Veteran's Benefits- Aid & Attendance for home assistance

The Veterans Administration offers Aid and Attendance as part of a benefit that is largely unknown. This program allows for Veterans and surviving spouses who require the assistance of another person(care giver) to aid in eating, bathing, dressing, undressing, taking medication or taking care of the needs of nature to receive additional financial benefit. It also includes individuals who are blind or a patient in a nursing home because of mental or physical incapacity. Assisted Living facilities also qualify. This benefit is tax free. These needs do NOT have to be the result of service related injuries. Alzheimers and dementia as well as advancing diabetes are qualifying illnesses. Remember this program is in addition to Medicare benefits- which may also have home health care options.

The income guidelines are not as strict as those for state medicaid programs, so those who may not qualify for medicaid can still qualify for Aid and Attendance. The paperwork is complicated and time consuming; but well worth the work; A veteran or surviving spouse may qualify for up to approximately $1630.00 each month. This is based on monthly income, and is on a sliding scale. The assets need to total less than $80,000 excluding home and vehicles. The criteria include: having served 30 days during a period of war - the veteran is not required to have left the states; they simply need to have been active duty. The Korean conflict and the Vietnam Era as well as Persian Gulf War are included as well as WWII. The website below is directly to the VA aid and Attendance forms on the government website.

http://www.vba.va.gov/bln/21/pension/vetpen.htm

There is some pepraration work need to assist in this process- you will need to mail personla paperwork with the application. I recommend copies of everything- the government does lose things- often.

First you will need recent tax statements, social security cards, and sometimes birth certificates.

Gather proof of home ownership, and sinificant papers related to ownership. The first home is not counted against the veteran- but the VA still wants to know how many homeowners etc...

ALL income sources- retirement accounts, social security. Send copies.

If the veteran is under 65- you will need to gather medical records- and send them as well-Unless the need to be met is a result of service related injuries.

You will need to complete the paperwork from the VA and send it in quickly- the VA will not, however, be fast in its decision making. Plan on 6 months for a reply- it might be less- but the system is in no rush. Some state have asistance programs to help in applications; the reulations state that veterans can't be charge for the assistance.