How much is VA Aid and Attendance for a Memphis veteran?
For the rate year running December 1, 2025 through November 30, 2026, the VA's 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.
Aid and Attendance is not a separate check. It raises the maximum annual pension rate, and the VA pays the difference between that rate and the veteran's countable income.
How do assisted living costs help a veteran qualify?
Unreimbursed medical and care expenses, including assisted living or home care fees when the care is medically needed, reduce countable income, so a veteran whose gross income is above the pension rate may still qualify once those costs are deducted.
That is why the benefit fits assisted living so well: a Memphis veteran paying a monthly ACLF bill may have little or no countable income left after deductions, and the pension then pays close to the maximum. The VA also applies a net worth limit of $163,699 for this rate year, which counts assets plus annual income, and has its own three-year look-back for asset transfers.
Who qualifies for VA Aid and Attendance?
A wartime veteran (or surviving spouse) who meets the VA pension's service, income and net worth rules and needs help with daily activities such as bathing, dressing or eating, is bedridden, is in a nursing home because of disability, or has limited eyesight may qualify for the Aid and Attendance rate.
Memphis-area veterans get VA health care through the Memphis VA Medical Center, and Naval Support Activity Mid-South sits in Millington, so many local families have a veteran or surviving spouse to ask about. Accredited veterans service officers help with applications at no charge; avoid anyone who charges a fee to file a pension claim or proposes moving assets to qualify.
At a glance
| Aid and Attendance is | Aid and Attendance is not | |
|---|---|---|
| Form | A higher pension rate, paid monthly | A separate benefit check |
| Use | Usable for assisted living, home care or nursing care costs | Paid directly to a facility |
| Income test | Countable income after unreimbursed care costs | Gross income alone |
| Help applying | Free from accredited service officers | Something to pay a broker for |
Sources include Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. chapters 0720-26, 0720-21 and 0720-18, Health Facilities Commission and TennCare pages, CareScout and VA rate tables as cited above; see our editorial standards.
