Request a pension addition for care needs
Aid and Attendance or Housebound allowance may increase an eligible Veteran’s or survivor’s pension.
Who this program may help
VA considers pension entitlement and the applicable care-needs rules. Aid and Attendance and Housebound additions are not paid together.
Read official eligibility instructions1. Confirm that you are reading the pension instructions
These instructions concern additions to pension.
Read the Aid and Attendance and Housebound conditions with the underlying pension rules.
Why this matters
Similar wording appears in other benefit programs.
Official action:
Read pension care-needs requirementsVA determines the applicable pension addition.
Official references
2. Arrange the examiner’s section
A medical examiner completes the examination information.
Ask the examiner to describe actual daily-care needs and limitations on 21-2680.
Why this matters
Do not invent medical answers or complete the examiner’s findings yourself.
Documents for this step
- VA Form 21-2680 — Document Aid and Attendance or Housebound needs
Examiner-completed evidence of applicable pension care needs; use the official pension request instructions.
conditional
VA evaluates the medical and functional information.
Official references
3. Add nursing-home information when applicable
A nursing-home case needs additional facility information.
If in a nursing home, follow the 21-0779 instructions and have the required official complete their section.
Why this matters
This is conditional rather than required for every applicant.
Documents for this step
- VA Form 21-0779 — Provide nursing-home information
Nursing-home information when applicable; the designated facility official completes their section.
conditional
VA reviews the nursing-home circumstances.
Official references
4. Send the request through the pension method
VA supports online, mail and regional-office filing.
Submit the completed information using the official application instructions.
Why this matters
The pension intake destination has the correct program scope.
Official action:
Continue to VA to request a pension care-needs additionKeep the submission confirmation and application copy.
VA may request more information and sends a decision.
Official references
5. Read the benefit decision
The decision determines the applicable pension addition.
Respond to actual requests and review the benefit VA decided.
Why this matters
A caregiver-service enrollment is not the pension decision.
Retain the decision and related requests.
VA explains the granted result or review instructions.