Aid and Attendance and Housebound: the extra pension amount
A higher monthly pension rate for a veteran who needs help with daily tasks or is mostly confined to home.
What it is
Aid and Attendance and Housebound are higher pension rates. Aid and Attendance is for a veteran who needs another person's help. Housebound is for a veteran who is mostly confined to home. You cannot get both at the same time. VA's form page says the benefit is added to monthly compensation or pension. Base Veterans Pension rules are on the Veterans Pension page.
Who qualifies
VA says you must get a VA pension and meet one of these.
Aid and Attendance, at least one of:
- You need another person to help with daily activities like bathing, feeding and dressing.
- You need extended bed rest because of illness.
- You live in a nursing home because of a physical or mental disability.
- Your eyesight is 5/200 or worse in both eyes, or your visual field is contracted to 5 degrees or less.
Housebound: you spend most of your time in your home because of a permanent disability.
Who qualifies
What it pays
The maximum rates for basic pension, Housebound and Aid and Attendance, and how VA figures your actual payment, are on the Veterans Pension page.
How to apply, step by step
- Have a VA pension or apply for pension at the same time (see the Veterans Pension page).
- Have your doctor or medical examiner complete VA Form 21-2680, Examination for Housebound Status or Permanent Need for Regular Aid and Attendance.
- If you live in a nursing home, the facility also completes VA Form 21-0779.
- Send it: online (a medical examiner completes the exam section), by mail to the Pension Intake Center (address on the Veterans Pension page), or in person at a VA regional office.
Traps
- Without a VA pension you do not qualify for this pension add-on.
- VA processes claims in the order received unless a claim needs priority. VA gives no processing time on this page, so ask the hotline for your claim status.
- Income and net worth limits still apply (see the Veterans Pension page).
Where to call and where to go
Phone
- VA benefits hotline, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. ET: 1-800-827-1000 (TTY: 711). Source: va.gov/pension and Helpful VA phone numbers (hours).
- Veterans Crisis Line, 24/7: 988, then select 1. Source: Helpful VA phone numbers
Official pages
- Aid and Attendance and Housebound (VA)
- Veterans Pension rates, including Aid and Attendance
- VA Form 21-2680
- VA Form 21-0779 (nursing home information)
- How to apply for pension
- Find your VA regional office
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