As of December 1, 2025 through November 30, 2026, the VA's combined net worth and annual income limit for pension eligibility (including Aid & Attendance) is $163,699. This figure combines countable assets and annual income and is used to determine whether a veteran or surviving spouse qualifies for the underlying VA Improved Pension before any Aid & Attendance add-on is calculated.
The detail behind the number
The VA's net worth test bundles a claimant's countable assets (such as savings, investments, and additional real estate beyond a primary residence) together with annual income into a single combined figure, which is then compared against the published limit -- $163,699 for the period running through November 30, 2026. This differs meaningfully from Medicaid's asset limits, which in North Carolina's long-term-care Medicaid program are set much lower ($2,000 for an individual), so a family that does not qualify for Medicaid due to excess assets may still be well under the VA's higher combined limit. The VA also allows certain deductions, such as unreimbursed medical expenses, to reduce countable income for this calculation. Because this figure adjusts annually with COLA increases, Triangle-area veterans and survivors should verify the current limit directly at va.gov before assuming eligibility, rather than relying on a prior year's figure.
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