Aid & Attendance (A&A) is a Special Monthly Compensation that provides additional financial assistance to eligible veterans and their surviving spouses who require help with daily living activities due to a service-connected disability or medical condition. This benefit is paid in addition to the standard monthly pension and can be used to help with the costs of home care, assisted living, or nursing home care.

Note: It is an additional amount of money added to VA pension, not a standalone benefit

To qualify, the applicant must be already eligible for VA pension and meet at least one of the following criteria:

• Needs assistance with activities of daily living

  • Examples: bathing, dressing, eating, or toileting

• Is bedridden—or spends a large portion of the day in bed—due to illness or disability

• Is a patient in a nursing home due to the loss of mental or physical abilities related to disability

• Has limited eyesight (corrected visual acuity of 5/200 or less in both eyes, or concentric visual field of 5 degrees or less)

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

By Mail:

Fill out VA Form 21-2680 (Examination for Housebound Status or Permanent Need for Regular Aid and Attendance)

Along with the VA Form you can include:

• Other evidence that shows the need for A&A (like a doctor’s report)

• Details about what you normally do during the day and how you get to places

• Details that show what kind of illness, injury, or mental or physical disability affects your ability to activities of daily living on your own

If you’re in a nursing home, you also need to fill out VA Form 21-0779 (Request for Nursing Home Information in Connection with Claim for Aid and Attendance)

In Person:

Bring this information to a VA regional office near you

Many eligible individuals miss out on this benefit simply because they don’t know it exists or assume they don’t qualify. Applying for A&A can be complex, especially when it involves proving medical need and financial eligibility. A VA-accredited representative can help ensure the application is complete, accurate, and supported by strong medical evidence—significantly increasing the chance of approval.

We have attorney’s and representatives here at Greene & Marusak can help you complete your application.

Give us a call at (844) 483-8737