What VA Benefits Are Available for Older Veterans?
CCK Law: Our Vital Role in Veterans Law
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) offers a variety of programs geared toward meeting the needs of veterans aged 65 and older, including financial benefits, home health care options, and community-based care.
In this article, you will learn about some of the most prominent benefits for older veterans and their families, so you can determine whether they are a good fit for you.
Key points of this article include:
- VA offers several financial benefits for older veterans who qualify, including a pension and Special Monthly Compensation (SMC) options for veterans with intense medical needs.
- For older veterans living at home, VA offers several prominent health care benefits, including services to have medical professionals visit the veteran’s home for check-ups or other assistance.
- For older veterans who can no longer live alone, VA also provides certain benefits focused on community-based living, including access to adult day health care services or access to nursing homes run by VA.
What Financial Benefits Are Available to Older Veterans?
Certain older veterans may qualify for the Non-Service-Connected VA Disability Pension, which provides monthly payments to eligible recipients.
There are also two more benefits within the Veterans Benefits Administration that can provide severely disabled veterans, including older veterans, currently collecting disability compensation or pension with an additional monetary benefit. These benefits exist within the Special Monthly Compensation (SMC) program.
VA Non-Service-Connected Disability Pension
VA offers eligible wartime veterans a Non-Service-Connected Disability Pension. This pension provides older veterans with monthly payments at rates based on the difference between the veteran’s countable income and the Maximum Annual Pension Rate (MAPR) set by Congress.
To qualify for this pension, veterans must meet certain military service requirements, plus meet one of the following criteria:
- Be 65 years old or older; or
- Have a permanent and total disability; or
- Be a patient in a nursing home for long-term care because of a disability; or
- Be receiving Social Security Disability Insurance or Supplemental Security Income
Veterans also must have limited income and net worth in order to be eligible for this pension. For 2026, the net worth limit to be eligible for this pension is $163,699, while the 2026 MAPR amount for a single veteran with no dependents is $17,441.
Veterans should note that this MAPR amount will change based on how many dependents a veteran has, and whether they qualify for benefits like Aid and Attendance or Housebound SMC.
Pension Aid and Attendance Compensation
Disabled veterans who require care from another person in order to carry out the activities of daily living may qualify for Aid and Attendance benefits either through their pension or under the Special Monthly Compensation program (which compensates at a higher level but must be based on a service-connected disability).
Alyse Phillips, supervising attorney at CCK Law, says, “Aid and attendance, or A&A, when an increased monthly pension amount, is paid to veterans who:
- Require help performing daily functions;
- Are bedridden;
- Are a patient in a nursing home; or
- Have limited vision in both eyes (i.e., vision of 5/200 even with glasses, or concentric contraction of the visual fields to 5 degrees or less).”
Looking to learn more about VA benefits for older veterans? Check out this video where CCK Law Supervising Attorney Alyse Phillips covers the essentials:
What Is Special Monthly Compensation for Older Service-Connected Veterans?
For older veterans who receive VA disability compensation (i.e., who have a service-connected disability), VA may award Special Monthly Compensation (SMC) under 38 U.S.C. § 1114 and 38 C.F.R. § 3.350. SMC is a separate and higher category of monthly compensation reserved for veterans with the most severe service-connected disabilities.
Two levels of SMC are most relevant to older veterans with intensive care needs:
- SMC (R1)—Aid & Attendance: Veterans who require assistance from another individual to carry out daily activities such as bathing, dressing, and eating may qualify. In 2026, the SMC (R1) rate for a single veteran with no dependents is $9,826.88 per month. (This is a different program from Pension Aid & Attendance.)
- SMC (R2)—Higher-Level Aid & Attendance: Veterans who need regular aid and attendance performed by a medical professional in their home, and who would otherwise require hospitalization or institutional care, may qualify. In 2026, the SMC (R2) rate for a single veteran with no dependents is $11,271.67 per month.
- SMC (S)—Housebound: Veterans receiving disability compensation who have a single permanent service-connected disability rated at 100 percent and who are permanently and substantially confined to their home may qualify for SMC at the (S) level. Veterans may also qualify if they have a single permanent disability rated at 100 percent and additional service-connected disabilities independently ratable at 60 percent or more. In 2026, the SMC (S) rate for a single veteran with no dependents is $4,408.53 per month.
What Home Health Care Benefits Are Available for Older Veterans?
Through its Geriatrics and Extended Care Program, VA offers several health care benefits for elderly veterans who need medical services performed in their home. These include Skilled Home Health Care, Home-Based Primary Care, telehealth appointments, and more.
Skilled Home Health Care
Skilled Home Health Care provides short-term health care services to veterans who are housebound or live far from a VA medical center. VA enters into agreements with community-based home health agencies to provide these services.
Skilled Home Health Care is part of the Veterans Health Administration’s Standard Medical Benefits package and is available to all enrolled veterans who meet the clinical need.
Services offered include:
- Nursing care, such as for wounds or a catheter
- Physical, occupational, or speech therapy
- Health education, such as medication management
- A home safety evaluation
- Social work services
Homemaker and Home Health Aide Care
A Home Health Aide or Homemaker is a trained individual who travels to a veteran’s home to assist them with daily activities and self-care. These professionals are not nurses and therefore do not provide the level of medical care that a Skilled Home Health Care professional can.
This program can be used as an alternative to nursing home care and may offer respite care for veterans and their caregivers. These professionals can assist veterans in:
- Eating
- Bathing
- Getting dressed
- Using the restroom
- Cooking
- Food shopping
- Doing laundry
- Taking medication
- And more
This program is also part of VHA’s Standard Medical Benefits package, meaning all enrolled veterans who meet the program’s clinical criteria are eligible.
Home-Based Primary Care
The Home-Based Primary Care Program allows veterans to be seen by a medical professional, such as a physician, nurse practitioner, or nurse, in their own home.
This program is intended for veterans who have complex health care needs, and for whom “routine clinic-based care is not effective.” Through this program, veterans are able to:
- Receive primary care visits from a physician, nurse practitioner, or physician’s assistant at home
- Have their care managed by a nurse practitioner, physician’s assistant, or nurse at home
- Have their services coordinated by a social worker
- Receive occupational, physical, or speech therapy
- Obtain mental health services
- Get nutrition counseling from a dietitian
- Get help managing medications
VHA’s Standard Medical Benefits package allows all enrolled veterans who meet clinical criteria to access Home-Based Primary Care services.
Telehealth
Using the Home Telehealth service, a veteran’s medical condition can be monitored by their physician or nurse remotely using home monitoring equipment.
All veterans enrolled in VA health care who meet the clinical need for telehealth services are eligible for the program. Using telehealth, medical professionals can track a veteran’s:
- Pulse
- Blood pressure
- Blood sugar level
- Weight
- Blood oxygen level
- Heart and lung sounds
What Community-Based Services Are Available to Older Veterans?
VA’s Geriatrics and Extended Care Program also offers long-term care benefits and programs for older veterans seeking community-based medical or support services, including access to Adult Day Health Care, Medical Foster Homes, hospice care, and more.
Adult Day Health Care
The Adult Day Health Care program gives older veterans a place to go during the day for social and recreational activities, to receive peer support and companionship while also assisting with activities of daily living.
This program can especially benefit veterans who are isolated or whose caregivers are “experiencing burden,” offering respite care for family caregivers. Health services from nurses, social workers, or therapists may be available to veterans in this program as well.
Veterans can attend full or half-day sessions for up to five days per week based on availability. This program is part of the Veterans Health Administration’s Standard Medical Benefits package and is available to enrolled veterans at no cost if they meet clinical criteria.
Hospice Care
Veterans suffering from a terminal condition and no longer seeking treatment other than palliative care may be eligible for hospice care services from VA. Hospice care seeks to relieve suffering and help control symptoms near the end of a person’s life. Bereavement support is also available to the families of veterans.
Usually, VA’s hospice program is reserved for veterans with less than six months to live and can be offered at home, in an outpatient clinic, or in an inpatient setting. All veterans enrolled in VA health care are eligible for hospice care if they meet the clinical need.
Community Living Centers
Community Living Centers, previously referred to as VA Nursing Homes, provide veterans with a nursing home level of care while trying to resemble “home” as much as possible.
Veterans living in these facilities can decorate their rooms, bring pets with them, visit family and friends, and partake in group activities. Veterans who meet the clinical need of this program and are enrolled in VA health care may be eligible.
VA Community Living Centers assist veterans with activities of daily living, such as bathing and dressing, and also provide:
- 24-hour skilled nursing care
- Restorative care
- Social work services
- Geriatric evaluation and management
Other care that may be offered by these centers includes:
- Mental health recovery
- Specialty dementia care
- Respite care
- Palliative care and hospice care
Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) Residential Rehabilitation
For certain veterans suffering from traumatic brain injury (TBI), VA may pay for these veterans to attend residential rehabilitation facilities where their condition can be treated.
To qualify for TBI Residential Rehabilitation, veterans must need neurobehavioral treatment in a protective environment, with care needs that go beyond those found in a nursing home or through outpatient care. They must also be enrolled in VA health care and qualify for VA’s Community Care Program.
Services provided in these facilities include:
- Physical, occupational, and speech therapy
- Behavior management therapy
- Nursing services
- Health aide services
- And more
Eligible veterans should note that, while VA may pay for the bulk of their treatment at these facilities, it is restricted from paying the full cost. This means veterans will have to pay for daily room and board, which can cost around $30 or $40 a day.
Additionally, TBI-RR facilities are not spread uniformly across the country, so veterans may have to relocate to receive these services.
Adult Family Homes
Veterans can rent a room in a private residence using the Adult Family Homes program. Usually, these homes house six or fewer residents who may need assistance carrying out activities of daily living or nursing care.
VA does not cover the costs of Adult Family Homes, as they are private residences. The following services are included as part of the veteran’s rent:
- Help with activities of daily living such as bathing and getting dressed
- Medication adherence assistance
- Nursing assistance
- Meal preparation
- Planned social and recreational activities
If the veteran requires additional medical care, VA may cover the cost of nurse visits.
Medical Foster Homes
A Medical Foster Home is a private residence in which a trained caregiver provides services to a small number of residents. Medical Foster Homes are for veterans who require nursing home care but would prefer a non-institutional setting.
These homes have a caregiver on duty at all times to provide veterans with:
- Assistance performing activities of daily living, such as bathing and getting dressed
- Help taking medication
- Nursing assistance if the caregiver is a registered nurse
- Prepared meals
- Planned social and recreational activities
Medical Foster Homes are not provided by or paid for by the Department of Veterans Affairs, as they are private residences. Veterans are responsible for expenses associated with Medical Foster Home care, which can range from about $1,500 to $3,000 per month depending on income or the level of care needed.
Generally, veterans and their Medical Foster Home caregiver agree on a cost ahead of moving in. Veterans will receive home-based primary care while living in a Medical Foster Home.
Community Residential Care
Veterans who are unable to live alone due to medical or psychiatric conditions and do not have family available to provide the necessary care may qualify for the Community Residential Care program.
VA does not cover the expenses of Community Residential Care; veterans pay rent using their disability compensation, pension, retirement, or Social Security. There are approximately 1,300 VA-inspected Community Residential Care facilities across the country. These facilities include:
- Assisted Living Facilities
- Personal Care Homes
- Family Care Homes
- Group Living Homes
- Psychiatric Community Residential Care Homes
Veterans can receive assistance performing the activities of daily living such as preparing meals, getting dressed, and bathing while living in a Community Residential Care facility. Psychiatric care, primary care, medication supervision, and self-care supervision may also be available.
Assisted Living Facilities
When a veteran’s needs can no longer be met by home- and community-based services, Assisted Living Facilities can provide the care they need while living in a rented room or apartment.
Trained caregivers on location can provide veterans with 24/7 support, assist them with activities of daily living, arrange for additional health care when needed, assist in meal preparation, aid in medication adherence, and plan social and recreational events.
VA does not cover rent for veterans living in Assisted Living Facilities. However, they may pay for some of the extra medical services a veteran could require at one of these facilities.
State Veterans Homes
Nursing home, domiciliary, and adult day care services are offered at State Veterans Homes. These homes are managed by state governments, who determine eligibility requirements. The eligibility requirements and cost to the veteran can vary per state. State Veterans Nursing Homes are located in all 50 states and Puerto Rico.
Frequently Asked Questions
What benefits are available for older veterans?
VA offers several benefits to older veterans without service-connected conditions. These may include:
- VA pension
- Special Monthly Compensation (for veterans who are housebound or who require regular aid and attendance)
- Access to home-based health care
- Access to community-based health care and support services
Veterans should note that their eligibility for these benefits may vary based on factors like whether they are enrolled in VA health care.
What benefits are available to older veterans with service-connected disabilities?
Older veterans who have service-connected disabilities may qualify for a number of other benefits, including:
- Monthly disability compensation
- VA health care
- Education and training programs
- Home loans
- Insurance benefits
- Burial benefits
- And more
Will VA pay for nursing home care?
Yes, VA may cover nursing home care in certain circumstances, particularly for eligible veterans with high service-connected ratings or clinical need, but coverage varies significantly.
The general eligibility requirements for these services include:
- Being enrolled in VA health care;
- VA determining that the veteran needs specific medical services for their treatment; and
- The service is available near the veteran and has room to accommodate them.
How much of a nursing home’s cost VA pays for will vary depending on the facility, however. For instance, VA may pay for a veteran to attend a VA Community Living Center, but not a privately-run Medical Foster Home.
Veterans should research the specific services they are interested in to determine whether VA will pay for them.
