Veterans and their surviving spouses in Kansas often have a route to help with care costs that a civilian household does not. The best known is the Aid and Attendance pension, an addition to the basic VA pension for wartime veterans who need regular help with everyday tasks. It is underused, partly because it is not well advertised and partly because the rules take some untangling. This page lays out the shape of it so you know what to ask for.
Aid and Attendance, in plain terms
Aid and Attendance is a needs-based pension. To qualify, a veteran generally must have served during a wartime period, need help with activities of daily living or supervision because of a condition, and have income and net worth within the limits the VA sets. When those tests are met, the VA pays up to a maximum annual rate, and the actual payment is that maximum less your countable income. In practice, high care expenses can reduce countable income and increase what the VA pays.
Current maximum annual rates
The figures below are the maximum annual pension rates in effect as of December 1, 2025. They are ceilings, the most a qualifying veteran can receive in a year, not a guaranteed amount, and the VA subtracts your countable income to reach the pension actually paid.
| Situation | Maximum annual rate |
|---|---|
| Veteran with no dependents, with Aid and Attendance | $29,093 |
| Veteran with one dependent, with Aid and Attendance | $34,488 |
| Veteran with no dependents, Housebound | $21,313 |
| Veteran with no dependents, basic pension | $17,441 |
Source: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Pension rates. Verified 1 August 2026.
Apply through the VA directly, or with help from an accredited representative or a county veterans service officer. Be wary of anyone who charges a fee to file the claim itself. Start at the VA's own benefits pages and gather your service and medical records before you begin.
Where a private policy still fits
VA benefits are valuable, but they are not a complete plan. Eligibility is limited, the amounts have ceilings, and the care you can arrange with them may not match what you would choose. A private long-term care policy can cover what the VA does not and gives you more say over where and how care happens. For a veteran, the smart move is to look at both together, so a benefit claim and a policy reinforce each other. It also pays to understand how Kansas Medicaid treats long-term care, since some families end up drawing on more than one program over time.
A veteran, or planning for one? Talk with a licensed Kansas agent about how VA benefits and a policy can work together, at no charge.
Common questions
Does the VA pay for long-term care in Kansas?
It can, in more than one way. Enrolled veterans may receive care through the VA health system, and wartime veterans who need help with daily living may qualify for the Aid and Attendance pension, which adds money to a basic pension to help pay for care. Whether you qualify, and for how much, depends on your service, your health, and your finances.
What is the difference between Aid and Attendance and VA disability?
They are separate programs. Disability compensation pays for conditions connected to your service, at any income level. Aid and Attendance is a needs-based pension for wartime veterans and survivors who require help with everyday activities and whose income and net worth fall within VA limits. Many people who do not qualify for one may still qualify for the other.
Should a veteran still consider long-term care insurance?
Often yes. VA benefits have eligibility limits and are not guaranteed to everyone, and they may not cover the full cost or the setting you would choose. A private policy can fill the gaps and gives you more control. A licensed agent can look at your VA options alongside a policy so the two work together rather than overlap.