Indiana Veteran Home Care Benefits: Aid and Attendance, VA Programs, and How to Apply

If your aging parent is a veteran — or the surviving spouse of a veteran — they may qualify for home care benefits through the VA that most families never apply for. These programs can run alongside Indiana Medicaid, not instead of it, which means your parent could receive support from both systems simultaneously.

Aid and Attendance Pension

The VA Aid and Attendance (A&A) benefit is an enhanced pension for veterans (and surviving spouses) who need help with daily activities. For 2026, monthly benefit rates are approximately:

• Single veteran: up to $2,295/month
• Veteran with dependent spouse: up to $2,727/month
• Surviving spouse: up to $1,478/month

These are tax-free payments deposited directly into the veteran's bank account. The money can be used for any purpose — private-pay home care aides, assisted living costs, home modifications, or medical expenses.

Eligibility requirements:

• At least 90 days of active military service with at least one day during a wartime period
• Honorable discharge
• Need regular assistance with at least 2 ADLs, or be substantially confined to the home, or be legally blind
• Meet the VA's income and net worth thresholds (the net worth limit is approximately $155,356 in 2026, including assets but excluding the primary residence)

The VA has a 3-year look-back period for asset transfers — shorter than Medicaid's 5-year look-back, but still relevant for families considering asset protection strategies.

VA Home Health Care

Veterans enrolled in VA health care can receive home-based primary care (HBPC) through the Indianapolis VA Medical Center or community-based VA clinics. Services include:

• Skilled nursing visits
• Physical and occupational therapy
• Social work and mental health support
• Telehealth monitoring

VA home health care is separate from Medicare home health. A veteran can receive both — VA for ongoing chronic disease management and Medicare for post-acute care episodes.

Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers

The VA's caregiver support program provides a monthly stipend, health insurance coverage, respite care, and mental health counseling to family caregivers of eligible veterans. The veteran must have a serious injury or illness incurred or aggravated in the line of duty.

For veterans who don't qualify for the comprehensive program, the Program of General Caregiver Support Services offers training, peer support groups, and respite care referrals through the local VA Caregiver Support Coordinator.

Coordinating VA and Medicaid Benefits

VA benefits and Indiana Medicaid are not mutually exclusive, but they interact in important ways:

• A&A pension income counts toward Medicaid income limits. If your parent receives $2,295/month in A&A plus Social Security, their total income may exceed Indiana's $2,982 Medicaid cap — requiring a Miller Trust to maintain waiver eligibility
• VA benefits do not count as assets for Medicaid purposes while in the bank account (up to a point — consult an elder law attorney for the specific rules)
• You can use both systems simultaneously — VA home health for medical care, Medicaid waiver for attendant care, and the A&A pension to cover gaps that neither system funds

How to Apply

Start at the Indianapolis VA Regional Office (1-800-827-1000) or through a Veterans Service Organization (VSO) like the American Legion, VFW, or Disabled American Veterans. Indiana's county-level VSOs can help with applications at no cost.

For families coordinating VA benefits with Indiana's PathWays for Aging waiver, CHOICE program, and caregiver pay options, the Indiana Home Care, Waivers & Support Guide shows how to layer all available funding sources so your parent gets maximum coverage without benefits conflicting.

See more Indiana guides →