2024 VA Special Monthly Compensation Rates 

Learn more about which disabilities fall into each category on the VA’s website. 

Special Monthly Pension Payments 

If you don’t qualify for Special Monthly Compensation, you could still get help paying for assisted living through an added amount to your pension payments. This is known as Special Monthly Pension (SMP). 

How much you get through SMP depends on your Maximum Annual Pension Rate (MAPR), as well as how many dependents you have. 

To calculate your SMP rate, follow these steps: 

1. You first need to find your applicable MAPR. See the table below: 

2. Add $2,831 for each dependent you have. 

3. Subtract your annual income from your MAPR + an additional amount for dependents (don’t include VA disability compensation in your annual income.) 

3. Divide by 12. 

That amount is your SMP payment. 

Example: Say you have one dependent and a non-veteran spouse, and you qualify for Aid and Attendance. You and your spouse have a combined annual income of $10,000. 

Your MAPR = $35,560 

$35,560 – $10,000 = Your annual VA pension of $25,560 

$25,560/12 months = $2,130 per month 

For comparison, if you don’t qualify for Aid and Attendance benefits but all other facts remain the same, your monthly pension payment would be $1,208.75 per month. 

How to Qualify for VA Aid and Attendance Benefits 

To be eligible for the VA’s Aid and Attendance program, at least one of these must be true: 

• You can’t perform daily activities, like bathing, feeding, and dressing without help. 
• You spend all day or a large portion of the day in bed because of an illness or a disability. 
• You are a patient in a nursing home due to the loss of mental or physical abilities related to a disability. 
• Your eyesight is limited (even with glasses or contact lenses, you have only 5/200 or less in both eyes, or your visual field is 5 degrees or less) 

VA Aid and Attendance Benefits (Video)👇 

How Much Will the VA Pay for Assisted Living Through the Housebound Allowance Program? 

The VA’s Housebound Allowance program can also be used to pay for assisted living services.  

Your housebound allowance is based on your Special Monthly Pension rate. 

You can calculate your SMP for Housebound Allowance in the same way you find it for Aid and Attendance benefits: 

1. First, find your MAPR. See the table below: 

2. Add $2,831 for each dependent you have. 

3. Subtract your annual income from your MAPR + additional amount for dependents (don’t include VA disability compensation in your annual income). 

4. Divide by 12. 

Example: If you’re single and have one dependent and qualify for the Housebound Allowance program, your MAPR is $25,348. If you make $10,000 a year, your annual pension rate is $15,348. 

$15,348/12 = $1,279 per month. 

For comparison, if you didn’t qualify for Housebound benefits, your monthly pension payment would be $972,83. 

How to Qualify for VA Housebound Allowance 

You could be eligible for VA Housebound benefits if you receive a VA pension. 

If you’re receiving a VA pension, then the VA could grant you the housebound pension rate if you have a permanent disability* rated at 100%, AND: 

• Another disability rated at 60% or higher, OR 
• You can’t leave your house because of your permanent disability 

NOTE: Your 100% rating cannot be through Total Disability Individual Unemployability (TDIU). It must be a schedular rating, meaning you got the rating because it met the symptom requirements listed in the VA Schedule for Rating Disabilities (VASRD). 

*A permanent disability is one that is unlikely to ever get better. 

VA Claims Expert Brian Reese Explains VA Housebound Benefits (Video)⏬ 

How to Apply for Aid and Attendance and Housebound Allowance 

There are three ways to apply for VA Aid and Attendance and Housebound benefits: 

1. Fill out VA Form 21-2680 and mail it to your state’s Pension Management Center (PMC). It’s a good idea to submit any relevant evidence with the form, such as: 

• Doctor’s reports that show you need assisted living 
• Details about what you normally do during the day and how you get to places 
• Details that help show what kind of illness, injury, or mental or physical disability affects your ability to do things, like take a bath, on your own 

2. If you’re already living in a nursing home, fill out VA Form 21-0779 and mail it to: 

3. You can also apply in person at a regional VA office. Bring any relevant medical information and evidence showing you need assisted living with you. 

Does the VA Pay for Assisted Living for Spouses? 

Yes, veteran spouses, surviving dependents, and parents can take advantage of both the Aid and Attendance and Housebound Allowance programs. 

To qualify for Aid and Attendance, at least one of these must be true: 

• You can’t perform daily activities, like bathing, feeding, and dressing without help. 
• You spend all day or a large portion of the day in bed because of an illness or a disability. 
• You are a patient in a nursing home due to the loss of mental or physical abilities related to a disability. 
• Your eyesight is limited (even with glasses or contact lenses, you have only 5/200 or less in both eyes, or your visual field is 5 degrees or less) 

For Housebound Allowance benefits: 

• You get a VA survivors pension 
• You spend most of your time in your home because of a permanent disability 

How Much Can Spouses and Survivors Get for VA Assisted Living? 

Spouses and survivors have special Max Annual Pension Rates. 

See the chart below: 

For example, If you’re a surviving spouse who qualifies for Aid and Attendance benefits and you have one dependent, your MAPR is $21,166. 

If your annual income is $8,000, subtract $8,000 from $21,166, which equals $13,166. 

$13,166/12 = $1,097,16 per month. 

If you don’t qualify for Aid and Attendance but all other facts remain the same, your monthly pension payment would be $544.08. 

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Clay Huston

Clay Huston is a former U.S. Army Reserves Blackhawk Pilot and officer. Clay enlisted in the Army in 2013 and was commissioned as a 2LT in 2017 after earning a business degree from the University of Illinois Champaign-Urbana.

Since separating from the military, Clay has pursued a career as a writer. He also runs the nonprofit notfatherless.org, which fundraises for Children’s Homes in Mexico.