VA Aid and Attendance and Housebound benefits can provide extra monthly payments on top of your VA pension if you’re a qualifying Veteran or survivor. If you need help with daily activities — or if you spend most of your time at home — here’s what you need to know about eligibility and how to apply.
VA Aid and Attendance Eligibility
You may be eligible if you receive a VA pension and at least one of the following is true:
- You need another person to help you perform daily activities such as bathing, feeding, or dressing.
- You have to stay in bed — or spend a large portion of the day in bed — because of illness.
- You are a patient in a nursing home due to the loss of mental or physical abilities related to a disability.
- Your eyesight is limited (even with glasses or contacts, you have only 5/200 vision or less in both eyes, or concentric contraction of the visual field to 5 degrees or less).
Housebound Benefits Eligibility
You may be eligible if you receive a VA pension and you spend most of your time at home because of a permanent disability — one that does not go away.
Note: You cannot receive Aid and Attendance benefits and Housebound benefits at the same time.
How to Apply
By Mail
- Complete VA Form 21-2680 (Examination for Housebound Status or Permanent Need for Regular Aid and Attendance). Your doctor can fill out the examination information section.
- You may also include supporting evidence such as a doctor’s report, details about your daily routine, and information about how your illness or disability affects your ability to perform daily tasks.
- If you are in a nursing home, also complete VA Form 21-0779 (Request for Nursing Home Information in Connection with Claim for Aid and Attendance).
Mail your completed forms and any supporting documents to:
- Department of Veterans Affairs Pension Intake Center, PO Box 5365, Janesville, WI 53547-5365
In Person
- You can bring your information directly to a VA regional office near you.
- Visit va.gov/find-locations to find your nearest VA regional office.
How Long Does It Take?
- VA processes claims in the order they are received, unless a claim qualifies for priority processing. Processing times vary.
- For the most current information, visit va.gov or call 1-800-827-1000.
Need Help Applying?
- Our team at Bella Largo is happy to help connect you with the right resources. Call us at (219) 878-1141 and ask for Stefanie Olson.
