Care To Be Home

Veterans Aid & Attendance:

By Brad Fausett, November 11^th, 2015

Great sacrifices have been made my millions of Veterans and their families to protect the freedoms of our nation. As our Veterans age often they find everyday tasks like eating, showering, walking, and other daily tasks become more difficult. For those with means they may hire a caregiver through a homecare agency or move to an assisted living center to receive the assistance they need. For those who may not be able to afford to pay their long term care costs with their own funds, the Aid & Attendance (A&A) Pension was setup to help cover some of the costs for our Veterans and their surviving spouse.

Who Qualifies

The A&A Pension is designed to re-pay those who served, for the sacrifices they made to protect our freedoms. In order to be eligible for the A&A Pension you must not be able to cover the costs yourself (means evaluation) and have a doctor provide medical evidence that you require additional assistance. You must also be eligible for a VA pension.

Other conditions that must be met:

You served one day during a period of war with at least 90 days of active duty. Serving in combat is not a requirement.

• Must be 65 or older
• You received a discharge status other than dishonorable.
• You require the aid and attendance of another person to assist you with one or more daily self-care activities, such as washing, bathing, dressing, personal grooming, feeding, toileting, cleaning, communicating, and shopping.

Qualifying Periods of Wartime

World War II                                                December 7, 1941 through December 31, 1946

Korean Conflict                                            June 27, 1950 through January 31, 1955

Vietnam Era                                                  August 5, 1964 through May 7 1975

February 28, 1961 through May 7, 1975 (For veterans who served “in country”

Gulf War                                                        August 2, 1990 through a date to be set by law or Presidential Proclamation

Iraq and Afghanistan                                It is believed that those totally disabled in these wards may qualify

2015 Pension Amounts

Maximum Monthly Pension

Married Veteran                                             $2120 Month

Single Veteran                                                 $1788 Month

Surviving Spouse                                            $1149 Month

Dependent Spouse                                         $1404 Month

Two Married Veterans                                  $2837 Month

Monthly pension (means evaluation) is determined based on income and eligible expenses as well as easily converted assets. (Typically House and Vehicles are excluded)Those on Medicaid, Aid and Attendance payments will not be counted as income (in most situations) for those beneficiaries who reside at home, however the basic pension does count as income.

How to Apply

Special Note: It is illegal for any person or company to charge or accept compensation for helping a veteran or surviving spouse in applying for the Aide and Attendance Pension.

For a veteran living in Las Vegas there are a few ways to apply:

1. Contact our offices:702-852-1477www.caretobehome.com

2. Apply online at: https://www.ebenefits.va.gov/

3. Writing or contacting the Reno Regional Benefit Office.
Reno Regional Office
5460 Reno Corporate Drive
Reno, NV 89511

Phone: 800-827-1000

Additional Documents and Resources

For Veterans VA Form 21–526:  www.vba.va.gov/pubs/forms/VBA-21-526-ARE.pdf

For Surviving Spouse VA Form 21–534:  http://www.vba.va.gov/pubs/forms/VBA-21-534-ARE.pdf

Accredited VA agent index:  http://www.va.gov/ogc/apps/accreditation/index.asp

Discharge or Separation Documents (DD 214)

VA Form 21-22 if a Veteran’s Service Organization or 21-22a if individual is acting as the claimant’s representative

Form 21-4142: Authorization and Consent to Release Information to the Department of Veterans Affairs

Letter from the claimant’s attending physician VDVA Form 10

Physician Statement, VA Form 21-2680 or Nursing Home Statement, VA Form 21-0779

Medical Expenses incurred, VA Form 21-8416

Marriage Certificate and Death Certificate (Surviving Spouses only)

Asset Information (bank account statements, etc.)

Verification of Income (social security award letter, and statements from pensions, IRAs, annuities, etc.)

Proof of Medical Premiums (Insurance Statements, Medication or Medical bills that are not reimbursed by Medicaid or Medicare)

Voided Check for Aid and Attendance Direct Deposit

The above forms required can be found:  http://www.va.gov/vaforms/)