PENSION

ENHANCED OR SPECIAL MONTHLY PENSION 

(AID AND ATTENDANCE OR HOUSEBOUND)

Disabilities determined by VA to be related to your military service can lead to monthly non-taxable compensation, enrollment in the 

VA health care system, a 10-point hiring preference for federal employment and other important benefits. Ask your VA 

representative or Veterans Service Organization representative about Disability Compensation, Pension, Health Care, Caregiver 

Program, Career Services, Educational Assistance, Home Loan Guaranty, Insurance and/or Dependents and Survivors’ Benefits.

WHAT IS ENHANCED OR SPECIAL MONTHLY PENSION?

AID AND ATTENDANCE (A&A)

A&A is an increased monthly pension amount paid to a Veteran or surviving spouse. You may be 

eligible if:

• You require the aid of another person in order to perform activities of daily living, such as

bathing, feeding, dressing, toileting, adjusting prosthetic devices, or protecting yourself from

the hazards of your daily environment, OR

• You are bedridden, in that your disability or disabilities requires that you remain in bed apart

from any prescribed course of convalescence or treatment, OR

• You are a patient in a nursing home due to mental or physical incapacity, OR

• You have corrected visual acuity of 5/200 or less in both eyes or concentric contraction of the

visual field to 5 degrees or less.

HOUSEBOUND

Housebound is an increased monthly pension amount paid to a claimant who is substantially 

confined to his or her home because of permanent disability. Additionally, if you are a Veteran, you 

may quality for the increased housebound amount if:

• You have a single permanent disability evaluated as 100-percent disabling AND, due to such

disability, you are permanently and substantially confined to your immediate premises, OR,

• You have single permanent disability evaluated as 100-percent disabling AND, another

disability, or disabilities, evaluated as 60-percent or more disabling.

You may not receive enhanced or special monthly pension without first establishing eligibility for VA 

pension. However, because enhanced pension is based upon a higher income limit, a claimant
Pension and Fiduciary Service – December 2015 

ineligible for basic pension due to excessive income may be eligible for increased pension benefits. 

You may not receive pension at the A&A and Housebound rate at the same time.

HOW TO APPLY FOR AID AND ATTENDANCE AND HOUSEBOUND:

• You may apply for pension at the A&A or Housebound rate by sending a completed VA Form

21-2680, Examination for Housebound or Permanent Need for Regular Aid and Attendance, to

the Pension Management Center (PMC) having jurisdiction over your claim. If you do not 

know which PMC has jurisdiction over your claim, you may submit your request to the VA 

Regional Office closest to your current residence. A directory of VA regional offices is available 

at Directory of VA Regional Offices. 

• You should also provide copies of any evidence that would help establish that you need A&A or

are Housebound. Such evidence would include a report from your physician validating the

need for aid and attendance or demonstrating that you are housebound.

Note: If you are not currently receiving VA pension benefits, you must attach a completed application 

to the VA Form 21-2680 in order for VA to make a decision on your claim.

For Veterans:

• VA Form 21-526, Veteran’s Application for Compensation and/or Pension or VA Form 21-

526EZ, Application for Disability Compensation Benefits

• VA Form 21-527, Income, Net Worth, and Employment Statement or VA Form 21-527EZ,

Application for Pension

For survivors: 

• VA Form 21-534, Application for Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC), Death

Pension and Accrued Benefits by a Surviving Spouse or Child (including death

compensation if applicable) or VA Form 21-534EZ, Application for DIC, Death Pension,

and/or Accrued Benefits

HOW MUCH DOES VA PAY? 

All pension rate tables, including the A&A and housebound rates: 

• Veterans pension or

• Survivors pension