To every veteran, thank you for serving. I’m especially proud to share this photo of my dad and his crew on the cargo ramp of a C-5A Galaxy. My dad and my big brother are two of the reasons Veterans Day means so much to me.
If someone you love served and now needs help getting dressed, bathing, or managing daily life, there’s a VA benefit worth asking about. It’s called Aid and Attendance, and so many families have never heard of it. It can help eligible wartime veterans and surviving spouses pay for care.
I put together a free, large-print guide so you can see who may qualify and know exactly where to start.
Download the VA Aid and Attendance Checklist
Large-print PDF · Opens in a new tab
Read the tribute · Check eligibility · See how to apply
Two veterans I love
My dad used to joke that he “fought the Battle of Fort Lauderdale.” After all these years, he’s still my only source on that one.
Dad served aboard submarines in the U.S. Navy and later served in the U.S. Air Force Reserve as a flight engineer on C-5As out of Dover Air Force Base. He has plenty of stories he could lead with. Fort Lauderdale still gets top billing.
My big brother flew F-15Cs in the U.S. Air Force. He went on to fly Predator drones, became an instructor, and retired as a Lt Colonel. Today he’s a captain with United Airlines. If you’re on one of his flights and can barely make out the captain’s announcement, the speaker is probably working just fine. He still mumbles. His little sister still provides feedback.
Dad, I’m proud to be your daughter. Big brother, I’m proud to be your little sister. I love you both. Thank you for serving.
To those still serving and the families who love them, thank you for the sacrifices you’re still making. I think of the Thanksgiving chairs left empty and the birthdays celebrated over the phone. Those are days a family remembers.
VA Aid and Attendance: Where to Start
Open and print the 2026 VA Aid and Attendance checklist (PDF)
The large-print guide includes an eligibility checklist, 2026 pension rates through November 30, application forms, and a step-by-step guide to getting help in North Carolina.
VA Aid and Attendance can increase the monthly pension for eligible wartime veterans and surviving spouses who meet the VA’s care requirements. Here’s what families can check first.
Service dates
For veterans who entered active duty before September 8, 1980, the general rule is at least 90 days of active duty, including one day in a VA-recognized wartime period. Later enlistments generally require 24 months or the full period called to active duty, with at least one wartime day. Exceptions and separate officer rules apply.
Discharge and pension eligibility
The VA reviews discharge status and generally requires service under conditions other than dishonorable. Veterans must meet an age or other qualifying requirement. Surviving spouses have separate rules.
Care needs and finances
The VA considers whether you need help with daily activities and reviews countable income and assets. Certain unreimbursed medical expenses may reduce the income it counts.
Get the paperwork ready
I’ve had great experiences with the tools I first knew through Veterans Financial. If you’d like help organizing the forms, AidandAttendance.com offers guided paperwork and a specialist review. Ask what’s included and check the price before enrolling. The VA decides eligibility and controls processing time. You can also read the official VA filing instructions.
If this made you think of someone, send it to them. We tell our veterans, “Thank you for your service.” When they need care, let’s make sure somebody also tells them, “Here’s where to start.”
