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VA Aid and Attendance, 2026

Current maximum annual pension rates, the net worth limit, and why care costs can make a veteran eligible despite moderate income.

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VA Aid and Attendance, 2026

Short answer

VA Aid and Attendance is a federal Veterans Pension or Survivors Pension add-on for wartime veterans and surviving spouses who need help with daily activities. It supplements the base pension up to a Maximum Annual Pension Rate (MAPR); VA pays the difference between countable inc

SituationMaximum annual rateApproximate monthly
Veteran, no dependents, Aid and Attendance$29,093/year$2,424 per month
Veteran with 1 dependent, Aid and Attendance$34,488/year$2,874 per month
Surviving spouse, no dependents, Aid and Attendance$18,697/year$1,558 per month
Two veterans married to each other, both qualify$46,143/year$3,845 per month

Net worth limit: $163,699 (effective December 1, 2025 – November 30, 2026)

VA Aid and Attendance is a federal Veterans Pension or Survivors Pension add-on for wartime veterans and surviving spouses who need help with daily activities. It supplements the base pension up to a Maximum Annual Pension Rate (MAPR); VA pays the difference between countable income and the MAPR, after deducting unreimbursed medical expenses, so the actual monthly payment varies by household income.

MAPR is a ceiling, not a flat payment — VA pays the difference between countable income and the MAPR after deducting unreimbursed medical expenses, so actual monthly payments vary by household. This is a federal benefit, so these rates and rules are identical for Long Island veterans and survivors as for any other state. There is a 3-year look-back period for asset transfers, with penalty periods up to 5 years. Rates effective December 1, 2025 – November 30, 2026 (2.8% COLA applied).

Source: VA veterans pension rates

Source: VA survivors pension rates

Questions families ask

What's the difference between a CCRC or Life Plan Community and a standalone assisted living or nursing facility on Long Island?

A Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC), also called a Life Plan Community, offers a full continuum of care, independent living, assisted living, memory care, and skilled nursing, on one campus, so a resident can move between levels of care as needs change without relocating to a different facility or provider. Long Island examples include Jefferson's Ferry in South Setauket, which describes itself as Long Island's first Life Plan Community, and Peconic Landing in Greenport, which describes itself as New York's only equity-based CCRC; a standalone assisted living or nursing facility, by contrast, offers only one level of care and requires a resident to move elsewhere if their needs change.

Who regulates assisted living facilities on Long Island?

New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) licenses and regulates assisted living as part of its Adult Care Facility (ACF) program, which covers Adult Homes, Enriched Housing Programs, and Assisted Living Residences (ALR). Long Island facilities are overseen locally through NYSDOH's Metropolitan Area Regional Office - Long Island (MARO-LI) in Central Islip. Nursing homes are licensed separately by NYSDOH under a different set of regulations (10 NYCRR Part 415).

What's the difference between an Adult Home, Enriched Housing Program, and Assisted Living Residence in NY?

Adult Homes and Enriched Housing Programs (EHP) are New York's two base licensed categories providing room, board, housekeeping, and personal care to five or more unrelated adults, with EHP generally serving residents 65+ in more independent, apartment-style settings. An Assisted Living Residence (ALR) is an additional certification layered on top of an existing Adult Home or EHP license - it cannot exist as a standalone building type. Adult Homes and EHPs are regulated under 18 NYCRR Parts 487 and 488; ALRs are regulated under 10 NYCRR Part 1001.

How do I check if a Long Island assisted living facility has a clean inspection record?

New York State publishes licensing status and inspection history for every Adult Care Facility, including Assisted Living Residences, on the NYS Health Profiles website (profiles.health.ny.gov/acf), searchable by county, name, or facility type. Each facility's profile page includes an Inspections tab showing survey results. NYSDOH also publishes a statewide Consumer Information Guide: Assisted Living Residence that explains how to read these records.

Is memory care a licensed category in New York, or just a marketing term?

New York does not have a separate memory care license. Dementia and cognitive-impairment care is addressed through the Special Needs Assisted Living Residence (SNALR) certification, an additional certification layered onto an existing Assisted Living Residence license under 10 NYCRR Part 1001. Families should verify a facility's actual SNALR certification on NYS Health Profiles rather than relying on a memory care sign or brochure.

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