Post by norbert1 on Jul 13, 2006 9:34:45 GMT -5
Little-known VA program can help vets with out-of-pocket medical costs
(Source: Sun-Sentinel) - "Aid and Attendance" is a little-known VA health system that provides money to veterans for assisted living and home health care. The problem: Most veterans just don't know about it, VA officials say.
For years, the program has provided monthly payments to veterans and their spouses who have high out-of-pocket medical costs, and who are disabled or homebound, to help them offset health care expenses. The eligibility formula balances income against medical bills, so middle-class vets could qualify for payments as high as $1,744 a month.
-------------------------
Full article from --
www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/southflorida/sfl-veterans16feb16,0,3791122.story?coll=sfla-home-headlines
Little-known VA program can help vets with out-of-pocket medical costs
By Diane C. Lade
South Florida Sun-Sentinel
Posted February 16 2006
More veterans were denied federal health care benefits in Florida last year than in any other state, with more than 27,000 being turned away, a new survey shows. Veterans organizations worry that those numbers will grow as the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs tries to curb rising health care costs.
Yet one program that could open the door to the VA health care system, as well as provide money for assisted living and home health care, isn't being explored by many vets who might benefit.
The reason: Most veterans just don't know about it, VA officials say.
It's called Aid and Attendance. For years, the VA program has provided monthly payments to veterans and their spouses who have high out-of-pocket medical costs, and who are disabled or homebound, to help them offset health care expenses. The eligibility formula balances income against medical bills, so middle-class vets could qualify for payments as high as $1,744 a month.
But VA officials think more veterans might be eligible than are tapping into the program. They consider Aid and Attendance one of the department's most underutilized offerings.
A recent study commissioned by the VA suggested only about one-fourth of eligible veterans nationwide, and about 17 percent of eligible widows, are participating.
"We're asking ourselves: `Why is that?'" said Barbara Harker, the veteran's benefits and assistance director for the Florida Department of Veterans Affairs in Largo.
Aid and Attendance could especially assist veterans now, as the VA has clamped down on new health care enrollments for those with no service-connected disabilities. In 2003, the department created what is called "Priority 8," a classification that barred access to VA clinics, hospitals, physicians and medications for people over certain income limits.
The limit is $33,700 for a single Broward County vet and $35,150 for a single Palm Beach County veteran.
According to federal statistics, 27,465 Florida veterans looking to enroll in the VA health care system last year were told they would not receive service because of Priority 8, far more than in any other state. One reason cited: Florida has the second highest number of civilian veterans in the country, 1.8 million. But California, with 2.3 million vets, had 17,378 denials.
Toivo Nevala, 89, formerly of Jupiter, is like some others who served in the Army during World War II. According to his family, he never knew he was entitled to VA benefits and never filed for any until, after he had a massive heart attack, relatives were looking for a care facility for Nevala and his wife, who has Alzheimer's disease.
Tamarac elder-law attorney Alice Reiter Feld, who is helping the Nevalas put together a care plan, told the family about Aid and Attendance. They applied, and now Nevala and his wife, who are in a Hobe Sound assisted living center, receive about $1,500 a month.
"Without it, we couldn't make it. Money only goes so far, and they aren't that well off," said their niece Pamela Carroll, of Michigan.
Feld, who has taught other attorneys about Aid and Attendance, said the program never received the publicity that the veterans' prescription, education and housing benefits did. "I'm glad they're promoting it now but I wish they had done it sooner," she said.
Raymond White, a Korean War veteran and volunteer service officer who helps others apply for benefits, thinks Florida's high rate of Priority 8 denials is due in part to an increase in veterans turning to the VA for the first time as housing, medication and health care costs rise in South Florida. "You have people who retired 30 years ago with plenty of money who never filed. Now they are working at Wal-Mart," said White, of Delray Beach.
Veterans who qualify for Aid and Attendance automatically get full VA health care and prescription benefits as well. Because the program's eligibility formula counts all unreimbursed medical expenses against a veteran's income, someone who made enough money to be denied health care under Priority 8 might get it under Aid and Attendance if his or her medical costs were high enough.
A doctor also must certify that a veteran or spouse has conditions requiring the "aid and attendance" of another person or care center in order to live safely. About half of those receiving the benefit live in nursing homes, with the rest in assisted living centers or receiving home care.
While veterans and their families still may not know about Aid and Attendance, private enterprise has picked up on the program. VA officials have heard about companies that, for a fee, help care centers or the veterans themselves apply.
Floyd White, the veteran's service officer for Broward's Elderly and Veterans Services Division, points out that he and other county agents will do the same thing for free. Private companies, however, sometimes will front money to a care facility until the VA approves the benefit, something county governments can't do.
"A lot of people are desperate for the check. They can't wait," White said.
Diane Lade can be reached at 561-243-6618 or dlade@sun-sentinel.com (ft Lauterdale)
---------------------------
madn2006 replied ---
"They also had to serve at least one day during a war"
This appears to be correct. It is amazing that this key information is not included in the article. Here's another more complete article - courtesy of Pat-Camachinist
-----------------------
"Financial Assistance For Elderly Veterans And Their Widows Is a Well Kept Secret."
article at--
www.vipcaremanagement.com/Articles/Financial_Assistance_for_Elderly_Veterans.htm
Financial Assistance For Elderly Veterans And Their Widows
Is a Well Kept Secret.
Sonja Kobrin, M.P.S., C.M.C. Geriatric Care Manager
V.I.P. Care Management, Inc.
Ask an elderly Veteran if they are aware they may be eligible for a pension from the Veteran’s Administration and they will tell you “ I’m not eligible because I was not injured in the War.” This is a common misconception, which keeps many Veterans from tapping into a benefit they well earned by serving our country. The fact is elderly, disabled Veterans and their widows may very well qualify for large sums of money, but they have to apply for the funds. There are several Veteran pensions, but the pension designed to help elderly Veterans and widows pay for costly home health care or Assisted Living Facility care is called Pension with Aid and Attendance. It is actually two pensions in one. The two pensions combined can pay a veteran up to $1,674 per month and a widow can receive up to $960 per month. The amount one receives depends upon whether or not they are married, how much their medical expenses may be and their current financial and medical status. The pension is paid by check directly to the Veteran or widow every month as long as they meet the criteria.
The Aid and Attendance Pension is the government’s best-kept secret. I cannot tell you how many seniors have told me that they called the Veterans’ Administration and were actually told that this pension does not exist or that they do not qualify. For twelve years, I have assisted veterans and widows in obtaining these funds – they really do exist.
To get the maximum pension amount, a veteran must qualify medically and financially and must have served their country for at least one day during “War Time”. Also the Veteran must have been honorably discharged. Every case is considered individually. If a Veteran or Veteran Widow feels they may qualify, they can apply for the pension. The pension can take many months to actually be approved. The average waiting period is three to eight months. The first check will be retroactive to the date the application arrived at the Veterans’ Administration, therefore the first check may be for thousands of dollars. Subsequent checks will arrive monthly for the approved amount. This pension money can mean the difference between affording adequate care for an aging Veteran/ Widow or having no care at all.
As with any governmental program, success is all in the paperwork. The pension application is seven pages long and some of it is in essay form. It is the exact wording used in the essay areas that mean the difference between approval or denial. Also, the Veteran’s Administration does not tell Veterans about all the supporting documents that they would like to see. The better the medical and financial records, the better the chances of approval. Including the right medical forms signed by a doctor is very important for approval. Also typical of governmental red tape is the frustrating lack of communication. Once the application is filed and in the process of being reviewed, it is nearly impossible to get an update or check on the status of the application.
In a perfect world, financial assistance for those who qualify should be easily accessible and easy to get. But the reality is that government agencies are inherently complicated and their application processes are never self-explanatory or simple. Ignorance of the rules is no excuse and no one will tell you the rules. The rules are written somewhere, but the Veterans Administration is not allowed to give them to you. Seasoned Eldercare professionals can often navigate these processes for you. They may charge for their services, but to attempt to do it yourself and have your application denied, will cost much more money. The Veterans’ Administration supposedly employs staff to help Veterans and their Widows apply for these pensions for free, but it is these very people who have told so many seniors that they do not qualify, when in fact, they could qualify if they made one small change. Perhaps the Veteran’s Administration is afraid that if they made it easy for every Veteran to apply, the pension fund would go broke. Given that War Time includes the Gulf War Era, which began in 1990 and has not ended yet, I anticipate the pension fund will one day be either broke or impossible to get. For now, the money is very much available and attainable.
Here are the Aid and Attendance eligibility criteria for the year 2005.
1) Veteran served in the Military for at least one day during War Time or had a spouse who served at that time. Spouses are people whom you never divorced.
2) Honorably Discharged from the Military.
3) Currently has medical or psychological condition which make the Veteran or Veteran widow dependent on the aid or assistance of a non- family member in order to meet their daily care needs or they reside in an Assisted Living Facility
(not a nursing home). This claim must be supported by physician signed forms and medical records.
4) Financial: Have assets in their own name below $80,000 (if married) or below $50,000 (if single). The car and house does not count as an asset. Annual income below $16,955 (if single) or $ 20,099 (if married) after all medical expenses such as Assisted Living fees, paid caregiver salary, medications, medical transportation/ supplies, certain housing expenses, etc.
In many cases, if a person has a paid care giver, such as a nurse’s aide, or they pay an Assisted Living Facility, those expenses impact so greatly on a person’s net income, that they will meet the criteria for the income level.
If a Veteran or Veteran Widow has cash assets above the limit, they are allowed to place those assets into certain investments in order to have them “sheltered”. This sheltering does not have a penalty or “look back period” associated with it. Proper asset sheltering for Aid and Attendance should be done under the supervision of an Eldercare professional or Attorney well versed in Medicaid planning because one could easily ruin the chances of ever getting Medicaid if the VA pension planning was done incorrectly.
With a little professional planning, many Veterans and Veteran Widows can receive pensions that make a significant difference in the amount of care they receive. After all, the reason for this particular pension is to assure that a Veteran or Veteran Widow does not live in a substandard environment in their old age. It takes a little work to apply for this pension, but anything worth having usually does.
----------------
per midwestmom
Not a secret at ALL --just get a copy of the VA Handbook 04/06/06 10:56 AM
It mentions Aid and Attendance on page 23. If your local (state) VA counselor is inept, I am sorry. Just point it out to them and if that doesn't work, ask for their superior and if that doesn't work, file a complaint.
The program is NOT a secret. It is just a matter of finding out which program your loved one qualifies for. I think one of the reasons this program may be overlooked by a lot of people INCLUDING some local county VA workers is because it is listed under SPECIAL COMPENSATION in the VA literature rather than a special category called "Aid and Attendance."
Here is an online VA website listing various VA benefits including the Aid and attendance program.
www.vba.va.gov/bln/21/Benefits/
----------------
Department of Veterans Affairs - Aid and Attendance
www.vba.va.gov/ro/desmoines/c&pdocs/factsheet/aidandattendance.htm
VA compensation and pension benefits page
www.vba.va.gov/bln/21/Benefits/
access the following website for a brief description:
www.hadit.com/library/freqrequests/aidandattendance.htm
Additional resources From Purple Pat:
www.veteranaid.org/help.php
Resources list for the Aid & Attendance Pension filing
www.vetassist.org/index.htm
VetAssist program is sponsored by the American Veterans Institute,
There is a worksheet and the following information.
VETERAN: To be eligible for the Aid & Attendance:
A veteran alone must have countable income LESS than: $18,654/yr.
A veteran with a spouse must have countable income LESS than: $22,113/yr.
SURVIVING SPOUSE: To be eligible for the Aid & Attendance:
A spouse alone must have countable income LESS than: $11,985/yr.
A spouse with a dependent must have countable income LESS than: $14,298/yr.
VETERAN: To be eligible for Housebound Benefit:
A veteran alone must have countable income of LESS than: $13,664/yr.
A veteran with a spouse must have countable income LESS than: $17,126/yr
SURVIVING SPOUSE: To be eligible for Housebound Benefit:
A spouse alone must have countable income LESS than: $9,164/yr.
A spouse with a dependent must have countable income LESS than: $11,478/yr.
----------------
per kathianne
Below, I've listed some information for those who may be seeking help from a financial planner who does these applications. I hope you find it helpful.
Alliant Associates (800)465-1266
Based in Colorado, helps people everywhere to get these benefits.You could also look for a website for them.
www.veteransfinancial.com/index.html
Similar to Alliant, based in Philadelphia.
------------------
Posted by kd5k
widows pension and A & A info 04/07/06 11:50 AM
Department of Veterans Affairs
Death Pension Benefits
What Is Death Pension ? (Survivor Pension)
Death Pension is a benefit paid to eligible dependents of deceased wartime veterans.
Who Is Eligible ?
You may be eligible if:
• the deceased veteran was discharged from service under other than dishonorable conditions, AND
• he or she served 90 days or more of active duty with at least 1 day during a period of war time. However, 38 CFR 3.12a requires that anyone who enlists after 9/7/80 generally has to serve at least 24 months or the full period for which a person was called or ordered to active duty in order to receive any benefits based on that period of service. With the advent of the Gulf War on 8/2/90 (and still not ended by Congress to this day), veterans can now serve after 9/7/80 during a period of wartime. When they do, they generally now must serve 24 months to be eligible for pension or any other benefits. But note the exclusions in 38 CFR 3.12(d), AND
• you are the surviving spouse or unmarried child of the deceased veteran, AND
• your countable income is below a yearly limit set by law
INCOME LIMITS ( EFFECTIVE DECEMBER 1, 2005 )
If you are a... Your yearly income must be less than...
Surviving spouse with no dependent children $ 7,094
Surviving spouse with one dependent child $ 9,287
(Add $1,806 to the limit for EACH additional child)
Housebound surviving spouse with no dependents $ 8,670
Housebound surviving spouse with one dependent $10,860
Surviving spouse who needs aid and attendance with no dependents $11,340
Surviving spouse who needs aid and attendance with one dependent $13,529
Surviving child (no eligible parent) $1,806
Note: Some income is not counted toward the yearly limit (for example, welfare benefits, some wages earned by dependent children, and Supplemental Security Income)
How Much Does VA Pay ?
VA pays you the difference between your countable income and the yearly income limit which describes your situation (see chart above). This difference is generally paid in 12 equal monthly payments rounded down to the nearest dollar. Call the toll-free number below for details.
How Can You Apply ?
You can apply by filling out VA Form 21-534, Application for Dependency and Indemnity Compensation Or Death Pension by Surviving Spouse or Child. If available, attach copies of dependency records (marriage & children's birth certificates).
For More Information Call Toll-Free 1-800-827-1000
Or Visit Our Web Site At www.va.gov
Compensation and Pension Service – December 2005
--------------------
www.va.gov/
Department of Veterans affairs
vabenefits.vba.va.gov/vonapp/main.asp
VA on-line application site. I cannot find anything about aid and Attendance there.
(Source: Sun-Sentinel) - "Aid and Attendance" is a little-known VA health system that provides money to veterans for assisted living and home health care. The problem: Most veterans just don't know about it, VA officials say.
For years, the program has provided monthly payments to veterans and their spouses who have high out-of-pocket medical costs, and who are disabled or homebound, to help them offset health care expenses. The eligibility formula balances income against medical bills, so middle-class vets could qualify for payments as high as $1,744 a month.
-------------------------
Full article from --
www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/southflorida/sfl-veterans16feb16,0,3791122.story?coll=sfla-home-headlines
Little-known VA program can help vets with out-of-pocket medical costs
By Diane C. Lade
South Florida Sun-Sentinel
Posted February 16 2006
More veterans were denied federal health care benefits in Florida last year than in any other state, with more than 27,000 being turned away, a new survey shows. Veterans organizations worry that those numbers will grow as the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs tries to curb rising health care costs.
Yet one program that could open the door to the VA health care system, as well as provide money for assisted living and home health care, isn't being explored by many vets who might benefit.
The reason: Most veterans just don't know about it, VA officials say.
It's called Aid and Attendance. For years, the VA program has provided monthly payments to veterans and their spouses who have high out-of-pocket medical costs, and who are disabled or homebound, to help them offset health care expenses. The eligibility formula balances income against medical bills, so middle-class vets could qualify for payments as high as $1,744 a month.
But VA officials think more veterans might be eligible than are tapping into the program. They consider Aid and Attendance one of the department's most underutilized offerings.
A recent study commissioned by the VA suggested only about one-fourth of eligible veterans nationwide, and about 17 percent of eligible widows, are participating.
"We're asking ourselves: `Why is that?'" said Barbara Harker, the veteran's benefits and assistance director for the Florida Department of Veterans Affairs in Largo.
Aid and Attendance could especially assist veterans now, as the VA has clamped down on new health care enrollments for those with no service-connected disabilities. In 2003, the department created what is called "Priority 8," a classification that barred access to VA clinics, hospitals, physicians and medications for people over certain income limits.
The limit is $33,700 for a single Broward County vet and $35,150 for a single Palm Beach County veteran.
According to federal statistics, 27,465 Florida veterans looking to enroll in the VA health care system last year were told they would not receive service because of Priority 8, far more than in any other state. One reason cited: Florida has the second highest number of civilian veterans in the country, 1.8 million. But California, with 2.3 million vets, had 17,378 denials.
Toivo Nevala, 89, formerly of Jupiter, is like some others who served in the Army during World War II. According to his family, he never knew he was entitled to VA benefits and never filed for any until, after he had a massive heart attack, relatives were looking for a care facility for Nevala and his wife, who has Alzheimer's disease.
Tamarac elder-law attorney Alice Reiter Feld, who is helping the Nevalas put together a care plan, told the family about Aid and Attendance. They applied, and now Nevala and his wife, who are in a Hobe Sound assisted living center, receive about $1,500 a month.
"Without it, we couldn't make it. Money only goes so far, and they aren't that well off," said their niece Pamela Carroll, of Michigan.
Feld, who has taught other attorneys about Aid and Attendance, said the program never received the publicity that the veterans' prescription, education and housing benefits did. "I'm glad they're promoting it now but I wish they had done it sooner," she said.
Raymond White, a Korean War veteran and volunteer service officer who helps others apply for benefits, thinks Florida's high rate of Priority 8 denials is due in part to an increase in veterans turning to the VA for the first time as housing, medication and health care costs rise in South Florida. "You have people who retired 30 years ago with plenty of money who never filed. Now they are working at Wal-Mart," said White, of Delray Beach.
Veterans who qualify for Aid and Attendance automatically get full VA health care and prescription benefits as well. Because the program's eligibility formula counts all unreimbursed medical expenses against a veteran's income, someone who made enough money to be denied health care under Priority 8 might get it under Aid and Attendance if his or her medical costs were high enough.
A doctor also must certify that a veteran or spouse has conditions requiring the "aid and attendance" of another person or care center in order to live safely. About half of those receiving the benefit live in nursing homes, with the rest in assisted living centers or receiving home care.
While veterans and their families still may not know about Aid and Attendance, private enterprise has picked up on the program. VA officials have heard about companies that, for a fee, help care centers or the veterans themselves apply.
Floyd White, the veteran's service officer for Broward's Elderly and Veterans Services Division, points out that he and other county agents will do the same thing for free. Private companies, however, sometimes will front money to a care facility until the VA approves the benefit, something county governments can't do.
"A lot of people are desperate for the check. They can't wait," White said.
Diane Lade can be reached at 561-243-6618 or dlade@sun-sentinel.com (ft Lauterdale)
---------------------------
madn2006 replied ---
"They also had to serve at least one day during a war"
This appears to be correct. It is amazing that this key information is not included in the article. Here's another more complete article - courtesy of Pat-Camachinist
-----------------------
"Financial Assistance For Elderly Veterans And Their Widows Is a Well Kept Secret."
article at--
www.vipcaremanagement.com/Articles/Financial_Assistance_for_Elderly_Veterans.htm
Financial Assistance For Elderly Veterans And Their Widows
Is a Well Kept Secret.
Sonja Kobrin, M.P.S., C.M.C. Geriatric Care Manager
V.I.P. Care Management, Inc.
Ask an elderly Veteran if they are aware they may be eligible for a pension from the Veteran’s Administration and they will tell you “ I’m not eligible because I was not injured in the War.” This is a common misconception, which keeps many Veterans from tapping into a benefit they well earned by serving our country. The fact is elderly, disabled Veterans and their widows may very well qualify for large sums of money, but they have to apply for the funds. There are several Veteran pensions, but the pension designed to help elderly Veterans and widows pay for costly home health care or Assisted Living Facility care is called Pension with Aid and Attendance. It is actually two pensions in one. The two pensions combined can pay a veteran up to $1,674 per month and a widow can receive up to $960 per month. The amount one receives depends upon whether or not they are married, how much their medical expenses may be and their current financial and medical status. The pension is paid by check directly to the Veteran or widow every month as long as they meet the criteria.
The Aid and Attendance Pension is the government’s best-kept secret. I cannot tell you how many seniors have told me that they called the Veterans’ Administration and were actually told that this pension does not exist or that they do not qualify. For twelve years, I have assisted veterans and widows in obtaining these funds – they really do exist.
To get the maximum pension amount, a veteran must qualify medically and financially and must have served their country for at least one day during “War Time”. Also the Veteran must have been honorably discharged. Every case is considered individually. If a Veteran or Veteran Widow feels they may qualify, they can apply for the pension. The pension can take many months to actually be approved. The average waiting period is three to eight months. The first check will be retroactive to the date the application arrived at the Veterans’ Administration, therefore the first check may be for thousands of dollars. Subsequent checks will arrive monthly for the approved amount. This pension money can mean the difference between affording adequate care for an aging Veteran/ Widow or having no care at all.
As with any governmental program, success is all in the paperwork. The pension application is seven pages long and some of it is in essay form. It is the exact wording used in the essay areas that mean the difference between approval or denial. Also, the Veteran’s Administration does not tell Veterans about all the supporting documents that they would like to see. The better the medical and financial records, the better the chances of approval. Including the right medical forms signed by a doctor is very important for approval. Also typical of governmental red tape is the frustrating lack of communication. Once the application is filed and in the process of being reviewed, it is nearly impossible to get an update or check on the status of the application.
In a perfect world, financial assistance for those who qualify should be easily accessible and easy to get. But the reality is that government agencies are inherently complicated and their application processes are never self-explanatory or simple. Ignorance of the rules is no excuse and no one will tell you the rules. The rules are written somewhere, but the Veterans Administration is not allowed to give them to you. Seasoned Eldercare professionals can often navigate these processes for you. They may charge for their services, but to attempt to do it yourself and have your application denied, will cost much more money. The Veterans’ Administration supposedly employs staff to help Veterans and their Widows apply for these pensions for free, but it is these very people who have told so many seniors that they do not qualify, when in fact, they could qualify if they made one small change. Perhaps the Veteran’s Administration is afraid that if they made it easy for every Veteran to apply, the pension fund would go broke. Given that War Time includes the Gulf War Era, which began in 1990 and has not ended yet, I anticipate the pension fund will one day be either broke or impossible to get. For now, the money is very much available and attainable.
Here are the Aid and Attendance eligibility criteria for the year 2005.
1) Veteran served in the Military for at least one day during War Time or had a spouse who served at that time. Spouses are people whom you never divorced.
2) Honorably Discharged from the Military.
3) Currently has medical or psychological condition which make the Veteran or Veteran widow dependent on the aid or assistance of a non- family member in order to meet their daily care needs or they reside in an Assisted Living Facility
(not a nursing home). This claim must be supported by physician signed forms and medical records.
4) Financial: Have assets in their own name below $80,000 (if married) or below $50,000 (if single). The car and house does not count as an asset. Annual income below $16,955 (if single) or $ 20,099 (if married) after all medical expenses such as Assisted Living fees, paid caregiver salary, medications, medical transportation/ supplies, certain housing expenses, etc.
In many cases, if a person has a paid care giver, such as a nurse’s aide, or they pay an Assisted Living Facility, those expenses impact so greatly on a person’s net income, that they will meet the criteria for the income level.
If a Veteran or Veteran Widow has cash assets above the limit, they are allowed to place those assets into certain investments in order to have them “sheltered”. This sheltering does not have a penalty or “look back period” associated with it. Proper asset sheltering for Aid and Attendance should be done under the supervision of an Eldercare professional or Attorney well versed in Medicaid planning because one could easily ruin the chances of ever getting Medicaid if the VA pension planning was done incorrectly.
With a little professional planning, many Veterans and Veteran Widows can receive pensions that make a significant difference in the amount of care they receive. After all, the reason for this particular pension is to assure that a Veteran or Veteran Widow does not live in a substandard environment in their old age. It takes a little work to apply for this pension, but anything worth having usually does.
----------------
per midwestmom
Not a secret at ALL --just get a copy of the VA Handbook 04/06/06 10:56 AM
It mentions Aid and Attendance on page 23. If your local (state) VA counselor is inept, I am sorry. Just point it out to them and if that doesn't work, ask for their superior and if that doesn't work, file a complaint.
The program is NOT a secret. It is just a matter of finding out which program your loved one qualifies for. I think one of the reasons this program may be overlooked by a lot of people INCLUDING some local county VA workers is because it is listed under SPECIAL COMPENSATION in the VA literature rather than a special category called "Aid and Attendance."
Here is an online VA website listing various VA benefits including the Aid and attendance program.
www.vba.va.gov/bln/21/Benefits/
----------------
Department of Veterans Affairs - Aid and Attendance
www.vba.va.gov/ro/desmoines/c&pdocs/factsheet/aidandattendance.htm
VA compensation and pension benefits page
www.vba.va.gov/bln/21/Benefits/
access the following website for a brief description:
www.hadit.com/library/freqrequests/aidandattendance.htm
Additional resources From Purple Pat:
www.veteranaid.org/help.php
Resources list for the Aid & Attendance Pension filing
www.vetassist.org/index.htm
VetAssist program is sponsored by the American Veterans Institute,
There is a worksheet and the following information.
VETERAN: To be eligible for the Aid & Attendance:
A veteran alone must have countable income LESS than: $18,654/yr.
A veteran with a spouse must have countable income LESS than: $22,113/yr.
SURVIVING SPOUSE: To be eligible for the Aid & Attendance:
A spouse alone must have countable income LESS than: $11,985/yr.
A spouse with a dependent must have countable income LESS than: $14,298/yr.
VETERAN: To be eligible for Housebound Benefit:
A veteran alone must have countable income of LESS than: $13,664/yr.
A veteran with a spouse must have countable income LESS than: $17,126/yr
SURVIVING SPOUSE: To be eligible for Housebound Benefit:
A spouse alone must have countable income LESS than: $9,164/yr.
A spouse with a dependent must have countable income LESS than: $11,478/yr.
----------------
per kathianne
Below, I've listed some information for those who may be seeking help from a financial planner who does these applications. I hope you find it helpful.
Alliant Associates (800)465-1266
Based in Colorado, helps people everywhere to get these benefits.You could also look for a website for them.
www.veteransfinancial.com/index.html
Similar to Alliant, based in Philadelphia.
------------------
Posted by kd5k
widows pension and A & A info 04/07/06 11:50 AM
Department of Veterans Affairs
Death Pension Benefits
What Is Death Pension ? (Survivor Pension)
Death Pension is a benefit paid to eligible dependents of deceased wartime veterans.
Who Is Eligible ?
You may be eligible if:
• the deceased veteran was discharged from service under other than dishonorable conditions, AND
• he or she served 90 days or more of active duty with at least 1 day during a period of war time. However, 38 CFR 3.12a requires that anyone who enlists after 9/7/80 generally has to serve at least 24 months or the full period for which a person was called or ordered to active duty in order to receive any benefits based on that period of service. With the advent of the Gulf War on 8/2/90 (and still not ended by Congress to this day), veterans can now serve after 9/7/80 during a period of wartime. When they do, they generally now must serve 24 months to be eligible for pension or any other benefits. But note the exclusions in 38 CFR 3.12(d), AND
• you are the surviving spouse or unmarried child of the deceased veteran, AND
• your countable income is below a yearly limit set by law
INCOME LIMITS ( EFFECTIVE DECEMBER 1, 2005 )
If you are a... Your yearly income must be less than...
Surviving spouse with no dependent children $ 7,094
Surviving spouse with one dependent child $ 9,287
(Add $1,806 to the limit for EACH additional child)
Housebound surviving spouse with no dependents $ 8,670
Housebound surviving spouse with one dependent $10,860
Surviving spouse who needs aid and attendance with no dependents $11,340
Surviving spouse who needs aid and attendance with one dependent $13,529
Surviving child (no eligible parent) $1,806
Note: Some income is not counted toward the yearly limit (for example, welfare benefits, some wages earned by dependent children, and Supplemental Security Income)
How Much Does VA Pay ?
VA pays you the difference between your countable income and the yearly income limit which describes your situation (see chart above). This difference is generally paid in 12 equal monthly payments rounded down to the nearest dollar. Call the toll-free number below for details.
How Can You Apply ?
You can apply by filling out VA Form 21-534, Application for Dependency and Indemnity Compensation Or Death Pension by Surviving Spouse or Child. If available, attach copies of dependency records (marriage & children's birth certificates).
For More Information Call Toll-Free 1-800-827-1000
Or Visit Our Web Site At www.va.gov
Compensation and Pension Service – December 2005
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www.va.gov/
Department of Veterans affairs
vabenefits.vba.va.gov/vonapp/main.asp
VA on-line application site. I cannot find anything about aid and Attendance there.
