Aid And Attendance For 100 Service Connected Veterans

Disabled Veterans Life Insurance Program

The Disabled Veterans Life Insurance program is a VA program that provides insurance for disabled veterans who have a service-connected disability rating from 0% to 100%. The basic program, commonly referred to as RH Insurance, insures eligible Veterans for up to $10,000 of coverage. Totally disabled veterans who are unable to work may apply for additional coverage of up to $30,000. Click HERE to review eligibility and application requirements.

Vocational Rehabilitation And Employment Program

Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment program, also known as Voc Rehab is designed to assist Veterans with service-connected disabilities to obtain suitable employment and/or achieve independent living goals. It consists of several application phases, involving tasks for both VR& E staff and Veterans to complete. A full list of Voc Rehab coordinators can be found HERE. Veterans can also get started with the VR& E process by contacting your local VA Regional Office.

Documents You Will Need

Discharge/Separation Papers . If you need to request military records, you can either fill out a standard form or, you can visit this link. Full instructions on how to request military records is listed on that site.

Copy of Marriage Certificate and all marital information.

Copy of the Death Certificate .

Copy of current Social Security Award Letter .

Net Worth information, including bank accounts, CDs, Trusts, Stocks, Bonds, Annuities, etc.

Proof of all income from pensions, retirement, interest income from investments, annuities, etc.

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.

Proof of insurance premiums, medications, medical bills or any other medical expenses that are not reimbursed by insurance, Medicare, or Medicaid.

Physician statement of need that includes current diagnosis, medical status, prognosis, name and address, ability to care for self, ability to travel unattended, etc. If you are a veteran in a nursing home, or a family member of a veteran in a nursing home, you can use this form as a certification of that status.

Banking information for Direct Deposit of A& A monthly payments .

Employment history .

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

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Va Aid And Attendance Program

The VA Aid and Attendance program is a VA Pension Benefit that helps cover the costs of daily living for housebound veterans and/or those in nursing homes. Aid and Attendance benefits are a form of Special Monthly Compensation added to the amount of a monthly VA Pension for qualified Veterans and survivors. If the Veteran requires help with daily activities or he/she is housebound, click HERE now to learn more.

Understanding Aid & Attendance Eligibility Requirements

There are several factors involved in aid and attendance benefit eligibility. Specifically, veterans need to prove active duty, clinical, and financial eligibility. Remember that this process can be complicated, so your pension management center may be a helpful resource when filing your application. To get you started, here are some of the categories that determine veteran eligibility.

Active Duty Eligibility Requirements

The first step in determining eligibility is proving that you served in active duty military service. According to the VA, veterans who served for at least 90 consecutive days in active duty, including one full day during wartime, may be eligible.

The VA defines wartime service for veterans pensions and A& A as service that occurred during these dates:

• World War II: December 7, 1941 December 31, 1946
• Korean Conflict: June 27, 1950 January 31, 1955
• Vietnam Era: February 28, 1961 May 7, 1975, for veterans who served in Vietnam August 5, 1964 May 7, 1975, for veterans who served outside of Vietnam
• Gulf War: August 2, 1990 a future date to be set by law or presidential proclamation

Keep in mind that veterans do not have to have served in a combat zone to qualify. Surviving spouses of eligible veterans may also qualify if they havent remarried and also meet the clinical and income requirements outlined by the VA.

Clinical Eligibility Requirements

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Aid And Attendance Or Housebound Smc For Veterans Who Are Totally Disabled

Special Monthly Compensation Rate Table for 2020

Are Aid And Attendance Benefits Worth The Effort To Apply

In many cases, the answer is yes. As of December 2018, a single veteran who qualifies for A& A can receive up to $1,881 per month, a married vet can receive up to $2,230 per month and a surviving spouse can receive up to $1,209 per month to pay for needed care at home, in an assisted living community, memory care or in a nursing home.

For many families paying for senior care, this income can make the difference between comfort and hardship.

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Commonly Asked Questions About Aid And Attendance

Q:Is this benefit different than a monthly military pension for veterans?

A: Yes. This benefit is separate from and in addition to a monthly pension from a branch of the Military. This pension is from the VA and can be granted in addition to a Military pension. You cannot receive disability compensation or Death and Indemnity Compensation and Pension with Aid and Attendance at the same time. If you qualify for both disability compensation or DIC and you also qualify for the Pension with Aid and Attendance, you can choose whichever is most advantageous for you. Surprisingly, the lower paying benefit is occasionally the better financial choice.

Q: How does a veteran or surviving spouse apply for this benefit? Can you apply in person?

A: Veterans or a surviving spouse can apply through their regional Veterans Affairs office. However, it is a complicated and time-consuming process and, similar to filing your taxes, you might want to work with a professional with expertise in the Pension with Aid and Attendance benefit. At Five Star Senior Living, we partner with Elder Resource Benefits Consulting to help our residents and future residents with consultation and guidance regarding the VA Aid & Attendance benefit.

To learn more about this benefit and to book your appointment for your free benefit analysis we invite you to contact Elder Resource Benefits Consulting at 833-822-9273 or 508-485-0039 or go to elderbenefitsconsulting.com and select the Book Now option on the home page.

Direct Award Educational Scholarships For Dependents Of 100% Disabled Veterans

The Folds of Honor foundation offers two exceptional educational scholarship programs for the dependents of disabled veterans. The Childrens Fund Scholarship serves K-12 students while the Higher Education Scholarship serves those seeking a first bachelors degree or a certification at a post-secondary institution. Both types of the Folds of Honor academic scholarships are based on unmet need as determined by documentation submitted by the awardee and can be valued up to $5,000 per dependent per school year. The funds can be used to cover tuition, fees, books, room and board, uniforms, etc. Click HERE to learn more about Folds of Honor scholarship eligibility requirements.

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How Can You Apply For Aid & Attendance Benefits

Veterans who believe they meet the criteria for aid and attendance benefits can apply by filling out VA Form 21-2680. This form is called the Examination for Housebound Status of Permanent Need for Regular Attendance). Once complete, veterans can send the form to their closest pension management center . You can also apply by bringing your information to your VA regional office.

Disabled veterans living in a nursing home should also fill out VA Form 21-0779, which is the Request for Nursing Home Information Connection with Claim for Aid and Attendance form.

The VA recommends that applicants include evidence to support their claim. This evidence can include medical records, a report from a health care provider, details about how you go about daily life, and other information about your illness or disability.

If you have any questions about service requirements and eligibility for VA aid and attendance benefits, be sure to reach out to your local pension management center. When it comes to pension and add-ons, details like the maximum annual pension rate and other eligibility specifics can be challenging. This is why its important that veterans ask questions and take advantage of local veterans aid services.

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Medicaid For The Elderly And People With Disabilities Handbook

Revision 12-1 Effective March 1, 2012

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has numerous programs that make payments. Treatment of VA payments depends on the nature of the payment. The most common types of VA payments are:

• payment adjustment for unusual medical expenses
• clothing allowance
• payments to Vietnam veterans’ children with spina bifida.

Note: VA aid and attendance allowance, housebound allowances and payment adjustment for unusual medical expenses are exempt from both eligibility and co-payment. However, if these payments are deposited into a qualifying income trust account, they are countable for co-payment.

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Special Restorative Training And Special Vocational Training

The VA may approve Special Restorative Training, if needed, to help the dependents of Chapter 35 benefit recipients to overcome or lessen the effects of a physical or mental disability so you can work toward your educational or training goal. Alternatively, the VA may approve Special Vocational Training to help dependents overcome a physical or mental disability.

Dependents Education Assistance Va Benefits For 100% P& t Disabled Veterans

If youre the child or spouse of a Veteran or service member who has died, is captured or missing, or has disabilities, you may be able to get help paying for school or job training through the DEA program, also known as Chapter 35 benefits. Generally, a disabled veteran must be 100% P& T due to a service-connected disability for dependents to qualify. Click HERE to find out if youre eligible for this incredible benefit for survivors and dependents of eligible disabled veterans.

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Va Aid & Attendance Benefits: What Veterans Should Know

Veterans who have difficulty completing daily activities on their own may be eligible for aid and attendance benefits. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs offers monthly benefits added to VA pension benefits for veterans who qualify. This is also true for housebound benefits.

If you are living at home with a caregiver or in an assisted living facility, you may be eligible for these benefits. This guide outlines the basics of aid and attendance.

Do I Qualify For Aid And Attendance Based On My Service And Income

In order to determine if you qualify for an Enhanced Pension based on the need for regular aid and attendance, it is important to first understand what a standard VA pension is, and the criteria you must meet in order to receive it.

VA pension is a needs-based, monthly, tax-free benefit paid to low-income veterans facing financial challenges. In order to qualify for a VA pension, a veteran must have been discharged under conditions other than dishonorable.

Additionally, veterans must meet the following criteria:

• Veterans must have started active duty priorto September 7, 1980, must have served for at least 90 days while on active duty, with at least one day during a wartime period OR
• Veterans must have entered active duty after September 7, 1980, and served for at least 24 months or the full period for which you were called or ordered active duty, with at least one day during a wartime period.

Veterans must also have a countable income below the Maximum Annual Pension Rate , the yearly income limit set by law to receive a VA pension.

In addition to the service-related qualifications listed above, a veteran must also meet one of the below criteria:

• Permanently and Totally disabled due to any condition OR
• In a nursing home receiving professional care OR

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Va Pension Benefit Amounts And Limits For 2021

VA Pensions are paid to the beneficiary monthly by check or direct deposit. Payments are made to the veteran or their surviving spouse, but are not paid directly to their care or service providers. The table below shows the VAs Maximum Annual Pension Rates for each level.

Va Aid And Attendance: Not Well

VA Aid and Attendance is a lesser-known benefit. Aid and Attendance is a bit of a misnomer when it comes to this pension benefit the term itself is a medical rating that allows for additional allowances in the event that the Veteran or surviving family member is housebound and/or needs the regular aid and attendance of another person.

Even more confusing is the fact that Aid and Attendance allowances aren’t exclusive. They’re available to Veterans with service-connected disabilities and to their spouses. Surviving spouses already receiving Dependency and Indemnity Compensation are also eligible to receive Aid and Attendance allowances. Believe it or not, there are close to 16 different levels of allowances for Veterans and or their surviving spouses, and these levels are both service-connected and non-service-connected.

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What Are The Income Limits For Aid And Attendance

Aid and Attendance has limits on Veterans net worth, countable income, and maximum annual pension rate . Your countable income is how much you and your spouse earn, including retirement and Social Security payments. Non-reimbursable medical payments can also count towards your countable income, reducing it to make you eligible for Aid and Attendance. Your MAPR is the maximum pension amount you can receive, and it depends on how many dependents you have, whether youre married to another Veteran whos eligible for a VA pension, and whether you are eligible for Aid and Attendance. You can subtract your countable income from your MAPR to find out your current VA pension rate. Your net worth includes the annual income for you and your spouse plus any assets, such as your house. To qualify for Aid and Attendance, your countable income and MAPR must qualify you for a VA pension. Also, this VA benefit has a net worth limit of $130,773 in 2021. If you meet all these financial requirements, you qualify for Aid and Attendance, whether youre a Veteran or a surviving spouse.

What Is Va Aid And Attendance

VA Aid and Attendance is a monthly pension benefit that provides tax-free payments to Veterans who served during wartime. In addition to being available for Veterans, single surviving spouses and dependent children are also eligible for this benefit. In order to qualify for this pension, the Veteran or their surviving family need to meet means-tested income and asset thresholds.

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Va Disability Compensation Pay

One of the best disabled veteran benefits available is VA disability compensation pay. If you have a disability condition that was caused or made worse by your active-duty military service, you may be eligible to receive tax-free monthly compensation. Veterans can prepare and file their own VA disability compensation claim for FREE by opening a Notice of Intent to File on the VA.gov website for a VA disability increase or first-time filer.An Intent to File puts the VA on notice that youre planning to file a VA claim, which is important because it sets an effective date for when you could start getting benefits while you prepare your disability claim and gather supporting documents . Click HERE to view the 2022 VA disability compensation pay rates.

Free Va Dental Care For Disabled Veterans

VA dental care services depend on several factors, such as your VA disability rating, service-connected dental disabilities, current home/living situation, etc. Based upon these factors, the VA places veterans into a Benefits Class and youll get the specific VA dental benefits assigned to that class. Generally, a disabled veteran must have a 100% disability rating to qualify for free VA dental care. Click HERE to learn more about FREE VA dental care eligibility for disabled veterans.

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What Are Some Common Misconceptions About Aid & Attendance

It should be noted that when referring to aid and attendance, the word regular is often omitted from the beginning. VA standards require regular aid and attendance. Meaning, the veteran only needs someone to regularly aid and attend them. This is often confused with constant or continuous aid and attendance.

To be entitled and compensated for A& A with the VA, you need only require the regular aid and attendance of another person NOT their constant aid and attendance. You do not have to be fully dependent on another person. For example, if your spouse is your caretaker and they work full time, simply because they are not with you most of the day does not exclude you from aid and attendance benefits. This is a common misunderstanding by veterans, doctors, and C& P examiners. Regular aid and attendance could mean someone checks in on you even just once a day.

Another important thing to note is that this regular aid and attendance must be required in order to be compensated. This means that aid and attendance will not be granted simply because you receive assistance. Many people receive help from a spouse or alike in preparing food, medications, etc. You are only eligible for aid and attendance if you require this assistance, not simply because someone assists you. Ask yourselfif my caretaker wasnt here to make my meals, give me my medications, remind me to shower, etc.would I be physically and mentally able to do so?