Aid and Attendance (A&A) is an increased monthly pension amount paid to a veteran or surviving spouse.

You are eligible if:

  • you require the aid of another person in order to perform activities of daily living, such as bathing, feeding, toileting, adjusting prosthetic devices, or protecting yourself from the hazards of your daily environment, OR
  • you are bedridden, OR
  • you are a patient in a nursing home due to mental or physical incapacity, OR
  • you have corrected visual activity of 5/200 or less, in both eyes, or concentric contraction of the visual field to 5 degrees or less.

Housebound is an increased monthly pension amount paid to a claimant who is substantially confined to his or her home because of permanent disability. if you are a veteran, you may qualify for the increased housebound amount if:

  • you have a single permanent disability evaluated as 100-percent disabling AND, due to such disability, you are permanently and substantially confined to your immediate premises, OR
  • you have single permanent disability evaluated as 100-percent disabling AND, another disability, or disabilities, evaluated as 60-percent or more disabling.

How to apply for A&A and Housebound:

  • you may apply for pension at the A&A or Housebound rate by writing to the VA regional office that has jurisdiction over your claim. If you do not know which regional office has jurisdiction over your claim , you may submit your request to the VA regional office closest to your current residence.
  • if you have previously submitted a VA Form 21-526, Veteran's Application for Compensation and/or Pensions, or VA Form 21-534, Application for Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC), Death Pension and Accrued Benefits by a Surviving Spouse or Child, you should attach the completed form to your claim.
  • you should provide copies of any evidence that would help establish that you need either A&A or Housebound. Such evidence would include a report from your physician validating your need for these programs.
  • if possible, the evidence should be in sufficient detail to enable VA to determine generally whether there is a disease or injury producing physical or mental impairment that renders you unable to perform the activities of daily living without assistance, or confined to your home or immediate premises.

Also, it is important to note that, as of December 2011, there are income limits for these programs.

If you are a....

Housebound veteran with no dependents, yearly income must be less than $14,978

Housebound veteran with one dependent, yearly income must be less than $18,773

Veteran in need of A&A with no dependents, yearly income must be less than $20,447

Veteran in need of A&A with one dependent, yearly income must be less than $24,239

* for each additional dependent, add $2,093