VA Aid & Attendance is a pension benefit add-on for wartime veterans and surviving spouses who need help with daily activities. As of December 1, 2025, maximum annual pension rates range from about $18,697 for a surviving spouse with no dependents up to about $46,143 for two married veterans both eligible; VA pays the difference between countable income and the applicable maximum, and unreimbursed medical expenses, including assisted living or home care costs, reduce countable income. These rates are federal and identical in every state, including Ohio.
The detail behind the number
Aid & Attendance isn't a flat monthly check the way some families expect; it's calculated as the gap between a veteran's or surviving spouse's countable income and a federal maximum, which means unreimbursed medical and care expenses can significantly increase what someone qualifies to receive.
This mechanic matters a lot for veterans in Cuyahoga or Summit County paying privately for assisted living: substantial monthly care costs, once documented as unreimbursed medical expenses, can push countable income down enough to qualify for a meaningful benefit even without a low income to start.
Because these are federal pension rates, they're the same whether the veteran lives in Cleveland or anywhere else in the country; there's no Ohio-specific enhancement, but pairing Aid & Attendance with other state and local resources can meaningfully close a family's monthly funding gap.
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