!A banner images of two older men wearing veterans caps According to the [U.S. Census Bureau](https://www.census.gov/content/dam/Census/library/publications/2023/acs/acs-54.pdf), 8.1 million veterans are 65 years or older. Of these veterans, 42% report living with a disability, compared with 33% of nonveterans in the same age group. Despite the increased prevalence of disabilities in older vets, they perform better overall on several important metrics. Vets over 65 have a higher personal income on average, spend a lower percentage of their income on housing, and are less likely to be socially isolated. One main contributor to aging veterans’ well-being is the numerous programs available to them through the VA and Department of Defense (DOD). Disability compensation is provided to veterans who have an impairment caused by their time on active duty, while medical providers at the Veterans’ Health Administration can treat physical or mental conditions regardless of whether they’re related to military service. Housing aid helps keep veterans off the streets, while caregiver assistance payment lets disabled and elderly vets remain with their families. Below, you’ll find an introduction to some of the most popular benefits available to senior veterans, including a few lesser-known programs that you may not yet be familiar with. In This Article ## Service-Connected Disability Compensation Veterans who sustained a service-connected illness or injury may be eligible for monthly disability compensation. (38 U.S.C. §§ [1110](https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/USCODE-2024-title38/pdf/USCODE-2024-title38-partII-chap11-subchapII-sec1110.pdf), [1131](https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/USCODE-2015-title38/html/USCODE-2015-title38-partII-chap11-subchapIV.htm) (2026).) Depending on how severely the condition affects your functioning, you may be assigned a VA disability rating of 10% to 100%, in increments of 10. (A disability rating of 0% is possible for some asymptomatic diagnoses, but they’re considered “non-compensable,” although they still qualify veterans for VA health care.) The higher your disability rating, the larger your monthly benefit will be. Payments for veterans with ratings at 30% or above can also be increased based on the number of dependents you have. VA disability compensation benefits are tax-free, and you don’t have to meet any income or resource limits in order to receive them. The exact amount is adjusted every year to account for increases in the cost of living. You can find this year’s tables at the [VA.gov website for current veterans disability compensation rates](https://www.va.gov/disability/compensation-rates/veteran-rates/). Many types of medical impairments worsen with age. If you have a service-connected condition that’s gotten worse since your original rating, you can ask the VA to increase your disability percentage to better reflect your current limitations. (After five years, the VA can’t decrease your original rating without evidence of sustained and permanent improvement, and after 20 years, the VA can’t decrease your rating at all. 38 C.F.R. § [3.344](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-38/chapter-I/part-3/subpart-A/subject-group-ECFR39056aee4e9ff13/section-3.344), § [3.951](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-38/chapter-I/part-3/subpart-A/subject-group-ECFRb3a446cfa51526c/section-3.951) (2026).) ## VA Pension for Low-Income Veterans 65 and Older The VA pension program is one of the largest drivers in keeping senior veterans out of poverty. If you’re at least 65 years old with a net worth less than a specific threshold ($163,699 in 2026), you meet certain service requirements, and you weren’t dishonorably discharged, you can get a monthly VA pension even if you aren’t disabled. Disabled senior veterans can, however, receive additional “Aid and Attendance” payments if they need somebody else to help them perform basic daily activities (such as getting dressed), stay in bed most of the day due to an illness, live in a nursing home, or have extremely limited eyesight. Another supplemental benefit, known as a “Housebound” allowance, is available to disabled veterans who spend most of their time at home due to a permanent disability. You can learn more about pensions and supplemental benefits in our article on getting veterans military pension from the VA. ## Caregiver Support for Relatives of Veterans Many senior veterans depend on family members for daily care. The VA offers two caregiver support programs, the Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers (PCAFC) and the Program of General Caregiver Support Service (PGCSS). PCAFC is available to caregivers for veterans who have at least a 70% service-connected disability rating and require in-person care services for at least six months. Qualifying primary family caregivers can receive a monthly stipend for their services as well as healthcare through CHAMPVA (Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs). PGCSS doesn’t offer benefits such as a monthly stipend or health care, but enrollment in the program does provide caregivers with valuable assistance such as skills training, mobile support, one-on-one coaching, and respite care that can cover you when you need a break. Unlike PCAFC, eligibility for the program doesn’t require that the vet have a certain disability percentage rating, only that they’re enrolled in VA health care and require a caregiver. You can find out more about both PCAFC and PGCSS at . ## Long-Term Care Options for Senior Vets The VA's long-term care system prefers to allow veterans to “age in place” as long as it’s feasible, prioritizing home care over institutional care whenever possible. - **Home-Based Primary Care** is a program for veterans with complex medical needs who have difficulty traveling to VA facilities. An interdisciplinary team of physicians, nurse practitioners, social workers, therapists, and other specialists travels directly to a veteran’s home to provide care within a 30-45 mile radius of the medical center. - **Homemaker Home Health Aide Care** focuses on helping the veteran complete their daily activities such as shopping, bathing, and feeding themselves. Homemaker and Home Health Aides aren’t medical providers, but they’re trained and supervised by registered nurses. - **Skilled Home Health Care** provides specialized and transitional assistance for veterans who are moving back home from a hospital or other intensive care center. The service is for veterans who need skilled services such as diabetes management education, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, wound care, or IV antibiotics. - **Veteran Directed Care** gives veterans or their representatives a budget that—with the help of a counselor—they use to hire their own workers to assist with their daily needs. - **Adult Day Health Care** offers veterans regularly scheduled structured social activities and medical assistance in a group setting to help maintain community. Unfortunately, even extensive in-home caregiver support may not always remain an option for veterans. The VA does maintain residential settings and nursing homes for veterans who need a higher degree of care as they age. - **Community Residential Care** provides room, board, and limited personal care and supervision to veterans who can’t live independently. Community Residential Care centers are inspected and approved by VA medical center staff, but the decision on which one to choose is made (and paid for) by the veteran. - **Medical Foster Homes** and **Adult Family Homes** are private residences that offer 24/7 care and supervision in a family environment. They may be suitable for veterans who prefer a smaller, non-institutional setting. - **Community Living Centers** are VA-operated, traditional nursing homes. Veterans who have a 70% disability rating (or 60% with non-employment eligibility) may qualify for a long-term stay in VA nursing homes, but all veterans can stay short-term if they’re recovering from a major surgery or other hospitalization. - **Community Nursing Homes** are similar to Community Living Centers but they are contracted with, rather than run by, the VA. - **State Veterans Homes** are owned, operated, and managed by state governments for veterans residing in that state. For more information about these assisted living options, see our article on veterans eligibility for VA nursing care. ## Additional Information for Older Veterans Aging veterans often begin to focus more on their legacy and how they can make sure their loved ones are well taken care of. For many vets, this means building a “nest egg” for family members and caregivers to ensure they’re in good financial health. In addition to federal VA rules, many states exempt VA benefits from taxation and allow veterans to pay reduced property taxes, increasing the amount they can save for their retirement years. (You can see the full list and links to the relevant statutes in our list of state and federal veterans benefits.) If you’re the spouse, friend, or relative of an older veteran, you may find one of the articles in our elder care section beneficial in helping to understand issues surrounding assisted living, medical debt, and safe driving for seniors. And our comprehensive set of articles on estate planning can help veterans get their ducks in a row when determining how to write and execute a will.