Colorado veteran receiving home care funded by VA Aid and Attendance benefits

VA Aid & Attendance Benefits in Colorado

A monthly pension supplement that can pay for in-home care — up to $2,874 per month in 2026. Here is everything Colorado veterans and surviving spouses need to know.

VA Aid & Attendance

What Is Aid & Attendance and Who Qualifies in Colorado?

VA Aid & Attendance (A&A) is a pension benefit added on top of the base VA pension for wartime veterans and surviving spouses who need help with activities of daily living. It is one of the most underutilized VA benefits — many eligible Colorado families do not know it exists or assume the application is too complex. In 2026, a single eligible veteran can receive up to $2,424 per month; a veteran with a dependent spouse can receive up to $2,874 per month. These funds can be used to pay for professional in-home care, assisted living, or other qualifying care costs.

2026 Benefit Rates

How Much Can Colorado Veterans Receive?

Rates are adjusted annually by the VA. The figures below reflect the 2026 rates effective December 1, 2025. Benefits are paid monthly and are not subject to federal income tax.

$2,424/mo

Single Veteran

Maximum monthly pension supplement for an unmarried veteran who needs help with activities of daily living.

$2,874/mo

Veteran with Dependent Spouse

Higher rate when the veteran has a dependent spouse. The spouse themselves does not need to be in need of care.

$1,555/mo

Surviving Spouse

For the surviving spouse of a wartime veteran who meets the personal care eligibility requirements.

$1,776/mo

Housebound Benefit

For veterans substantially confined to their immediate premises due to a permanent disability rated at 100%.

Note: These are the maximum rates. The actual benefit amount depends on the veteran's countable income after allowable deductions — including the cost of in-home care. Many veterans with significant care expenses qualify for the full rate.

Eligibility Requirements

Do I Qualify for Aid & Attendance?

To receive Aid & Attendance, veterans must meet four primary criteria. Surviving spouses follow a parallel set of requirements. A Colorado CVSO can help you assess eligibility before you file.

1

Military Service Requirement

At least 90 days of active duty service, with at least one day during a recognized wartime period. Wartime periods include World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam Era, and the Gulf War. Veterans who were discharged other than honorably may not qualify.

2

Care Need Requirement

The veteran (or surviving spouse) must require help with two or more activities of daily living — such as bathing, dressing, eating, transferring, or toileting — or must be bedridden, reside in a nursing home due to mental or physical incapacity, or be legally blind.

3

Net Worth Limit (2026)

Net worth must be below $155,356 for 2026. This includes assets but generally excludes the primary residence and a reasonable amount of personal property. The VA applies a three-year look-back for asset transfers.

4

Income Consideration

There is no strict income limit, but unreimbursed medical expenses — including in-home care costs — are deducted from income when determining eligibility. Higher care costs often make families eligible who might otherwise exceed the threshold.

How to Apply in Colorado

Step-by-Step: Filing Your Aid & Attendance Claim

The application process can feel overwhelming, but it follows a predictable sequence. Working with a free Colorado County Veterans Service Officer (CVSO) from the start significantly improves your outcome.

Gather Your Documents

Collect the veteran's DD-214 (discharge papers), marriage certificate if applicable, medical evidence documenting the need for care, financial statements, and any existing VA award letters. Having these ready before starting prevents delays.

Obtain Medical Evidence

A licensed physician must complete VA Form 21-2680, the Examination for Housebound Status or Permanent Need for Regular Aid & Attendance. Your primary care provider or a VA physician can complete this form. CCA can coordinate transportation to that appointment.

File Your Claim

Submit VA Form 21-527EZ (for veterans) or VA Form 21-534EZ (for surviving spouses) along with your supporting documents. You can file online at va.gov, by mail to the VA Pension Management Center, or in person through your County Veterans Service Officer.

Work with a Colorado CVSO

Every Colorado county has a free, accredited Veterans Service Officer. CVSOs help prepare your claim, submit it correctly, and follow up with the VA on your behalf — at no cost. This is the single most effective way to accelerate and strengthen your claim.

Follow Up and Appeal if Needed

Processing typically takes 6–12 months. If your claim is denied or rated lower than expected, you can request a Higher-Level Review or file a Supplemental Claim with new evidence. CVSOs and VA-accredited claims agents can represent you at no charge.

Processing Timeline

How Long Does Aid & Attendance Take?

Standard processing time is typically 6 to 12 months from the date the VA receives a complete, error-free claim. A claim submitted with missing documents or unsupported medical evidence can take considerably longer.

To expedite your claim: work with a CVSO to submit a complete, well-documented package from day one; include all medical evidence upfront; submit electronically through va.gov where possible; and respond to any VA development letters within 30 days.

Once approved, benefits are paid back to the date of your original claim (the “effective date”), so you may receive a retroactive lump sum for months while the claim was pending.

Free Colorado Resource

County Veterans Service Officers (CVSOs)

Every Colorado county employs a free, accredited County Veterans Service Officer. CVSOs are trained VA claims specialists who help veterans and surviving spouses file claims, gather evidence, respond to VA development letters, and appeal denied claims — all at no cost.

Colorado's Denver Regional Benefits Office handles most Front Range and eastern plains claims. The Western Colorado VA office in Grand Junction serves the western slope. Your CVSO can determine which office handles your claim and track its progress on your behalf.

  • Free, accredited claim representation
  • Helps gather medical and financial evidence
  • Tracks claim status and responds to VA letters
  • Represents veterans in appeals at no cost
  • Available in every Colorado county

How CCA Helps

We Provide the Care While You Navigate the Benefits

Colorado CareAssist is an authorized provider in the VA Community Care Network through TriWest Healthcare Alliance, the CCN administrator for VA Region 5 covering Colorado. This means VA-referred veterans can receive authorized home care services directly through CCA when the VA is unable to provide timely care.

For families pursuing Aid & Attendance, we help by documenting the care services we provide — which the VA uses when calculating countable income and verifying the need for assistance. We also offer transportation to VA appointments where medical evidence forms are completed.

Many families begin care with CCA while their A&A claim is pending. Once approved, the retroactive benefit payment often covers much of the care cost incurred during the processing period.

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CCA helped my father start receiving care right away while the VA processed his Aid and Attendance claim. When the approval came through, the back pay covered everything. We could not have managed without them.

Margaret T.

Lakewood, CO

Start Your Veterans Care Consultation

Tell us about your situation. We will walk through your VA benefit eligibility, explain the Aid & Attendance process, and build a care plan your family can start immediately — even while the claim is pending. No pressure, no contract required.

Serving veterans throughout Boulder, Broomfield, Denver, Adams, Jefferson, Douglas, Arapahoe, El Paso, Pueblo, and surrounding areas.

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Questions about VA Aid & Attendance?

Our team helps Colorado veterans navigate A&A applications and start receiving care quickly. Call for a free consultation.

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