By Grand Rapids Senior Advisor Care Team · Published October 30, 2026
How does VA Aid and Attendance decide how much a veteran gets?
The VA pays the difference between the maximum annual pension rate (MAPR) for the veteran's household and the household's countable income, where countable income is reduced by unreimbursed medical expenses above 5 percent of the MAPR.
For December 1, 2025 through November 30, 2026, the MAPR with Aid and Attendance is $29,093 for a veteran with no dependents and $34,488 for a veteran with one dependent. The net worth limit -- assets plus annual income -- is $163,699. Those are the VA's published figures; everything else in this example is illustrative.
What does the calculation look like for a single veteran in assisted living?
In this illustration, a single wartime veteran in Grand Rapids receives $2,100 a month from Social Security and a small pension, and pays a licensed home $5,750 a month -- Michigan's 2025 assisted living median from CareScout.
| Step | Annual amount | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Income (Social Security + pension) | $25,200 | $2,100 x 12 |
| Unreimbursed care costs | $69,000 | $5,750 x 12, if the VA accepts them as medical expenses |
| Deductible threshold (5% of MAPR) | $1,455 | 5% of $29,093 |
| Deductible medical expenses | $67,545 | $69,000 - $1,455 |
| Countable income | $0 | $25,200 - $67,545, floored at zero |
| MAPR with Aid and Attendance | $29,093 | Veteran, no dependents |
| Annual pension | $29,093 | About $2,424 a month |
The VA's own rate page notes a $872 threshold for a veteran with no dependents, which is 5 percent of the basic MAPR; the threshold that applies depends on the rate the claim is decided under, so treat the exact deduction here as an approximation.
Do assisted living costs always count as medical expenses?
Not automatically. The VA looks at whether the veteran needs help with activities of daily living or supervision because of a disability, and whether the facility or caregiver provides that care.
Documentation matters: a physician's statement of the need for aid and attendance (VA Form 21-2680 is the usual form), a statement from the home about the care provided, and the monthly bills. Michigan homes for the aged and adult foster care homes provide personal care and supervision, which is the kind of care the VA looks for, but the decision is the VA's.
What about a married veteran living at home?
The same math applies with the higher MAPR of $34,488 for a veteran with one dependent, and home care costs can be deducted just like facility costs.
At Michigan's 2025 home care median of about $34.75 an hour, 20 hours a week costs roughly $36,000 a year -- enough, for many couples, to bring countable income below the MAPR. The pension then helps pay for the care that created the deduction.
What can go wrong with an Aid and Attendance claim?
Three things most often: net worth over the limit, asset transfers in the three-year look-back period, and missing medical evidence.
Transfers for less than fair market value that would have pushed net worth over the limit can trigger a penalty period of up to five years. Michigan Medicaid has separate look-back rules, so a move that helps one claim can hurt the other. Use an accredited representative -- county veterans service officers and veterans service organizations help for free -- and be wary of anyone charging to file.
Where can West Michigan veterans get nursing care through the state?
The Michigan Veteran Homes at Grand Rapids, on Monroe Avenue NE, is the state veterans home serving the region and is a Medicare- and Medicaid-certified nursing home with 128 certified beds and a five-star overall rating on Care Compare.
Admission has its own eligibility rules; ask the home directly. For veterans who need personal care rather than nursing, Aid and Attendance paired with a licensed home or home care is the more common path.
Frequently asked questions
How much is Aid and Attendance for a surviving spouse in 2026?
Surviving spouses have a separate, lower rate table on the VA's survivors pension page; check the current table there rather than using the veteran rates.
Is there a VA asset limit?
The VA uses a net worth limit -- $163,699 for December 2025 through November 2026 -- that combines assets and annual income, excluding a primary residence and car.
Can Aid and Attendance pay for an adult foster care home in Michigan?
The pension is paid to the veteran, who can use it for any care; the cost of a licensed AFC home can count as a medical expense when the veteran needs that care because of disability.
