Home Care Assistance Benefit For Veterans with Mesothelioma
Mesothelioma is a severe illness primarily caused by asbestos exposure. Sadly, veterans represent over 30% of mesothelioma patients diagnosed yearly due to the extensive use of asbestos in military equipment, vehicles, and buildings in the 20th century.
Veterans Aid & Attendance (A&A) benefits are a lifeline among the options available. These benefits are an additional monetary payment for Veterans and Survivors who are eligible for a pension and require the aid and attendance of another person or are housebound.
For 2026, the A&A rate is $34,486 — which can provide life-changing compensation to veterans.
Financial support is crucial for veterans with mesothelioma. Download our Free Veterans Compensation Guide to learn more about what benefits you can access.
How Mesothelioma Affects Veterans
Mesothelioma significantly impacts veterans’ health, leading to progressive disability and decreased independence. Veterans often qualify for the A&A benefit due to the cancer’s debilitating nature — it considerably affects their performance of everyday tasks and often requires the assistance of another person.
Veterans’ health can be greatly affected by mesothelioma, resulting in a gradual loss of independence and disability. Due to the disease’s debilitating effects on their ability to perform daily tasks, veterans are frequently eligible for the A&A benefit and may require the assistance of another individual.
What Is the Veterans Aid & Attendance (A&A) Benefit?
The A&A benefit is a non-service-connected pension benefit provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). It provides financial assistance to veterans and their surviving spouses who require daily living assistance.
These benefits are paid in addition to the monthly pension and are not paid without eligibility for the pension.
Our on-staff team of U.S. veterans, Patient Advocates, and VA-accredited claims agents can determine if you’re eligible for disability benefits.
We can also help you gather documents needed to support your mesothelioma VA claim and pinpoint where you may have been exposed to asbestos. Call (866) 608-8933 now to get started.
How Is the Aid & Attendance Benefit Amount Calculated?
If you qualify for these benefits, the VA calculates your payment based on the difference between your countable income and a limit set by Congress. This limit is known as the Maximum Annual Pension Rate (MAPR).
Your countable income includes earnings from most sources and deductions you might be eligible for. If your countable income is less than the MAPR, the VA makes up the difference: the amount you’ll receive in your pension.
Here are VA Aid and Attendance MAPR rates for 2026:
- $29,093 if you are a single veteran
- $34,486 if you’re a veteran with 1 dependent child or spouse
- $46,143 if you’re married to another veteran and you both need Aid and Attendance
You can calculate how much you’ll receive through A&A by subtracting your income from the MAPR you qualify for.
Eligibility Requirements for the Aid & Attendance Veterans Benefit
To qualify for a VA Pension, a veteran must have at least 90 days of active duty service, with at least one day during wartime.
If they entered active duty after September 7, 1980, they must have served at least 24 months or the entire period they were called to active duty (with some exceptions), with at least one day during wartime.
Additionally, the veteran must be:
- 65 or older, OR
- Totally and permanently disabled, OR
- A patient in a nursing home receiving skilled nursing care, OR
- Receiving Social Security Disability Insurance or Supplemental Security Income.
A veteran or surviving spouse can be eligible for A&A Pension when they:
- Require the aid of another person to perform personal functions required in everyday living, OR
- Are bedridden, apart from any prescribed course of convalescence or treatment, OR
- A patient in a nursing home due to mental or physical incapacity, OR
- Have limited eyesight to a corrected visual acuity of 5/200 or less in both eyes or concentric contraction of the visual field to 5 degrees or less.
- Yearly family income must be less than the amount set by Congress to qualify for the Veterans Pension benefit.
How to Apply for Veterans Aid & Attendance Benefits
Applying for A&A or Housebound benefits involves filling out VA Form 21-2680 and mailing it to your state’s Pension Management Center (PMC). Visit your local or regional benefit office to file your request. Include copies of evidence, preferably a report from an attending physician, validating the need for Aid and Attendance or Housebound care.
The information should detail the disease or injury’s physical or mental impairment, loss of coordination, or conditions affecting the ability to dress and undress, feed oneself, attend to sanitary needs, and keep oneself ordinarily clean and presentable.
If you’re in a nursing home, you should fill out a Request for Nursing Home Information in Connection with Claim for Aid and Attendance (VA Form 21-0779).
Our team of fellow veterans can help you apply for mesothelioma VA benefits — call (866) 608-8933 right now to get started.
Additional Resources for Veterans with Mesothelioma
Apart from A&A benefits, several other resources support veterans with mesothelioma. These include disability compensation for veterans exposed to asbestos during military service, various state and local resources, support groups, and advocacy organizations.
In addition to A&A, veterans may be eligible for a number of different mesothelioma VA benefits, including:
- Disability benefits
- Funeral and burial benefits
- Geriatric and extended care programs
- Housebound benefits
- Pensions
- Special monthly compensation (SMC)
- Survivor’s pension benefits
- VA Dependency and Indemnity Compensation
- VA health care
The VA will carefully assess your claim to determine whether you qualify for certain benefits. Mesothelioma Hope can help surviving family members determine if they may be eligible for VA DIC and other types of benefits. Contact us now to learn more.
Additional Support & Contact Information
For more information and assistance in applying for the A&A benefit, contact the Department of Veterans Affairs, a Veterans Service Officer, or another accredited representative.
We at Mesothelioma Hope are also here to help, providing a wealth of resources and guidance for veterans battling mesothelioma. Your health matters, and so does your peace of mind. We are here to provide you with hope and support every step of the way.
The Mesothelioma Hope team can help you gather the information needed to file for VA benefits successfully.
Learn more in our Free Mesothelioma Guide, shipped overnight to you.
VA Aid and Attendance Attorney FAQs
What are Veterans Aid & Attendance (A&A) benefits?
A&A benefits are non-service-connected pension benefits provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs. They offer additional monetary assistance to veterans and their surviving spouses who require daily living assistance.
How does mesothelioma qualify veterans for A&A benefits?
Given the debilitating nature of mesothelioma, veterans suffering from this disease often require assistance for daily tasks, making them eligible for A&A benefits.
Who is eligible for A&A benefits?
To qualify for A&A benefits, a veteran must meet specific criteria such as age, disability status, need for skilled nursing care, and income limits. The veteran must also have served at least 90 days of active duty with at least one day during wartime.
Our team of fellow veterans can help you apply for mesothelioma VA benefits — call (866) 608-8933 right now to get started.
How can I apply for A&A benefits?
You can apply by filling out VA Form 21-2680 and mailing it to your state’s Pension Management Center. You can also file your request at your local regional benefit office.
Documentation from a physician validating the need for Aid and Attendance or Housebound type care should be included.
Can a veteran receive both Aid and Attendance and Housebound benefits simultaneously?
No. A veteran or surviving spouse cannot simultaneously receive both Aid and Attendance and Housebound benefits.
Where can I find more information about A&A benefits?
Additional information can be found on the official VA website and by contacting the Department of Veterans Affairs, a Veterans Service Officer, or other accredited representatives.
Mesothelioma Hope also provides resources and guidance for veterans battling mesothelioma. Call (866) 608-8933 now to learn more for free.
How We Can Help
