Boise Senior AdvisorBy Boise Senior Advisor Care Team · October 14, 2026
Aid and Attendance raises the VA pension's maximum annual rate, to $29,093 for a single veteran in the rate year ending November 30, 2026. VA pays the gap between that maximum and countable income, and unreimbursed care costs reduce countable income, which is why it helps with assisted living.
Why Boise veterans should ask about it
The Treasure Valley has a large veteran population, served by the Boise VA Medical Center on Fort Street and the Idaho State Veterans Home in Boise. Yet many families paying for assisted living never apply for VA pension with Aid and Attendance, because they assume the veteran's income is too high or that the benefit is only for combat injuries. Neither is necessarily true.
Pension is a needs-based benefit for wartime veterans and their surviving spouses who meet age or disability rules, and Aid and Attendance is the higher rate for those who need help with daily activities.
The current rates
| Who | Maximum per year | About per month |
|---|---|---|
| Veteran with no dependents, Aid and Attendance | $29,093 | $2,424 |
| Veteran with one dependent, Aid and Attendance | $34,488 | $2,874 |
| Two veterans married to each other, both A&A | $46,143 | $3,845 |
| Surviving spouse, no dependents, Aid and Attendance | $18,697 | $1,558 |
| Veteran with no dependents, Housebound | $21,313 | $1,776 |
VA pension rates in effect December 1, 2025 through November 30, 2026.
The net worth limit is $163,699, which includes assets and annual income together under VA's rules.
How the math works with assisted living
Aid and Attendance is not a separate check. It raises the Maximum Annual Pension Rate (MAPR); VA pays the difference between the MAPR and countable income, and unreimbursed care costs such as assisted living or home care fees reduce countable income.
A simple example: a single veteran with $2,600 a month of income moves into a Boise assisted living community costing $5,200 a month. Because the care costs exceed the income, countable income can fall to zero, and VA may pay up to the full Aid and Attendance maximum, about $2,424 a month. Real cases depend on the details, so treat this as an illustration, not a promise.
What to gather before applying
The DD-214 or other discharge papers, a marriage certificate for a spouse claim, income statements, bank and investment statements, and receipts or a statement from the facility showing monthly care costs. A doctor's statement describing the need for help with bathing, dressing or other daily activities is central to the Aid and Attendance part of the claim.
Assisted living facilities in the valley are used to providing a cost statement; ask the business office.
Free help filing
VA-accredited veterans service officers help without charge, including through the Idaho Division of Veterans Services and county veterans offices. Be wary of anyone who charges to file a pension claim or suggests moving assets in ways that could affect Medicaid later.
Surviving spouses can qualify too. The current maximum for a surviving spouse with no dependents who needs Aid and Attendance is $18,697 a year.
How it fits with Medicaid
VA pension counts as income for Idaho Medicaid, and Medicaid's asset rules differ from VA's net worth rules. A family planning for both should get advice before moving money, because a step that helps one claim can hurt the other. Veterans service officers and Idaho elder law attorneys can help with the order of steps.
For a veteran who will eventually need a nursing home, the Idaho State Veterans Home in Boise is worth asking about early, since it may have a waiting list.
Common reasons claims stall
Pension claims slow down when evidence is missing: no proof of wartime service dates, no doctor's statement describing the need for help with daily activities, or care costs that are estimated rather than documented. Claims for surviving spouses also need the marriage certificate and the veteran's death certificate. Submitting a complete package at the start is the best way to avoid months of back-and-forth.
If a parent is moving into Boise assisted living, ask the facility for a signed statement of monthly charges and the care provided; VA uses it to calculate unreimbursed medical expenses. Update VA when costs change, since the benefit is recalculated from income and expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Aid and Attendance a separate payment?
No. It raises the pension maximum; VA pays the difference between that maximum and countable income.
Can a surviving spouse get it?
Yes, through survivors pension with Aid and Attendance if the rules are met.
Does it pay for assisted living in Boise?
It provides monthly income that families often use toward assisted living or home care costs.
Who can help me apply for free?
VA-accredited veterans service officers, including through the Idaho Division of Veterans Services.
How long does a VA pension claim take?
It varies; a complete claim with medical and cost evidence moves faster.
Does the veteran need a service-connected disability?
No; pension is needs-based and does not require a service-connected condition.
Can Aid and Attendance pay for in-home care instead of assisted living?
Yes. Unreimbursed costs of paid in-home care can reduce countable income in the same way assisted living fees do, if the claim documents the need for help.
Is there a Boise office where veterans can get help in person?
The Idaho Division of Veterans Services and county veterans offices offer free help from accredited service officers; call ahead for an appointment.
