Veteran's Benefits
Do You Know That You Can Receive Money From The VA?
There is no dispute that people are living longer. Consequently, the aging process can become confusing and complex. Therefore, navigating through the maze of long-term care and VA benefits can be quite puzzling to veterans.
The great news is that YOU ARE NOT ALONE! We can help. We can help you obtain an increase in monthly income to pay for home care or an assisted living facility. Consequently, the veteran can live with dignity and respect.
Many veterans have benefited from the help from the Law Office of David Wingate, P.C., “I could have never done this alone” or “someone out there to listen, understand, and guide has been invaluable” and another who said, “it had given me the opportunity to plan in a non-crisis environment.”
Who is Eligible for Care in the VA Health System?
To receive care, most veterans must be enrolled in the VA health system. Eligibility for the health system depends on a number of factors, including the nature of your discharge from military service, your length of service, whether you have service-connected disabilities, your income level, and available VA resources, among others.
To be eligible, you must not have been dishonorably discharged from the military. Your length of service may also be important. Former enlisted persons who started active duty before September 8, 1980, and former officers who first entered active duty before October 17, 1981, do not have a length-of-service requirement. Otherwise you must have 24 months of continuous active duty military service, though there are several exceptions for reservists, national guard members, service-connected disabilities, and hardship discharges, among others.
Certain veterans do not need to be enrolled in the VA health system to receive benefits if: you are 50 percent or more disabled from a service-connected disability, you are seeking care for a VA rated service-connected disability, or it has been less than one year since you were discharged for a disability that the military determined was caused or aggravated by your service, but the VA has not yet rated the disability.
The VA has limited resources, so if you are eligible for services, you will be assigned to a priority group. The priority groups range from 1-8 with 1 being the highest priority for enrollment. Previously, veterans assigned to priority 8 were not eligible for enrollment or care for non-service connected conditions. New regulations went into effect on June 15, 2009 that enable the VA to relax income restrictions on enrollment for health benefits.
What Is Covered by the VA Health Benefits?
The standard benefits package includes: Preventative care services, outpatient diagnostic and treatment services (including mental health and substance abuse treatment), inpatient diagnostic and treatment services, prescriptions, and long-term care (including nursing home care for some veterans).
The VA offers a number of long-term care options through its health plan. All enrolled veterans are eligible for the following services:
- Geriatric evaluation provides either an inpatient or outpatient evaluation of a veteran's ability to care for him or herself.
- Adult day health care, a therapeutic day care program that provides medical and rehabilitation services to veterans.
- Respite care provides either inpatient or outpatient supportive care for veterans to allow caregivers to get a break.
- Home care nursing, physical therapy, and other services provided in the veteran's home.
- Hospice/palliative care provides services for terminally ill veterans and their families.
Some services are limited to certain veterans: nursing home care and domiciliary care are not automatically available to all veterans enrolled in the VA health plan.
The following veterans automatically qualify for unlimited nursing home care:
- Veterans who are seeking nursing home care for a service-related condition.
- Veterans with a service-connected disability rating of 70 percent or more.
- Veterans who have a service-connected disability of 60 percent and are unemployable.
A service-connected disability is a disability that the VA has officially ruled was incurred or aggravated while on active duty in the military and in the line of duty. The VA must rule that your illness/condition is directly related to your active military service, and it assigns each disability a rating. The ratings are established by VA regional offices around the country.
The VA may provide nursing home care to other veterans if space permits. Veterans with service-connected disabilities receive priority. There are also state-run veteran's nursing homes. The VA provides funds to states to help them build the homes and pays a portion of the costs for veterans eligible for VA health care. The states, however, set eligibility criteria for admission.
A Domiciliary is a VA facility that provides care on an ambulatory self-care basis for veterans disabled by age or disease who are not in need of acute hospitalization and who do not need the skilled nursing services provided in a nursing home. Domiciliary care is available to low-income veterans with a disability.
How We Can Help with Your Veteran's Benefits
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) offers a wide range of benefits in major categories such as compensation, pension, health care and burial. Eligibility requirements vary, so it is not uncommon for a veteran to qualify for some benefits and not others. There are many benefits available to all honorably discharged veterans while others are limited to veterans with service-connected disabilities, wartime service or, in some instances, there are limitations based on assets and income.
The Law Office of David Wingate PC has qualified staff who can review individual income and asset eligibility requirements, and provide advice and strategies in order to qualify for these valuable benefits.
Without the proper planning and guidance however, filing a successful claim can be a time consuming and complicated process. It is important to get help from an experienced professional.
Applications that involve asset transfers in order to qualify should not be attempted without the help of a qualified professional. A comprehensive plan that considers effects of all public benefits, including Veteran's Benefits and Medicaid, as well as a clear understanding of the tax consequences is critical.
Applications can be obtained directly from the Department of Veterans Affairs.