Aid & Attendance and Housebound Benefits
Required Forms
Aid & Attendance eligibility
- Requires the regular aid of another person with at least two activities of daily living (bathing, dressing, eating, toileting, transferring, or medication management).
- OR: bedridden — confined to bed because of disability.
- OR: residing in a nursing home due to mental or physical incapacity.
- OR: blindness defined as 5/200 visual acuity or less in both eyes, or concentric contraction of the visual field to 5° or less.
Housebound eligibility
- A single permanent disability rated at 100% plus an additional disability rated at 60% or higher, OR
- Substantially confined to the home or immediate premises due to permanent disability.
How to apply
Pension claimants apply on VA Form 21P-527EZ and submit completed by their physician. Service-connected veterans seeking -based A&A submit a for increased compensation with VA Form 21-2680 as supporting medical evidence.
Frequently Asked Questions
Useful Tools & Topics
Have questions about your specific case?
Every veteran's facts are different. A free initial consultation with a VA-Accredited Claims Agent can tell you whether your matter is a fit for representation — and what the right next step looks like either way.
Disclaimer: This page is for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Oakridge Claims is a private business and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or operated by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. No guarantees of outcomes are made. Each claim is decided on its individual facts.
Related guides
Chapter 35 (DEA) Survivors Education
Education benefits for spouses and children of permanently and totally disabled or deceased veterans.
SMC-S — Housebound
SMC for veterans with a single 100% disability plus additional 60%, or those substantially confined to their home.
SMC-R — Higher Aid & Attendance (R-1 and R-2)
The highest SMC tiers for veterans who already qualify at the severe-combination levels and also need daily personal care — R-2 when that care must be skilled.
VA Benefits for Spouses of Disabled Veterans
Spouse benefits at a glance — dependency added to compensation, CHAMPVA, Chapter 35 DEA, caregiver stipend under PCAFC, DIC, and survivor pension. Eligibility rules and how to apply.