For veterans who served our country, the Department of Veterans Affairs offers home care benefits that can cover part or all of the cost of non-medical assistance at home. If you or a loved one is a veteran in Texas or Arkansas, understanding these programs could mean the difference between struggling alone and receiving the daily support you deserve.
This guide breaks down the three main VA home care benefit programs, explains who qualifies, walks you through the application process, and shows you how Embark Care LLC can help you access the care you have earned.
VA Home Care Benefits: Three Programs Veterans Should Know
The VA provides several pathways for veterans to receive non-medical home care services. Each program has different eligibility requirements, benefit levels, and application processes. Here are the three most common programs that Texas and Arkansas veterans use to get help at home.
1. Home Based Primary Care (HBPC)
Home Based Primary Care is a VA program that provides comprehensive health care services in the veteran’s home. Under HBPC, the VA contracts with home care agencies like Embark Care to deliver non-medical assistance including help with bathing, dressing, meal preparation, light housekeeping, medication reminders, and companionship.
HBPC is designed for veterans who have complex chronic conditions and difficulty traveling to a VA medical center. The program is managed by a VA interdisciplinary team that coordinates care and authorizes home care hours through contracted providers.
Key facts about HBPC:
- Services are provided at no cost to the veteran when delivered through a VA-contracted agency
- The VA authorizes a specific number of care hours per week based on the veteran’s assessed needs
- Embark Care is a contracted VA provider (NPI: 1437747730) authorized to deliver HBPC services in Texas and Arkansas
- Services can include personal care, homemaker tasks, respite care, and companion care
2. Aid and Attendance Pension Benefit
Aid and Attendance (A&A) is an enhanced pension benefit for veterans and surviving spouses who need regular help with daily activities. This benefit provides a monthly cash payment that veterans can use to pay for home care services from a provider of their choosing.
Unlike HBPC, Aid and Attendance is a monetary benefit. The VA sends funds directly to the veteran, who then uses those funds to pay for care. In 2026, the maximum monthly A&A benefit rates are substantial enough to cover a significant number of home care hours each month.
You may qualify for Aid and Attendance if you:
- Need help with daily activities such as bathing, dressing, eating, or toileting
- Are bedridden or spend a large portion of the day in bed due to illness
- Are a patient in a nursing home due to physical or mental incapacity
- Have limited eyesight (5/200 or less in both eyes, or concentric contraction of the visual field to 5 degrees or less)
3. Veterans Pension (Improved Pension)
The Veterans Pension program provides monthly payments to wartime veterans who meet certain age or disability requirements and whose income falls below a set threshold. While the basic pension does not specifically cover home care, it provides financial support that can be directed toward care services.
Veterans receiving the basic pension who later develop a need for daily assistance can apply to have their pension increased through the Aid and Attendance or Housebound add-on benefits.
Basic eligibility for Veterans Pension:
- Served at least 90 days of active duty, with at least one day during a wartime period
- Age 65 or older, OR permanently and totally disabled
- Income below the Maximum Annual Pension Rate (MAPR) set by Congress
- Net worth within VA limits (adjusted annually)
Who Qualifies for VA Home Care Benefits in Texas and Arkansas?
Eligibility varies by program, but the general requirements for VA home care benefits include:
- Veteran status: You must have served in the United States Armed Forces and received an honorable or general discharge
- Enrollment in VA health care: For HBPC, you must be enrolled in the VA health care system
- Clinical need: A VA care team must determine that you need home-based assistance due to chronic illness, disability, or aging-related limitations
- Wartime service (for pension benefits): Aid and Attendance and Veterans Pension require service during a recognized wartime period
Many veterans are surprised to learn they qualify. Even veterans who have never used VA health care before may be eligible for these home care programs. If you are unsure about your eligibility, Embark Care can help you navigate the process at no charge.
How to Apply for VA Home Care Benefits
The application process depends on which benefit you are pursuing. Here is a step-by-step overview for each pathway.
Applying for HBPC Services
- Contact your local VA medical center and ask to speak with the Home Based Primary Care program coordinator
- Complete an assessment with the VA care team, who will evaluate your medical conditions and daily care needs
- Receive your care plan — if approved, the VA will authorize a set number of home care hours per week
- Request Embark Care as your provider and give them our NPI number: 1437747730. Providing our NPI directly to your VA doctor or social worker streamlines the authorization process and helps care begin as quickly as possible.
Embark Care, LLC | NPI: 1437747730 | Phone: (903) 204-4324
Applying for Aid and Attendance
The Aid and Attendance application process can feel overwhelming, but you do not have to navigate it alone. Embark Care partners with a trusted VA-accredited contractor who specializes in Aid and Attendance applications and walks veteran families through every step.
- Call Embark Care at (903) 204-4324 to request a free consultation
- We refer you to our contractor — a VA-accredited Aid and Attendance specialist who will review your eligibility and help gather the required documents (DD-214, medical records, financial information)
- Our contractor handles the paperwork, including VA Form 21-2680 and the full pension application — submitted to the VA on your behalf
- Begin care right away — Embark Care can start providing home care while your application is pending, delivering consistent, reliable care veterans and their families can count on
The application process can feel overwhelming, but you do not have to do it alone. Our team at Embark Care has helped hundreds of veteran families understand their options and connect with the right VA programs.
VA Home Care Services We Provide
As a contracted VA home care provider, Embark Care delivers a full range of non-medical home care services to veterans throughout Texas and Arkansas:
- Personal care: Bathing, grooming, dressing, and hygiene assistance
- Meal preparation: Planning and cooking nutritious meals based on dietary needs
- Light housekeeping: Laundry, dishes, vacuuming, and maintaining a safe living environment
- Medication reminders: Helping veterans stay on schedule with prescribed medications
- Companion care: Conversation, social engagement, and accompaniment to appointments or errands
- Respite care: Giving family caregivers a much-needed break while ensuring the veteran is safe and cared for
- Transportation assistance: Rides to medical appointments, grocery stores, and community activities
Why Veterans Choose Embark Care for VA Home Care
Not all home care agencies are the same. Here is what sets Embark Care apart as a VA home care provider:
- Contracted VA provider: We are an approved and contracted provider with the Department of Veterans Affairs (NPI: 1437747730)
- Consistent, dependable care: Reliable caregivers and steady routines veterans and their families can count on
- Locally owned, not a franchise: Embark Care is independently owned and operated by home care professionals who live in this community
- 45+ years combined experience: Our leadership team brings over four decades of combined experience in home care
- Serving hundreds of families: We currently serve hundreds of families across northeast Texas and southwest Arkansas
Our VA Home Care Service Area
Embark Care provides VA home care services from four office locations, covering 43 Texas counties and 10 Arkansas counties.
Texas — 43 Counties
From our offices in Paris, Tyler, and Greenville, we serve veterans in Anderson, Angelina, Bowie, Camp, Cass, Cherokee, Collin, Cooke, Dallas, Delta, Denton, Ellis, Fannin, Franklin, Freestone, Grayson, Gregg, Harrison, Henderson, Hill, Hopkins, Hunt, Johnson, Kaufman, Lamar, Marion, Morris, Nacogdoches, Navarro, Panola, Rains, Red River, Rockwall, Rusk, Sabine, San Augustine, Shelby, Smith, Tarrant, Titus, Upshur, Van Zandt, and Wood counties.
Arkansas — 10 Counties
From our Texarkana office, we serve veterans in Clark, Columbia, Hempstead, Howard, Lafayette, Little River, Miller, Nevada, Pike, and Sevier counties.
If you are a veteran living in any of these counties and need home care support, we can help you explore your VA benefits and get started — often within days.
Get Started with VA Home Care Benefits Today
You served our country. Now let us serve you. Whether you are a veteran exploring your home care options for the first time or a family member looking for support for a loved one, Embark Care is here to help.
We offer a free, no-obligation consultation where we will discuss your situation, explain which VA benefits you may qualify for, and outline how we can support you or your loved one at home.
Call us today at 877-800-2035 or request a free consultation online. Dependable, consistent care, no pressure — just honest guidance from a team that cares about veterans.