7 Tips for Assisting Aging Veterans
Many of the long-term care benefits offered by the VA to aged veterans and their surviving spouses are unknown and misused. What veterans' families should be aware of is this:
Don't assume the VA will let veterans or their survivors know if they qualify for benefits. The VA normally does not publicize or contact those who could be eligible but have not registered for benefits, unlike Social Security and Medicare.
Make sure to inquire about benefits at each of the three VA branches. The National Cemetery Administration (NCA), Veterans Health Administration (VHA), and Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) are included in this. For instance, an elderly veteran may be eligible for benefits from both the VHA and the VBA at the same time for an in-home caregiver. It's possible that a social worker at the VHA is unaware of programs offered by the VBA, and vice versa.
Veterans who are getting Disability Compensation payments as they age may require more assistance at home eventually and can apply for Special Monthly Compensation (SMC) or a larger sum, often known as Aid and Attendance. Aid and Attendance can assist with daily activities like showering, dressing, getting around, preparing meals, light cleaning, and more. It is well known that the VBA provides Disability Compensation to people who have a disease or injury that is service-connected and results in a disability. There is not much awareness of the Aid and Attendance benefit. There are no requirements for income or net worth; compensation payout amounts are determined by the degree of disability.
Veterans of World War II who are 65 years of age or older may qualify for the Aid and Attendance Pension without having a disability related to their service. Soldiers are not required to have served abroad or in battle. Even those who worked a desk job domestically are qualified. For a single veteran, the benefit pays up to $2,050, and for a married veteran, up to $2,431. Veterans must have completed at least 90 days of active duty, including one day of declared war. Additional health and wealth limits apply.
The Aid and Attendance Pension is available to widowed veterans and their surviving spouses. The veteran must have met the requirements, and the spouse must have been wed for at least a year when the veteran passed away. Survivors might receive benefits to pay for custodial care even though they normally aren't eligible for treatment in a VHA medical facility. The monthly benefit payment can reach $1,318. Additional health and wealth limits apply.
Consider submitting a quick "Intent to File" form prior to submitting a VBA claim to start the clock and establish an earlier effective date for your benefits. There is no need to first fill out the lengthy VBA claim. A VA claim may take months to complete. You would get retroactive payments starting from the day the Intent to File form is received if you submit the Intent to File - VA Form 21-0966 prior to making an application for Disability Compensation, Dependency Indemnity Compensation (DIC), Pension, or Aid and Attendance benefits. Veterans or their survivors have one year from the date of this form to finish the entire claim.
If you don't have that knowledge, you should never submit a VA claim for Disability Compensation, Pension, Aid and Attendance, or DIC on your own. To represent soldiers and survivors, the VA appoints attorneys or claims agents for a fee. Veterans or their families are not charged for the services provided by veteran service officers who work for governmental agencies or nonprofit organizations. For aging veterans or surviving spouses, Veterans Home Care, a private company with an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau, also provides free claims filing assistance and other special services. The VetAssist Program from Veterans Home Care is intended for people who need money for in-home care or adult daycare.