Maine Veterans Home Care Benefits
If your parent is a wartime veteran or the surviving spouse of one, there are federal VA benefits specifically designed to pay for home care that most families never apply for. These programs operate separately from MaineCare — different eligibility rules, different applications, different funding sources — and may supplement state programs when the person meets each program's requirements.
Aid and Attendance Pension
The VA's Aid and Attendance (A&A) pension is a supplemental monthly cash benefit for wartime veterans and their surviving spouses who need regular help with ADLs — bathing, dressing, eating, toileting — or who are housebound.
2026 benefit rates:
- Single veteran with no dependents: approximately $2,424 per month
- Veteran with one dependent: approximately $2,874 per month
Net worth limit: $163,699 in 2026. This VA measure is separate from MaineCare's $10,000 countable-asset limit.
Service requirements: Aid and Attendance is for qualifying wartime veterans or surviving spouses. Confirm service-length and discharge rules with the Bureau of Veterans Services or a County Veterans Service Officer.
What it pays for: A&A is a supplemental monthly cash pension that can help pay for in-home care, assisted living, or nursing care.
How to apply: Contact the Bureau of Veterans Services in Augusta or your local County Veterans Service Officer for help with the application.
Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers (PCAFC)
PCAFC is a separate VA program that pays a monthly stipend directly to a designated family caregiver — not to the veteran. It's designed for veterans with a service-connected disability rating of 70% or higher who require ongoing personal care.
What the caregiver receives:
- Monthly financial stipend based on the GS-4 Step 1 federal pay scale (adjusted for the local market) and the veteran's care tier
- Health insurance through CHAMPVA (if the caregiver isn't otherwise insured)
- Mental health counseling and support services
- Respite care
Eligibility for the veteran: Must have a service-connected disability rating of 70% or higher and require ongoing care.
Eligibility for the caregiver: PCAFC designates a family caregiver who provides ongoing care. Contact the VA Caregiver Support Coordinator to confirm the current relationship and age requirements.
How to apply: Contact the VA Caregiver Support Line at 1-855-260-3274 for guidance.
How VA Benefits Stack with MaineCare
VA and MaineCare have separate eligibility systems. A veteran should have both evaluated separately; if both programs approve benefits, ask the VA and MaineCare how the payments and services interact. The key interaction:
Income treatment: The interaction is case-specific. For 2026, the Section 19 individual income figure is $2,982/month, and Maine's medically needy spend-down pathway may apply when income is higher.
Asset treatment: MaineCare applies its own countable-asset rules, including the $10,000 individual limit. Ask the Office of Family Independence how VA payments and any unspent balance will be treated in the eligibility calculation.
Practical stacking: MaineCare Section 19 covers the personal support specialist and care coordination. The A&A pension pays for supplemental hours that the waiver cap ($6,565/month) can't cover, or for adult day services, home modifications, and other needs outside the care plan. The PCAFC stipend compensates a family caregiver for the hours they provide directly, filling the gaps between formal care hours.
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Maine-Specific VA Resources
- Bureau of Veterans' Services (Augusta) — helps with VA claims, appeals, and benefit navigation
- Togus VA Medical Center — Maine's VA healthcare facility, located in Augusta
- County Veterans Service Officers — available in each Maine county to assist with applications and appeals at no cost
- Veterans' Homes — Maine operates veterans' homes in Augusta, Bangor, Caribou, Machias, and Scarborough for veterans who eventually need residential care
The Maine Home Care, Waivers & Support Guide includes a veterans benefits worksheet that walks through the A&A eligibility calculation, the PCAFC application process, and how to structure VA benefits alongside MaineCare programs to maximize total care coverage.
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