Many veterans and surviving spouses qualify for help paying for in-home care through the VA - either through VA-arranged services like the Community Care Network, or through a monthly cash benefit like Aid & Attendance. This guide walks through eligibility, the application process, and how the programs differ.
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Who qualifies · Program comparison · How to apply · Documents you'll need · What happens after you apply · Common questions
What is the VA Community Care Network?
The Community Care Network (CCN) is the VA's nationwide network of non-VA providers. When a veteran is enrolled in VA health care but the VA can't provide a needed service in a way that meets its access standards - too far to drive, too long a wait, or a service the local VA facility doesn't offer - the veteran can get that care from an approved community provider, with the VA paying the bill. Home care delivered this way is arranged through your VA primary care team, not applied for directly.
Sources: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of Community Care; VA.gov, Eligibility for community care outside VA.
Who qualifies
Eligibility depends on which program you're pursuing - VA-arranged home care generally requires VA health care enrollment and a clinical need identified by your VA provider; Aid & Attendance is a separate pension benefit with its own service, medical, and financial requirements.
For VA home care / CCN
Enrolled in VA health care, with a clinical need for home-based services identified by your VA primary care team - drive time, wait time, or service availability determine whether community care applies.
For Aid & Attendance
Wartime-era service (or a qualifying surviving spouse who hasn't remarried), help needed with at least two activities of daily living, and net worth under the VA's annual limit.
Net worth limit
As of 2026, roughly $163,700 (assets plus annual income combined) - your primary home, one vehicle, and personal belongings don't count. Confirm the current figure at va.gov, as it adjusts annually.
Look-back period
The VA reviews asset transfers made in the 3 years before you apply. Transfers below fair market value in that window can trigger a penalty period.
Countable income for Aid & Attendance is calculated after subtracting unreimbursed medical and care expenses - many families who assume they're over the limit qualify once current care costs are factored in.
Comparing the home care benefits
These programs can often be combined - for example, Aid & Attendance income can help pay a family's share of care while Homemaker/Home Health Aide services are arranged separately through the VA.
Community Care Network (CCN)
The VA’s nationwide network of approved community providers. Used when VA facilities can’t provide timely, geographically reasonable, or quality-standard care - including some home-based services.
Who arranges it: Your VA primary care team, through a referral and prior authorization.
Cost to the veteran: No cost for service-connected care; possible copay for non-service-connected care depending on income.
Homemaker & Home Health Aide (H/HHA)
A trained aide comes to the veteran’s home to help with bathing, dressing, meal prep, and other daily activities.
Who arranges it: VA primary care team referral, based on documented clinical need.
Cost to the veteran: Typically no out-of-pocket cost for eligible veterans.
Veteran-Directed Care
Gives the veteran a monthly budget to hire and direct their own caregiver - including, in many cases, a family member - rather than have an agency assign one.
Who arranges it: VA case manager, in coordination with a local Aging and Disability Resource Center.
Cost to the veteran: Covered within the approved budget; no direct cost to the veteran for authorized hours.
Aid & Attendance (pension add-on)
A monthly, tax-free cash payment on top of a VA pension for veterans or surviving spouses who need help with daily activities. The money is the veteran’s to use as they choose, including toward in-home care.
Who arranges it: Filed directly by the veteran or survivor (or with help from a VSO); not tied to a specific provider.
Cost to the veteran: No cost to apply; benefit amount depends on income, dependents, and marital status.
How to apply, step by step
For VA-arranged home care (Community Care Network, Homemaker/HHA, respite, Veteran-Directed Care):
- Enroll in VA health care using Form 10-10EZ, online at va.gov, by phone, or in person, if not already enrolled.
- Schedule a visit with your VA primary care team and tell them directly: "I need help with daily activities at home."
- Your provider documents the clinical need and submits a referral for Homemaker/Home Health Aide, respite, skilled care, or Veteran-Directed Care - or approves Community Care if the VA can't meet its own access standards for the service.
- Choose an approved home care agency from the VA's network once the referral and authorization are in place.
For Aid & Attendance (the monthly cash pension benefit):
- File VA Form 21P-527EZ (veterans) or Form 21P-534EZ (surviving spouses) to establish the underlying VA pension.
- Have your physician complete VA Form 21-2680 (Examination for Housebound Status or Permanent Need for Aid and Attendance) documenting the medical need.
- Gather financial documentation (see checklist below) showing income, assets, and unreimbursed medical/care expenses.
- Submit online at va.gov, or mail the completed package to the VA Pension Intake Center, PO Box 5365, Janesville, WI 53547-5365.
Documents to have ready
✓ DD-214 (discharge papers)
✓ VA Form 21P-527EZ or 21P-534EZ (pension application)
✓ VA Form 21-2680, completed by a physician (for Aid & Attendance)
✓ Marriage certificate (surviving spouse claims)
✓ Death certificate (surviving spouse claims)
✓ Bank and investment account statements
✓ Proof of income (Social Security, retirement, etc.)
✓ Receipts or invoices for unreimbursed medical/care expenses
What happens after you apply
VA health care enrollment and referrals for Homemaker/HHA or Community Care are usually the faster path - care can often start within days of an approved referral. Aid & Attendance claims take longer: submitting all required forms and evidence together ("fully developed claims") has averaged roughly 90 days to process, versus longer for claims filed piecemeal. You'll receive a written decision letter, and if denied, you have the right to appeal through a Supplemental Claim, Higher-Level Review, or Board Appeal.
Common questions
Do I need a service-connected disability to qualify for Aid & Attendance?
No. Aid & Attendance is a needs-based pension benefit tied to wartime service and a functional need for help, not a service-connected injury.
Can I get VA home care and Aid & Attendance at the same time?
Yes. They’re separate programs and are commonly combined - VA-arranged services address hands-on care, while Aid & Attendance provides cash that can help with the family’s share of costs.
Can a family member be paid as my caregiver?
Under Veteran-Directed Care, yes in many cases. Aid & Attendance is simply cash paid to the veteran or spouse, so it can be used to help compensate a caregiver you’ve arranged privately.
What if my income looks too high to qualify?
The VA subtracts unreimbursed medical and care expenses from your income before comparing it to the limit - many families who assume they’re over the threshold qualify once current care costs are counted.
How long does Aid & Attendance take to process?
Fully developed claims (submitted with all evidence at once) have averaged roughly 90 days; incomplete or piecemeal claims typically take longer.
Is help with the application free?
Yes - accredited Veterans Service Officers provide free, independent help preparing and filing claims. You never need to pay a private company to apply.
Good to know
Filing help from an accredited Veterans Service Officer is always free and independent of any care provider - use the VA's accredited representative search to find one near you. If you're later approved and need a home care agency, Caring Companions works with veterans using VA Community Care Network referrals and Aid & Attendance income - but this guide applies the same way regardless of which provider, if any, you eventually choose.