A Guide to Veterans’ Benefits

No benefit can truly match the sacrifices veterans have made in service to their country, but veterans' programs can help ensure they have the support and security they deserve in retirement. Some programs, like Aid and Attendance, help veterans get necessary care in their homes, while veterans' health insurance covers ongoing and emergency medical needs. The government is even testing a program that could offer assisted living benefits in the future.

There are nearly 16 million U.S. veterans living in the country in 2025, and over one-quarter of that population consists of veterans aged 75 and older. Many veterans are reaching a stage of life when they may need more support with daily activities, medical appointments, and long-term care. Veterans' benefits make many of these necessities possible for senior veterans through financial and healthcare-related assistance. Discover veterans' benefits programs from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) that make care more affordable.

• Aid and Attendance
• Housebound Benefits
• Assisted Living
• ​​CHAMPVA Benefits
• Veteran’s Health Insurance

The VA Aid and Attendance benefit provides qualified veterans with additional funds to supplement their pensions. It's designed to help cover the cost of everyday care and assistance, including home health care or assisted living. Veterans who need someone else to care for them or are in a nursing home may be eligible for this benefit.

Housebound benefits are similar to Aid and Attendance benefits in that they add money to a veteran's monthly pension. However, this program is strictly for veterans who are permanently disabled and, therefore, unable to leave their home most of the time. The maximum annual benefit for a pension with an Aid and Attendance or Housebound allowance in 2025 is $28,300. Veterans can't get Aid and Attendance benefits and Household benefits at the same time.

Veterans' benefits don't cover room and board at an assisted living facility. Still, there are benefits and programs to help veterans afford assisted living costs when independent living no longer serves them, such as long-term care, Aid and Attendance, and Housebound benefits. VA health care, Medicare, and Medicaid can cover certain medical services, diagnostics, prescriptions, and other health-related services while a veteran lives in an assisted living community. Veterans with disabilities may also be able to use VA disability compensation toward their assisted living costs. 

Of note, the VA may offer coverage for assisted living in the future with the passing of the  Elizabeth Dole 21st Century Veterans Healthcare and Benefits Improvement Act of 2025. The law includes a pilot program to determine the feasibility of assisted living benefits. The program will run through September 2028, although it could extend another two years to gather more data and feedback from participants. 

Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs, or CHAMPVA, is a benefit for spouses, dependents, and survivors of veterans with a service-connected disability. The program covers numerous medical and mental health services, such as:

• Physician's office visits
• Medical equipment
• Prescriptions
• Family planning
• Skilled nursing care 

CHAMPVA also covers some vision care and offers discounted dental insurance options. 

VA health benefits are solely for qualifying veterans. These benefits cover most medical care and services, including office visits for an illness or injury, preventative health care, immunizations, surgeries, and emergency care. In most cases, veterans access care at a VA location, such as a VA medical center or community-based outpatient clinic. However, the VA may approve some services through community providers. 

The Geriatrics and Extended Care program is an extension of VA health benefits for senior veterans with complex care needs. The program can assist veterans with the costs of long-term care, like a nursing home or group living facility. It also covers geriatric health and fitness services, home health care, and palliative and hospice care. 

Generally, veterans must not have a dishonorable discharge to qualify for VA benefits of any kind. However, each program has its own requirements:

• Aid and Attendance: Veterans must have a VA pension and need another person to help perform daily activities, be in a nursing home, have limited vision, or need to stay in bed due to illness.
• Housebound: Veterans need a VA pension and a permanent disability that causes them to remain at home most of the time. 
• Assisted Living: The VA allows veterans enrolled in VA health care and requiring a specific type of facility for their care to get these benefits if they have a relevant care setting local to them.
• CHAMPVA: CHAMPVA recipients are the spouse or dependent of a veteran with a service-connected disability, or a surviving spouse or dependent of a veteran who was permanently or totally disabled or died from their service-connected disability. However, if the spouse or dependent qualifies for TRICARE, they cannot receive care through CHAMPVA.
• VA Health Insurance: Generally, veterans of the armed forces who served for at least 24 continuous months in active duty and didn't have a dishonorable discharge qualify for VA health care. The VA makes exceptions for some cases, such as veterans who have been discharged before their 24-month commitment due to a service-connected disability.

The VA assigns eligible veterans to priority groups, numbered 1 to 8, based on factors such as disability rating and income. A priority group determines how much a veteran pays for services. Some statuses that could affect a veteran's priority group include:

• Service Honors: Veterans with a Medal of Honor automatically place in priority group 1, the highest priority level.
• Service-Connected Disabilities: Those with service-connected disabilities also have the highest priority. 
• Disability and Housebound Status: A veteran's disability rating can influence which priority group they fall into. Veterans who get Aid and Attendance or Housebound benefits are placed into group 4. 
• Medicaid and VA Pension Status: Veterans who are eligible for a VA pension or Medicaid may be placed in a lower priority group due to the financial or healthcare assistance they'll get from those programs.

If you believe that you qualify for veterans’ benefits for health care and long-term care needs, you need to gather some documents to start the application process. The VA recommends gathering:

• Social Security numbers for anyone who will be covered, including the veteran and dependents
• Military discharge papers
• Insurance information for any coverage you have
• Gross household income from your previous year’s tax return
• Deductible expenses for the previous year’s tax return

There are several different ways you can apply, described below:

• Apply Over the Phone: Once you’ve gathered the necessary information, you can apply over the phone. Call (877) 222-8387 on a weekday between 8:00 am and 8:00 pm Eastern time to do so.
• Apply Via Mail: If you prefer to apply through the mail, which may be necessary if you have someone acting as a power of attorney, use VA Form 10-10EZ. Fill out the form and sign it appropriately, then mail it to Health Eligibility Center, PO Box 5207, Janesville, WI 53547-5207.
• Apply In Person: In-person applications require the same form. Instead of mailing it, visit a VA medical center or clinic to drop off the signed form.
• Get Professional Help to Apply: There are accredited representatives who can help veterans apply for their health care benefits. These trained professionals work on behalf of veterans and their families, and they are completely free to use. Use the VA search tool to find one in your area. 

If you think your loved one is ready for an assisted living facility, memory care, or another type of care facility that their VA benefits may cover, reach out to one of our Family Advisors at (800) 558-0653. They can assist you with free advice and recommendations, and can help you find a nearby facility. Have your loved one's VA information handy when you call.

Or, contact the VA if your loved one isn't quite ready for senior care but needs help exploring their VA benefits.

• About our VA community care network and covered services. (2023). U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
• About VA health benefits. (2025). U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
• Current pension rates for Veterans. (2024). U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs 
• Eligibility for VA health care. (2025). U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
• Geriatrics and extended care. (2025). U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
• Getting care through CHAMPVA. (2025). U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
• H.R.8371 - Senator Elizabeth Dole 21st Century Veterans Healthcare and Benefits Improvement Act. (2024). Congress.gov
• Nursing homes, assisted living, and home health care. (2025). U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
• VA Aid and Attendance benefits and Housebound allowance. (2024). U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
• VA disability compensation. (2025). U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
• VA makes it easier for Veterans to use community care. (2025). U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
• Where you’ll go for care. (2025). U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs