VA Aid and Attendance for Assisted Living in San Diego (2026 Rates)

If your parent served in the military, or your mother was married to a veteran, there may be help paying for care that your family has never heard of. VA Aid and Attendance for assisted living is a monthly, tax-free VA pension benefit that can help pay for assisted living, board and care homes, memory care and care at home. Many San Diego families leave it unclaimed simply because no one told them it existed.

There are very few veterans-only assisted living options in California, but you do not need one. Aid and Attendance can be used at almost any licensed assisted living community or board and care home in San Diego County. This guide covers the current maximum rates (adjusted December 1, 2025), who qualifies, how the VA counts income and assets, how to use the benefit in a small board and care home, the Veterans Home of California in Chula Vista, and how to apply.

What Is VA Aid and Attendance?

Aid and Attendance is not a separate program. It is an added amount paid on top of the VA’s needs-based pension: the Veterans Pension for wartime veterans and the Survivors Pension for surviving spouses. You may also hear it called the “Improved Pension” or “A&A.”

A veteran or surviving spouse qualifies for the higher Aid and Attendance rate when they need help from another person with everyday activities, such as bathing, dressing, eating or toileting, are bedridden, live in a nursing home because of disability, or have very limited eyesight. A lower “Housebound” rate exists for people who are substantially confined to their home.

Two things make this benefit especially useful for families:

• The need for care does not have to be service-connected. A veteran who never had a combat injury can qualify because of dementia, Parkinson’s, a stroke or simply frailty with age.
• It is paid to the veteran or spouse, not a facility. That means it can be used toward assisted living, a board and care home, memory care or a home care agency.

2026 VA Aid and Attendance Rates for Assisted Living

The VA sets a Maximum Annual Pension Rate (MAPR) each year. The current rates took effect December 1, 2025, according to VA.gov. Here are the Aid and Attendance maximums, with approximate monthly amounts:

• Single veteran, no dependents: $29,093 per year (about $2,424 a month)
• Veteran with a spouse or one dependent: $34,488 per year (about $2,874 a month)
• Two veterans married to each other, both needing Aid and Attendance: $46,143 per year (about $3,845 a month)
• Surviving spouse, no dependents: $18,697 per year (about $1,558 a month)

These are maximums, not what everyone receives. The VA subtracts the person’s countable income, after allowable medical expenses, from the MAPR and pays the difference. For seniors living in assisted living or a board and care home, the cost of care often counts as a medical expense, which is why many residents receive the full or nearly full amount. The VA usually adjusts these rates each December with the Social Security cost-of-living increase.

Who Qualifies for VA Aid and Attendance?

Eligibility has three parts: military service, need for care, and finances.

Military service. In general, the veteran must have:

• A discharge other than dishonorable
• At least 90 days of active duty, with at least one day during a wartime period, if they entered service before September 8, 1980 (later service has longer minimums, generally 24 months or the full period called to active duty)

The veteran did not need to serve in combat or overseas. VA wartime periods include World War II, the Korean conflict, the Vietnam era and the Gulf War period, which began August 2, 1990 and has no end date yet.

Age or disability. The veteran must be 65 or older, or permanently and totally disabled, or living in a nursing home for long-term care, or receiving Social Security disability. Surviving spouses do not have an age requirement, but must have been married to the veteran at the time of death and not have remarried.

Need for care. A doctor documents the need for help with daily activities or a protective environment, usually on VA Form 21-2680.

Finances. The VA uses a single “net worth” test that combines assets and annual income. For the period from December 1, 2025 to November 30, 2026, the net worth limit is $163,699, according to VA.gov.

How the VA Counts Income, Assets and Care Costs

This is the part families find confusing, so here it is in plain terms.

Assets. The VA counts savings, investments and property other than the home. The primary residence (on a lot of up to two acres) and a vehicle are not counted. If a veteran moves into a senior care home, the home they left generally stays excluded, though proceeds from selling it would count.

Income. The VA counts Social Security, pensions, annuity payments and other income for the veteran and spouse.

Medical expenses reduce income. Unreimbursed medical expenses, including Medicare and supplemental premiums and, in many cases, the monthly cost of assisted living or board and care, are subtracted from income. Because senior care in San Diego is expensive, this deduction often brings countable income down to zero or close to it.

The look-back. The VA reviews asset transfers made in the 36 months before the application. Giving away assets to get under the net worth limit can cause a penalty period of up to five years. Talk with a VA-accredited attorney before moving money.

Using Aid and Attendance in a Board and Care Home in San Diego

Many families assume Aid and Attendance only works in large assisted living communities. It works just as well in board and care homes in San Diego, which are small, licensed residential care facilities for the elderly (RCFEs) that usually care for 6 residents in a regular house.

Here is how it typically fits together:

• The cost of care. In 2026, board and care homes in San Diego usually cost about $5,500 to $9,500 a month. Assisted living ranges from about $5,500 to $12,500, and memory care from about $7,500 to $14,000.
• The VA benefit fills part of the gap. A single veteran receiving close to the maximum Aid and Attendance rate gets about $2,424 a month. Combined with Social Security and a pension, that can make a shared room in a quality home affordable.
• The home’s monthly agreement matters. The VA needs to see what the veteran pays for care. Ask the home for a signed statement of the monthly rate and the care services provided.
• Dementia care counts. For a veteran or surviving spouse with dementia who needs supervision, the cost of a dementia-focused board and care home is generally treated as a medical expense.

Small homes also tend to suit many veterans well: fewer people, consistent caregivers, home-cooked meals and a calm routine. For a deeper look, see our guide to board and care homes in San Diego and our page on memory care in San Diego.

Plan for the wait. VA pension claims can take several months. Benefits are usually paid back to the date the VA received the claim or an “Intent to File,” so filing early protects your parent’s start date. Most families pay privately for the first months and receive a lump sum once the claim is approved.

The Veterans Home of California, Chula Vista

San Diego County’s state veterans home is the Veterans Home of California, Chula Vista, operated by the California Department of Veterans Affairs (CalVet), at 700 East Naples Court in Chula Vista. It is one of eight CalVet veterans homes in the state. State records list a licensed skilled nursing facility on the campus, and it has also been licensed as a residential care facility for the elderly (assisted living). Levels of care, memory care availability and openings change, so contact the home or CalVet directly to confirm what is currently offered.

Who can apply. According to CalVet’s published eligibility, applicants generally must be California residents, age 55 or older (or have a significant disability), and have served on active duty with a discharge that was honorable or under honorable conditions. Spouses may be eligible in some cases. Residents pay a monthly fee based on income.

Things to know. State veterans homes often have wait lists, especially for skilled nursing. Many families apply to the Chula Vista home and, at the same time, use Aid and Attendance in a private board and care home or assisted living community while they wait or instead. Remember, Aid and Attendance can help pay at any licensed senior care home, not only a veterans home.

How to Apply for VA Aid and Attendance

Step 1: Gather documents.

• The veteran’s DD-214 or other discharge papers (request copies from the National Archives if missing)
• Marriage certificate, and the veteran’s death certificate for a surviving spouse
• Social Security and pension award letters
• Recent bank and investment statements
• Proof of medical expenses, including the care home’s monthly agreement

Step 2: File an Intent to File. Submitting VA Form 21-0966 (or calling the VA) locks in a potential start date while you gather paperwork. You then have one year to submit the full claim.

Step 3: Complete the right forms.

• VA Form 21P-527EZ, Application for Veterans Pension
• VA Form 21P-534EZ, for surviving spouses
• VA Form 21-2680, the physician’s exam for Aid and Attendance or Housebound
• VA Form 21-0779, if the veteran is in a nursing home
• VA Form 21P-8416, to report medical expenses

Step 4: Get free help. The San Diego County Veterans Services Office and accredited veterans service organizations help with pension claims at no charge. You can also apply online at VA.gov or call the VA at 1-800-827-1000.

A warning about fees. Only VA-accredited attorneys, claims agents and service officers may help with VA claims, and federal rules generally prohibit charging a fee to prepare an initial pension application. Be cautious of anyone who charges upfront or pressures your family to buy annuities or move assets into a trust to qualify. You can look up a representative’s accreditation on the VA’s website.

Other Ways to Pay When the VA Benefit Is Not Enough

Aid and Attendance rarely covers the full cost of care, so most families combine it with other sources:

• Social Security, pensions and savings
• Proceeds from selling or renting the family home
• Long-term care insurance, which usually covers licensed RCFEs
• Medi-Cal, which pays for long-term nursing home care and, through the Assisted Living Waiver, the care portion in some participating homes; see our 2026 Medi-Cal eligibility guide
• VA health care programs, which may provide home health, respite or adult day health care for enrolled veterans

For a full picture of 2026 costs, see our San Diego assisted living cost guide and our comparison of board and care vs. assisted living.

How Elder Answers Helps Veteran Families

We help veterans and surviving spouses across San Diego County find assisted living, board and care and memory care that fits their needs and their budget, including homes that are experienced with families waiting on an Aid and Attendance claim. Elder Answers has helped San Diego families for well over a decade.

Our service is free for families. We are paid by the care home after a resident moves in, and the rate your family pays does not change. Our advisors personally visit the homes we recommend, and we share your information only with the homes you choose. When a move is urgent, it can often happen within a few days. Contact Elder Answers to talk with a local advisor, or browse assisted living in San Diego and board and care homes in Chula Vista.

Frequently Asked Questions About VA Aid and Attendance for Assisted Living

How much does VA Aid and Attendance pay in 2026?

For rates effective December 1, 2025, the maximum is about $2,424 a month for a single veteran, about $2,874 for a veteran with a spouse, about $3,845 when two married veterans both qualify, and about $1,558 for a surviving spouse. Actual payments depend on countable income after medical expenses.

Can Aid and Attendance pay for a board and care home?

Yes. The benefit is paid to the veteran or surviving spouse and can be used at any licensed assisted living or board and care home in San Diego County. The monthly cost of care is often counted as a medical expense, which can increase the benefit.

Does the veteran need a service-connected disability?

No. Aid and Attendance is part of the needs-based VA pension. The need for care can come from age, dementia, stroke or any other condition. The veteran must have qualifying wartime service and a discharge other than dishonorable.

What is the VA net worth limit?

From December 1, 2025 to November 30, 2026, the net worth limit is $163,699. It combines countable assets and annual income. The home and a vehicle are not counted, and medical expenses reduce countable income.

Can a surviving spouse get Aid and Attendance?

Yes. A surviving spouse of a wartime veteran may qualify through the Survivors Pension if they were married at the time of the veteran’s death, have not remarried, need help with daily activities and meet the financial test.

How long does it take to get approved?

VA pension claims often take several months. Filing an Intent to File protects the start date, and benefits are usually paid back to that date once approved. Most families pay privately in the meantime.

Is there a veterans home in San Diego County?

Yes. The Veterans Home of California, Chula Vista is run by CalVet at 700 East Naples Court. Its campus includes skilled nursing and has been licensed for residential care. Contact CalVet for current levels of care and wait times.

Should I pay someone to file the claim?

You do not need to. The San Diego County Veterans Services Office and accredited service organizations help for free, and federal rules generally bar charging a fee to prepare an initial pension claim. Use only VA-accredited representatives.

Can a married couple both receive Aid and Attendance?

If both spouses are veterans and both need care, they may qualify for the two-veteran rate. If only one is a veteran, the veteran’s benefit is calculated at the rate for a veteran with a spouse. Couples can often live together in a board and care home.