Senior living can be costly, particularly if the individual needs extra assistance, and many wonder how to pay for communities and services. But if a senior is also a veteran, there may be some additional veterans assistance for senior living. We look into what options are out there, and how veterans can get some financial help.
Many injured veterans return home to face various challenges. As they get older and experience the functional declines that all seniors do, those challenges might include maintaining independence. These aging veterans may require help with activities of daily living (ADLs), such as dressing, bathing, eating, and mobility.
While caring for a loved one can be overwhelming, help exists for senior veterans and their surviving spouses with assisted living expenses. The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) offers the Aid and Attendance program to eligible veterans.
Here’s how veterans and their families can navigate the available support.
What are a veteran’s senior living options?
Veterans enrolled in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) can apply to live in a VA community living center, Armed Forces Retirement Home, or state veterans home, all of which offer care comparable to assisted living. The VHA also provides Veteran-Directed Care to promote independence.
Can veterans get assistance for assisted living?
Any veteran and surviving spouse eligible for a VA pension who requires the aid and attendance of another person may qualify for additional monthly payments above the usual pension amount. These other monthly payments are the Aid and Attendance benefits and can offset assisted living costs.
The VA doesn’t directly cover assisted living expenses but offers increased pensions to help pay these costs. The median U.S. cost of assisted living is $6,313 per month (May 2026), but expenses vary by service needs, apartment size, and location.
Who is eligible for senior veterans’ assistance?
Keep in mind that to qualify for the Aid and Attendance benefits, a veteran or surviving spouse must first be eligible for a VA pension. The eligibility requirements for the basic VA pension include:
- An honorable discharge
- Age 65 or older (or being permanently disabled)
- Minimum service requirements of at least 90 days on active duty, with one of those days being during active wartime
- Monthly income and assets below the limits set by the VA ( $163,699 for Dec. 1, 2025, to Nov. 30, 2026)
To qualify for Aid and Assistance, you must also meet one of these medical requirements:
- Require help with everyday tasks, such as dressing and bathing, from another person.
- Already live in a nursing home because of mental or physical incapacity, such as Alzheimer’s disease.
- Have certain eyesight limitations.
- Being bedridden
If a veteran spends most of their time at home due to a permanent disability, they may qualify for Household benefits. A VA pension is required, and Aid and Attendance and Household benefits cannot be combined.
To apply for VA benefits as a spouse, you must be a widowed (not remarried) spouse of a veteran. Spouses and dependents of living veterans may qualify for other benefits, such as education, financial counseling, and primary health care.
What is possible in veterans assistance for assisted living?
For both the Aid and Attendance and the Housebound benefits, the VA decides the Maximum Annual Pension Rate (MAPR) that a veteran may receive. The veteran’s actual payments are then calculated by subtracting their income from the MAPR.
For example, in 2026, the maximum Aid and Attendance pension for a veteran with no dependents is $29,091. If the veteran’s annual income is $10,000, they can receive $19,091 in pension benefits. However, if the veteran’s income exceeds the MAPR, they may still qualify for benefits, as unreimbursed medical expenses exceeding 5% of the MAPR may be deducted from income.
Talk to the VA
With all the benefits available to veterans, it can be challenging to understand how to qualify and make the most of them. An experienced veteran benefits advisor can help veterans and their families maximize their eligibility requirements and receive the most veteran assistance for senior living.
Related: Is There Financial Aid for Assisted Living?
Initially published Aug. 16, 2021. Updated June 1, 2026.
