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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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VETERANS AID & ATTENDANCE IMPROVED PENSION
November 2014
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
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.
APFM Confidential | PAGE 4
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
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)
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
APFM Confidential | PAGE 11
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
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
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