Do I qualify for VA Pension?

You must meet ALL three: (1) 90+ days active duty with at least 1 day during a wartime period (or 24+ months for post-Sep 7, 1980 enlistments), discharge other than dishonorable; (2) Age 65+, OR permanently disabled, OR in a nursing home, OR receiving SSDI/SSI; (3) Countable annual income at or below the MAPR, and net worth — which under 38 CFR § 3.274(b) means assets PLUS countable annual income — at or below $163,699 for the Dec 2025–Nov 2026 rate year.

What is Aid & Attendance?

A&A is the highest enhanced VA Pension tier. It pays an additional $11,652/year on top of the base MAPR (no dependents, Dec 2025–Nov 2026 rates) when the veteran needs the regular help of another person for daily activities, is bedridden, is in a nursing home for mental/physical incapacity, or has eyesight 5/200 or worse. Documentation requires VA Form 21-2680 from a physician.

How does the medical-expense deduction work?

Under 38 CFR § 3.272(g)(1)(iii), unreimbursed medical expenses (URME) reduce countable income — but only the amount EXCEEDING 5% of the applicable MAPR is deductible. That 5% is measured on the MAPR including increases for family members but EXCLUDING any Aid & Attendance or Housebound increase, so claiming A&A does not raise your floor. For a single veteran at the Dec 2025–Nov 2026 base MAPR ($17,441), the floor is $872; with one dependent ($22,839), it is $1,141. Medicare premiums, prescription costs, nursing home fees, and home health aide costs all count.

What is the net worth limit?

$163,699 for the Dec 1, 2025 – Nov 30, 2026 window per 38 CFR § 3.274(a). Net worth means assets PLUS annual income for VA purposes (38 CFR § 3.274(b)); income is counted after deductible expenses such as unreimbursed medical above the 5% floor under § 3.272(g). The primary residence (including a residential lot up to 2 acres) and personal effects suitable to a reasonable mode of life, such as family transportation vehicles, are excluded from assets under 38 CFR § 3.275(b). The 3-year look-back rule under 38 CFR § 3.276 (effective Oct 18, 2018) adds back assets transferred for less than fair market value during the prior 3 years, with a penalty period.

VA Pension Calculator 2026 — Veterans Pension MAPR & Eligibility

VA Veterans Pension is NOT VA disability compensation

These are separate benefits and most veterans confuse them. VA Disability Compensation (covered separately on the VA Disability page) is for service-connected conditions and is paid regardless of income. VA Veterans Pension is income-based and requires war-era service plus age 65+ or permanent and total disability — it's a needs-based benefit for elderly or disabled veterans without a service-connected condition. You can receive disability compensation OR pension, whichever is higher (you do not "stack" both at full rates).

Eligibility — three requirements

To qualify for VA Veterans Pension under 38 U.S.C. § 1521 you must meet ALL three:

Service: 90+ days active duty with at least 1 day during a wartime period (or 24+ months for post-Sep 7, 1980 enlistments). Active duty for training generally does not count (38 U.S.C. § 101(21) excludes it from "active duty"). Discharge must be under conditions other than dishonorable.
Age or disability: Age 65+, OR permanently and totally disabled (not from misconduct), OR a patient in a nursing home receiving long-term care, OR receiving SSDI / SSI.
Income and net worth: Countable annual income must be at or below the applicable MAPR; net worth — which under 38 CFR § 3.274(b) means assets plus countable annual income — must be at or below $163,699.00 for the Dec 2025–Nov 2026 rate year.

Wartime periods recognized by VA include WWII, Korea, Vietnam (extended dates apply for those serving "in country"), Persian Gulf (Aug 2, 1990 to a future date set by Congress — currently still open), and various smaller campaigns under 38 CFR § 3.2.

Aid & Attendance and Housebound: enhanced rates

The base MAPR is paid to a veteran who otherwise qualifies. Two enhanced tiers add to the base:

Housebound: Paid when a single permanent disability rated 100% confines the veteran substantially to the residence, OR when the veteran is rated 100% with a separate disability rated 60% or higher. Adds approximately $3,872.00 to the base MAPR (no dependents) for the Dec 2025–Nov 2026 rate year.
Aid & Attendance (A&A): Paid when the veteran requires the regular help of another person to perform daily activities (bathing, dressing, eating, transferring, toileting), is bedridden, is in a nursing home due to mental or physical incapacity, or has eyesight 5/200 or worse in both eyes. Adds approximately $11,652.00 to the base MAPR (no dependents) for the Dec 2025–Nov 2026 rate year.

Aid & Attendance is the larger of the two enhancements and is the tier that applies when a veteran is in or approaching long-term-care status. A veteran cannot receive both enhancements at once. Documentation requires a physician's statement (VA Form 21-2680).

Income and the 5% medical deduction

"Countable" income for VA pension purposes is gross household income minus certain deductions. The biggest deduction is unreimbursed medical expenses (URME) — but only the amount exceeding 5% of the applicable MAPRunder 38 CFR § 3.272(g)(1)(iii). That 5% is measured on the MAPR "including increased pension for family members but excluding increased pension because of need for aid and attendance or being housebound" — so claiming A&A or Housebound does notraise your floor. For a single veteran with no dependents at the Dec 2025–Nov 2026 base MAPR ($17,441), the floor is $872 (with one dependent, $1,141); medical expenses above that line reduce countable income.

Examples of qualifying URME:

Medicare and TRICARE premiums
Out-of-pocket prescription drugs
Nursing home / assisted living fees
Home health aide costs
Long-term-care insurance premiums
Adaptive equipment, prosthetics, home modifications for disability

The 5% rule means small medical expenses don't reduce countable income — only the amount above the floor does. Recurring nursing-home, assisted-living, or in-home care fees can push URME far past the floor; once deductions bring countable income to $0, the pension pays the full MAPR.

Net worth limit and the look-back rule

Total household net worth (including the veteran, spouse, and dependents) cannot exceed $163,699.00 for the Dec 2025–Nov 2026 rate year. Under 38 CFR § 3.274(b), net worth means the sum of your assets AND your annual income for VA purposes — income counted after deductible expenses, including unreimbursed medical above the 5% floor under § 3.272(g). Countable assets include cash, savings, investments, and real estate other than the primary residence. The primary residence (including a residential lot area up to 2 acres) and personal effects suitable to a reasonable mode of life, such as family transportation vehicles, are excluded under 38 CFR § 3.275(b).

VA enforces a 3-year look-back for asset transfers under 38 CFR § 3.276 (effective Oct 18, 2018). If you transferred assets for less than fair market value during the 3 years before applying, those transfers may be added back to net worth, with a penalty period during which pension is not payable. The monthly penalty divisor is the MAPR for a veteran with one dependent in need of Aid & Attendance, divided by 12 (38 CFR § 3.276(e)(1)). Plan asset transfers carefully and consult a VA-accredited claims agent for any transfer near application time.

How to apply

File VA Form 21P-527EZ (Application for Pension) with the VA Pension Management Center. Required attachments:

DD-214 or other separation/discharge documents (NGB Form 22 for National Guard service)
Marriage certificate, dependent birth certificates (if applicable)
Medical evidence supporting Housebound or A&A claim (VA Form 21-2680)
Recent income statements (Social Security, pension, IRA, dividend)
Itemized URME for the past 12 months
Net worth disclosure

Processing times vary — check VA's current published average days-to-complete for pension claims on va.gov rather than relying on a rule of thumb. VA-accredited Veteran Service Organization (VSO) representatives — from the American Legion, VFW, DAV, etc. — assist for free and can help you assemble the evidence VA needs. Be wary of for-fee "pension consultants" who promise approval — only VA-accredited attorneys, claims agents, and VSO representatives are authorized to assist with claims preparation (38 U.S.C. § 5901).

VA Veterans Pension