VA benefits for nursing home care: what veterans actually get
The Department of Veterans Affairs offers four distinct paths to nursing home care for eligible veterans and their surviving spouses. Most families learn about only one of them. Here are all four, with realistic numbers and timelines for each.
1. Aid & Attendance pension enhancement
An enhancement to the VA basic pension for wartime veterans (and surviving spouses) who need help with daily activities or are housebound. 2025 maximum monthly benefit: $2,358 for a single veteran, $2,795 for a veteran with one dependent, $1,515 for a surviving spouse. Funds can be used for any type of long-term care including assisted living and nursing home costs. Apply through an accredited Veterans Service Organisation (VSO) — they don't charge fees.
Aid & Attendance — eligibility
Service of at least 90 active-duty days with at least one during a wartime period (WWII, Korea, Vietnam, Gulf War). Discharge other than dishonourable. Age 65+ or permanently disabled. Net worth (assets plus annual income, excluding the home and one vehicle) under $159,240 (2025). Medical need for daily assistance, blindness, or residence in a nursing home.
2. VA Community Living Centers (CLCs)
VA-owned and -operated nursing homes, formerly known as VA Nursing Home Care Units. The VA runs about 134 CLCs nationwide. Service-connected disabled veterans rated 70%+ get long-term CLC care free of charge. Others pay a co-pay scaled to income. CLCs offer short-term rehab, long-term skilled nursing, hospice and dementia care. Waitlists exist in many regions.
3. State Veterans Homes
State-operated nursing homes for veterans, partially funded by the VA. There are about 160 across the country. The VA pays a per-diem to the state (around $129/day for nursing care in 2025), which keeps resident fees lower than private nursing homes. Eligibility varies by state — most require veteran status, state residency, and clinical need for nursing home care. Spouses and Gold Star parents may also qualify in many states.
4. Community Nursing Home (CNH) program
The VA contracts with private nursing homes nationwide to care for eligible veterans. The VA fully covers long-term nursing home care for veterans with a 70%+ service-connected disability rating, or those whose nursing home need is itself service-connected. Other veterans may qualify for short-term post-acute care. Ask your local VA Medical Center's social work department for the CNH list in your area.
Combining VA benefits with Medicaid and Medicare
Aid & Attendance does not affect Medicaid eligibility, but it does count as income for Medicaid spend-down once you're in a nursing home. Medicare still pays for short-term skilled rehab regardless of VA status. Many veterans use Medicare for the first 100 days, then transition to a VA program or Medicaid for long-term care.
Frequently asked questions
Authoritative sources
The figures and rules in this guide are drawn from the following official and independent sources. Open any link to verify the latest published numbers.
- VA Geriatrics and Extended Care
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
- Aid & Attendance and Housebound pension
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
- State Veterans Homes program
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
- Find an accredited VSO
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Related guides
About this guide
Written and reviewed by the Nursing Home Match editorial team. We update guides at least annually and verify every figure against the official sources listed above. This guide is general information, not personal, medical, financial or legal advice. Always confirm details on Medicare.gov Care Compare (United States) or My Aged Care (Australia), or speak to a qualified adviser before making decisions.