V.A. AID AND ATTENDANCE AS ADDITIONAL INCOME
Many people are unaware that the Veteran's Administration (V.A.) has a
special program, known as "Aid and Attendance", that pays a monthly benefit
to veterans and their surviving spouses if certain criteria is met. Yet less than
20% of those who may qualify ever file an application with the V.A. for this
benefit.
The benefit for a veteran and spouse can be $1,949.00 per month,
$1,664.00 per month for a single veteran and $1,056.00 per month for a surviving
spouse, all adjusted annually for inflation. Excluding a residence, one car and
burial lots which are exempt, the maximum assets which can be owned are
$80,000.00. But assets in excess of $80,000.00 can be transferred out of the
applicants name without the five year look back period that is part of
qualifying for long term nursing home care as a Medicaid
recipient.
The monthly costs of a nursing home, assisted living, in home care (which
can include payments for in home care to a nondependent child), medical
insurance premiums and other unreimbursed health care costs are all deductible
against monthly income. So, by way of example, if an applicant has $4,000.00 per
month in monthly income and $4,000.00 per month in unreimbursed health care
costs, his or her net monthly income is $ 0.00., meaning benefits can be awarded
at $1,949.00 per month to a veteran and spouse, $1,664.00 per month to a single
veteran and $1,056.00 per month to a surviving spouse.
The veteran must have served 90 continuous days in the military, one day
of which must have been in “wartime”, defined by the Code of Federal Regulations
as World War II, Korea, Vietnam and the Gulf War. No wartime injury is required
but honorable discharge from service is a criteria.
The medical test for determining eligibility is being unable to attend to
the daily activities of life such as feeding, clothing, bathing, grooming and
toileting. This requires the medical records of the primary
care physician and a statement in letter form by the primary care
physician that the applicant is no longer able to attend to the daily
activities of life without the assistance of others.
Although the application can take several months for approval, monthly
benefits are retroactive back to the month of the filing of the application.
V.A. “Aid and Attendance” can be a much needed financial lifeline to families by
providing an additional source of income to offset the high costs of health care
for an elderly parent.
PROVIDED AS A COURTESY OF:
Marshall M. Snyder
Attorney At Law
6001 Asberry Court
Nashville, TN 37211
(615)673-7636
email : [email protected]
(Marshall M. Snyder is a V.A. certified attorney)
Many people are unaware that the Veteran's Administration (V.A.) has a
special program, known as "Aid and Attendance", that pays a monthly benefit
to veterans and their surviving spouses if certain criteria is met. Yet less than
20% of those who may qualify ever file an application with the V.A. for this
benefit.
The benefit for a veteran and spouse can be $1,949.00 per month,
$1,664.00 per month for a single veteran and $1,056.00 per month for a surviving
spouse, all adjusted annually for inflation. Excluding a residence, one car and
burial lots which are exempt, the maximum assets which can be owned are
$80,000.00. But assets in excess of $80,000.00 can be transferred out of the
applicants name without the five year look back period that is part of
qualifying for long term nursing home care as a Medicaid
recipient.
The monthly costs of a nursing home, assisted living, in home care (which
can include payments for in home care to a nondependent child), medical
insurance premiums and other unreimbursed health care costs are all deductible
against monthly income. So, by way of example, if an applicant has $4,000.00 per
month in monthly income and $4,000.00 per month in unreimbursed health care
costs, his or her net monthly income is $ 0.00., meaning benefits can be awarded
at $1,949.00 per month to a veteran and spouse, $1,664.00 per month to a single
veteran and $1,056.00 per month to a surviving spouse.
The veteran must have served 90 continuous days in the military, one day
of which must have been in “wartime”, defined by the Code of Federal Regulations
as World War II, Korea, Vietnam and the Gulf War. No wartime injury is required
but honorable discharge from service is a criteria.
The medical test for determining eligibility is being unable to attend to
the daily activities of life such as feeding, clothing, bathing, grooming and
toileting. This requires the medical records of the primary
care physician and a statement in letter form by the primary care
physician that the applicant is no longer able to attend to the daily
activities of life without the assistance of others.
Although the application can take several months for approval, monthly
benefits are retroactive back to the month of the filing of the application.
V.A. “Aid and Attendance” can be a much needed financial lifeline to families by
providing an additional source of income to offset the high costs of health care
for an elderly parent.
PROVIDED AS A COURTESY OF:
Marshall M. Snyder
Attorney At Law
6001 Asberry Court
Nashville, TN 37211
(615)673-7636
email : [email protected]
(Marshall M. Snyder is a V.A. certified attorney)