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VA Benefits for Assisted Living

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A Place for Mom and VeteranAid.org teamed up to answer your questions about the Veterans Aid & Attendance Pension. Learn about common VA myths, questions and learn how to get you VA benefits.

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Page 1: VA Benefits for Assisted Living

VETERANS AID & ATTENDANCE IMPROVED PENSION

November 2014

Page 2: VA Benefits for Assisted Living

APFM Confidential | PAGE 2

Meet Debbie Burak and Sue Johansen

Debbie Burak

Founder, VeteranAid.org

VeteranAid.org established Nov 20, 2005

Nationally ranked website; respected resource

Advocate for veterans and media spokesperson

Personal experience with benefit application process

Sue Johansen

Regional Director, A Place for Mom

Expert in senior living and senior care

Has assisted hundreds of families navigate the senior living

process

Expertise in the needs and desires of seniors and the

resources available to them

Community volunteer – Alzheimer’s Association

Page 3: VA Benefits for Assisted Living

APFM Confidential | PAGE 3

What is the Veteran Aid & Attendance Pension?

The Aid and Attendance (A&A) Pension provides benefits for

veterans and surviving spouses who require the regular

attendance of another person to assist in eating, bathing,

dressing and undressing or taking care of the needs of nature. It

also includes individuals who are blind or a patient in a nursing

home because of mental or physical incapacity. Care assistance

can be provided in the home or in an assisted living community.

To qualify for A&A it needs to be established by your physician

that you require daily assistance by others to dress, undress,

bathing, cooking, eating, taking on or off of prosthetics, leave

home etc. You DO NOT have to require assistance with all of

these.

Page 4: VA Benefits for Assisted Living

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Why It Matters?

The A&A Pension provides important financial benefits to recipients:

Up to $1,758 per month to a veteran

Up to $1,130 per month to a surviving spouse

Up to $2,085 per month to a couple

A veteran filing with a sick spouse is eligible for up to $1,380 per month*

*All figures as of January 1, 2014

Page 5: VA Benefits for Assisted Living

APFM Confidential | PAGE 5

Who is Eligible?

The A&A pension is available to any honorably discharged war-time veteran

with 90 days of active duty (1 day beginning or ending during a period of war),

and their surviving spouses.

The following are periods of wartime, designated by Congress:

Indian Wars: January 1, 1817 - December 31, 1898

Spanish-American War: April 21, 1898 - July 4, 1902 (includes Philippine Insurrection & Boxer

Rebellion)

Mexican Border War: May 9, 1916 - April 5, 1917

World War I: April 6, 1917 - November 11, 1918. Extended to April 1, 1920 for those who served in

Soviet Union. (Service after November 11, 1918 - July 2, 1921 may qualify)

World War II: December 7, 1941 - December 31, 1946. (Service through July 25, 1947 may qualify)

Korean Conflict: June 27, 1950 - January 31, 1955

Vietnam Era: August 5, 1964 - May 7, 1975

(February 28, 1961 - May 7, 1975, for a veteran who served in the Republic of Vietnam during that

period)

Persian Gulf War: August 2, 1990 – TBD (a date to be prescribed by Presidential proclamation or law)

Page 6: VA Benefits for Assisted Living

APFM Confidential | PAGE 6

Top Myths

Myth #1: No injury = no benefits

Myth #2: Short-term career = no benefits

Myth #3: No combat = no benefits

Page 7: VA Benefits for Assisted Living

APFM Confidential | PAGE 7

Common Questions

How does someone know if they qualify for VA benefits?

Veterans need to have meant the service requirements as well as the financial

constraints which are set by Congress.

Are Army Reserves and National Guard eligible?

Possibly, it depends on when and how much time was served, National Guard may

also qualify for additional benefits through their state. Contact your state’s Veterans

agency office for more information.

Are there any benefits for veterans who didn’t serve during wartime?

Non-wartime veterans are eligible for other VA benefits including home loans,

educational benefits and life insurance. The pension benefit is only for wartime

veterans who meet income restrictions and need assistance with daily activities.

Do you need to be physically disabled to become eligible for VA benefits /

assistance?

Not necessarily, you need to be age 65 or older with limited/no income, receiving SSD

or SSI, totally and permanently disabled or a patient in a nursing home, the most

important thing is needing help with daily activities.

Page 8: VA Benefits for Assisted Living

APFM Confidential | PAGE 8

Common Questions, continued

How do you get a copy of military records?

To obtain discharge papers from the VA you would need to fill out standard form 180

(Request Pertaining to Military Records). The form can be found at

https://iris.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/1850/related/1.

What amount of time do you need to serve to be eligible for benefits?

You need to have served 90 days of active duty including at least one day during a

wartime period and not have been dishonorably discharged.

How do you know if you qualify for spouse-of-veteran benefits?

The deceased veteran must have served at least 90 days with one day during a war

time and not have been discharged dishonorably. Your yearly family income must also

be less than the amount set by Congress, you must need assistance with daily tasks

and you must not have re-married.

Are divorced spouses covered?

No, as a rule divorced spouses are not eligible, exceptions are sometimes made if the

divorce was due to physical abuse or extreme mental cruelty.

Page 9: VA Benefits for Assisted Living

APFM Confidential | PAGE 9

Common Questions, continued

What if the veteran remarries?

Spousal benefits are usually only paid when the marriage is ended by the veteran’s

death.

What if the second husband was a veteran as well?

His widow would need to apply under her second husband’s service. The VA may

request a copy of the marriage license and the death certificate for her first husband.

Can applications be expedited?

If the applicant is over 90 years old you can include a letter requesting that the

application be expedited because the VA is supposed to give priority to anyone over

90 years old.

When you’re not having any luck reaching the VA in the middle of an application

process, what is the best course of action?

If you have not had your application approved after 9 months you may wish to contact

your state Senator and Congressperson because the VA is required to respond to a

Congressional inquiry within 5 business days but getting them involved before the 9

month mark will delay your approval.

Page 10: VA Benefits for Assisted Living

APFM Confidential | PAGE 10

Biggest Challenges

Unpredictable Timelines

The application process can take between 8-10 months on average.

Scam services

Lack of information pertaining to the Aid & Attendance pension has created a business

opportunity for those looking to charge veterans and their families.

Anyone who assists a veteran in qualifying for or applying for veteran’s benefits must be

accredited by the VA.

No one can charge a veteran to assist with the completion or filing of VA benefits.

Unknowledgeable Staff

Local VA office employees may not know about the Veterans Aid and Attendance benefit or

might be misinformed.

Lost or delayed documents and applications

Be prepared to have all of the required documentation when you begin your application.

Keep copies of all correspondence, applications, and records submitted.

Page 11: VA Benefits for Assisted Living

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Applying for VA Benefits

How To Get Started

Do your homework – there are many resources available

Be prepared – start the document collection early

Don’t wait for a crisis before collecting the necessary paperwork

Some documents may take longer to procure

Make copies of your entire application and all supporting paperwork

Keep copies of all correspondence to/from the VA

Be persistent

Explore where mom and dad are with their health

Check in and really take a close look at their physical and mental well-being

Should they be closer to family?

Start educating yourself on available care options and get a gauge on pricing

A property or home care provider must be identified on the application

If facing a care crisis, consider filing an informal claim

Page 12: VA Benefits for Assisted Living

APFM Confidential | PAGE 12

12 Required Documents

1. Discharge / Separation Papers (DD-214)

2. Copy of Marriage Certificate and all marital information

3. Copy of Death Certificate (surviving spouses only)

4. Copy of current Social Security Award Letter

5. Net Worth information, including bank accounts, CDs, trusts, stocks, bonds, annuities

6. Proof of all income from pensions, retirement, interest income from investments,

annuities, etc.

7. If you are a court-appointed guardian of the veteran or surviving spouse, a certified copy

of the court order of the appointment is required

8. Proof of insurance premiums, medications, medical bills or any other medical expenses

that are not reimbursed by insurance, Medicare or Medicaid

9. Physician statement that includes current diagnosis, medical status, prognosis, name and

address, ability to care for self, ability to travel unattended, etc.

10. Banking information for direct deposit of A&A monthly payments

11. Employment history (does not apply if you are over 65)

12. List of all doctors and hospitals visited in the last year

Page 13: VA Benefits for Assisted Living

APFM Confidential | PAGE 13

Resources

A Place for Mom (APFM)

www.aplaceformom.com

APFM Senior Living Advisors can help families figure out if they may be eligible for the VA

Aid and Attendance Benefit, explore other potential sources of financial assistance, and

share other useful resources for caregivers

Guide to VA Benefits & Long-Term Care

Senior Safety & Well-Being Checklist

Senior Care Calculator

APFM “Wall of Honor”

VeteranAid.org

www.veteranaid.org

The Honor Flight

http://www.honorflight.org/

The Greatest Generations Foundation

http://www.tggf.org/

WWII Foundation(s)

http://www.wwiifoundation.org/

Wreaths Across America

http://www.wreathsacrossamerica.org/http://www.aplaceformom.com/senior-care-resources/caregiver-toolkit