Posts Tagged ‘VA’

A hypothetical example to see how valuable Senior Life Care Planning’s care coordinators can be.

Senior Life Care Planning’s Elder Care Coordinators are specialists who help family members find the right sources and services for their aging parents. Additionally, they provide care coordination and advocacy, be it home care, assisted living or nursing home facilities. We help family member’s cope with their burden. Let’s look at a hypothetical example to see how valuable Senior Life Care Planning’s care coordinators can be. Wife is providing extensive care for her housebound husband. Wife has difficulty getting her husband out of bed, bathed and dressed. Additionally, Wife relies on her son who lives nearby to help her manage…

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Veterans are missing out on benefits they’ve earned

By Rita Files … Too often, veterans go without services they need simply because they are unaware of benefits they earned through their service. Consider the Aid and Attendance benefit, which is meant to help aging veterans and their surviving spouses pay for care at home, in a nursing home, or in an assisted-living facility. Millions of veterans and their families are failing to take advantage of it. According to a recent report, about 105,000 veterans were using the benefit last year. Yet the pool of potential recipients could be much bigger. There are 2.3 million World War II vets…

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Does workman’s compensation count as veteran’s income on the VA A&A application?

Yes.  See following from 38 CFR 3.262 (i) Compensation ( civilian ) for injury or death. (1) Compensation paid by the Bureau of Employees' Compensation, Department of Labor (of the United States), or by Social Security Administration, or by Railroad Retirement Board, or pursuant to any workmen's compensation or employer's liability statute, or damages collected because of personal injury or death, less medical, legal, or other expenses incident to the injury or death, or the collection or recovery of such moneys will be considered income as received, except as provided in paragraph (i)(2) of this section. The criteria of paragraph…

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Here’s a reminder of a benefit, called the Aid and Attendance, which can cover nearly $2,000 a month of such costs for qualifying veterans, depending on the situation.

According to the Department of Veterans Affairs Web site, the benefit is paid in addition to monthly pension benefits. To qualify for the aid benefit, the veteran must generally be 65 or older (if not permanently disabled), have served during wartime and meet certain other income and asset requirements and medical requirements. In particular, annual income for the veteran and his or her spouse — not counting unreimbursed medical expenses — must be below a certain level. As for medical requirements, the veteran must require the aid of someone else to perform everyday “personal functions,” be bedridden, live in a…

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Attention Veterans – Stationed in Thailand between 1961 thru 1975.

Vietnam-era Veterans whose service involved duty on or near the perimeters of military bases in Thailand anytime between February 28, 1961 and May 7, 1975 may have been exposed to herbicides and may qualify for VA benefits. The following Veterans may have been exposed to herbicides: U.S. Air Force Veterans who served on Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) bases at U-Tapao, Ubon, Nakhon Phanom, Udorn, Takhli, Korat, and Don Muang, near the air base perimeter anytime between February 28, 1961 and May 7, 1975. U.S. Army Veterans who provided perimeter security on RTAF bases in Thailand anytime between February 28,…

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What is VA Accreditation?

Accreditation refers to the authority granted by the VA to those who meet the standards established by the VA. VA's stated purpose in requiring accreditation is to ensure that claimants for VA benefits receive "qualified assistance in preparing and presenting their claims." Firms or Individuals who are not accredited cannot offer advice to anyone on filing a claim for pension. In order to provide a consultation on a client's individual claim you must be accredited. You cannot help someone or advise someone on an application and then have the family file a claim unless you are accredited.

What’s the proper way to notify the VA of the death of a veteran receiving Aid and Attendance?

Provide the VA with a statement in support of claim form (21-4138) and a copy of the death certificate when available.  To stop direct deposit of benefits, the next of kin or Personal Representative of the Estate should call 1-877-838-2778 and request payments be stopped. The VA pays one month in arrears; the check for March is for the month of February. Therefore, the deceased, a single veteran with no dependents, the check for February can be kept. However, the March check needs to be returned.  If the veteran was married or a dependent child, the check for the entire month…

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What happens if a Vietnam Veteran, who was exposed to Agent Orange, dies before his service connected claim is finalized?

This veteran should have filed a long time ago; therefore, the veteran needs to file IMMEDIATELY.  (1)  If veteran dies before the claim is awarded, is married or has a dependent child, that person must be substituted for the veteran. Therefore, the original claim can be processed. Consequently, the payment is the same as if the veteran had lived. (2)  If the veteran dies without dependents, a family member may file for accrued benefits. Providing that the family member personally paid for any expenses related to the last illness and/or funeral/burial.  Therefore, the VA will reimburse up to, what was paid by…

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Can a veteran’s mother make a claim for Aid and Attendance?

Although, his mother is considered a dependent, on a veteran's service connected compensation claim, if the veteran is rated 30% or more, in my opinion, the VA will not allow a parent to be a dependent on a non service connected pension claim. Because, dependent children and spouses are only allowed, as dependents, on a non service connected pension claims.

What is countable income for veteran’s AID AND ATTENDANCE eligibility purposes?

What is countable income for veteran’s AID AND ATTENDANCE eligibility purposes?  Any income received by the veteran and in the household is countable income. It includes earnings, disability and retirement payments, interest and dividends, and net income from farming or business. Please note that the VA and Medicaid view income and assets differently – for example – there is a presumption that all of a child’s income is available to or for the veteran and Medicaid has a five year look back period unlike the VA. To increase your monthly income, please contact us about a FREE VA benefits HANDBOOK,…

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