McAllen Senior AdvisorWhat is VA Aid and Attendance?
Aid and Attendance is an increase to the VA pension for a wartime veteran or surviving spouse who needs help with daily activities, is bedridden, lives in a nursing home, or has severely limited eyesight; it raises the maximum pension rate rather than paying a separate check.
| Household | Maximum annual pension rate | About per month |
|---|---|---|
| Veteran with no dependents, Aid and Attendance | $29,093 | $2,424 |
| Veteran with one dependent, Aid and Attendance | $34,488 | $2,874 |
| Two veterans married to each other, both A&A | $46,143 | $3,845 |
| Surviving spouse, no dependents, Aid and Attendance | $18,697 | $1,558 |
| Veteran with no dependents, Housebound | $21,313 | $1,776 |
VA pension rates effective December 1, 2025 through November 30, 2026.
VA pays the difference between the maximum rate and the household's countable income. Unreimbursed care costs, such as assisted living, adult day or attendant fees, reduce countable income, which is why a veteran with real care bills can qualify despite a moderate income.
What is the VA net worth limit for 2026?
For December 1, 2025 through November 30, 2026, a pension claimant's net worth, meaning assets plus annual income, must be at or below $163,699, and VA looks back three years at asset transfers.
The home and a reasonable lot do not count, and neither do vehicles or household goods. Transfers made to get under the limit within the look-back can trigger a penalty period. An accredited veterans service officer can file the claim for free; be wary of anyone charging to prepare a pension application.
What is the Texas State Veterans Home in McAllen?
The Alfredo Gonzalez Texas State Veterans Home on East Yuma Avenue in McAllen is a nursing home run by the Texas Veterans Land Board for eligible veterans and some spouses; HHSC licenses it for 160 beds, 60 of them reported as Alzheimer's beds.
Its CMS profile, ratings and inspection history are on its facility page. Admission requires veteran eligibility and a medical need for nursing home care, and the VA pays part of the daily cost for qualifying veterans. Ask the admissions office about the wait list early; state veterans homes often have one.
Where do McAllen veterans get VA health care?
The VA Texas Valley Coastal Bend Health Care System serves the Valley, with the McAllen VA Clinic at 901 East Hackberry Avenue and the Harlingen VA Health Care Center at 2601 Veterans Drive in Harlingen.
A veteran enrolled in VA health care may also qualify for VA-paid home and community care, such as homemaker and home health aide services, adult day health care, respite and community nursing home care, depending on clinical need and service-connected status. Ask the primary care team at the McAllen clinic for a social work referral; the social worker is the gateway to those programs.
Side by side
| VA Aid and Attendance is | VA Aid and Attendance is not | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | An increase to a needs-based pension | Disability compensation |
| Who | Wartime veterans and surviving spouses who meet limits | Every veteran regardless of income |
| Use | Money the family can put toward any care | Paid directly to a facility |
| Help | Filed free through an accredited service officer | Something you should pay to apply for |
Sources: Texas Health and Safety Code ch. 247 and 242; 26 TAC chapters 553, 554, 558 and 559; HHSC directories, TULIP and handbooks; CMS; CareScout; VA rate tables, as cited above. See our editorial standards.
