Thursday, June 10, 2010

How to Get Your Fair Share Of Assisted Living Veterans Benefits


Quite a few veterans or their surviving wife or husband haven’t heard of or perhaps know how to go about obtaining Assisted Living veterans benefits in the form of financial assistance; known as the aid and attendance benefit.

The straight forward facts are that most families think that they need to work with a veteran's home or nursing home run from the VA for a destination regarding their aging veteran's care. With this well-kept VA hidden knowledge now finally beginning to get out among the common populace you should understand that every single Assisted Living facility is an alternative for the war-time veteran relative or friend.

This particular VA benefit typically provides funds that assist the veteran or their surviving spouse pay 50% upwards to quite possibly 100% of the Assisted Living facilities cost. Who knew that one could get paid a benefit through the VA that will help you offset these expensive care charges.

For a long time it had been commonly believed that you actually needed to be wounded or even receive an immediate disability incurred during the veteran's active duty.

It had been all too often perceived or assumed that the veteran would not qualify for any specific VA benefits when their disabilities many people face when they grow older didn't have it's origin coming from a documented active duty accident or wound.

This myth is soundly busted.

WWII, Korean and Vietnam veterans are beginning to encounter typical disabilities because of the natural aging progression. Some problems are due to their active duty however , many are not.

The non-service connected disability pension benefit from the VA does not require that the difficulties or disability you are currently encountering be associated with your active duty. Once again, to be very clear...it does not have to be linked.

What exactly is this little-known VA benefit?

It's formally known as the "Improved Disability Pension Benefit". There are three monthly payment thresholds which have been defined by:

1. Income and Assets

2. Housebound Status

3. Requirement of help with activities of daily living

The third threshold entitles the recipient with an entitlement commonly known as "Aid and Attendance".

A widowed surviving wife or husband of the qualified veteran (merely 90 days of active duty together with a single day during an official stated time period of war) is also eligible for this pension benefit.

For widowed surviving spouses it is officially called the “Improved Death Pension Benefit with Aid and Attendance Entitlement.

So, this "new" benefit you may be hearing about referred to as the "Aid and Attendance Benefit" actually is either the long-standing VA benefit no one every heard of called either the:

Non-Service Connected Disability Pension Benefit with Aid and Attendance Entitlement (for veterans)

or the

Non-Service Connected Improved Death Pension Benefit with Aid and Attendance Entitlement (for un-remarried widowed surviving wife or husband of an qualified veteran)

Now, here is the best part.

The award amount of money of this particular VA non-service connected benefit:

1. A Veteran having a dependent (typically spouse) could get as much as $23,388 per year, paid out once a month at $1,949

2. A Veteran without dependents can potentially receive up to $17,728 per year, paid monthly at $1,644

3. An un-remarried widow surviving spouse can be given up to $12,684 each year, paid out once a month at $1,057

Assisted Living Veterans Benefits Qualifications

There are five qualification conditions:

1. When the veteran served with a minimum of 90 days of active duty with at least 1 day during a pronounced time of war. (The veteran does not have to have seen action, serve abroad or even be inside a combat area to be able to be eligible)

2.Need to no longer be able to safely drive

3.Will have to need help with activities of daily living

4.Must have liquid assets under $80 thousand. But, there is no look back in case you have to transfer assets from the applicants title in order to reach this condition. If you transfer surplus assets today you're qualified tomorrow.

5.The exact amount of the veterans benefit it is possible to get is dependant on a simple formula.

The final qualification specifications frequently confuses families wanting to get the Assisted Living Veterans Benefits. Fortunately, expert assistance accessible to ensure a quick and correct approval from the VA with regard to your loved one.

Do not permit your fair share get improperly detained or denied. Get the help you need. Veterans Care Advisors has launched a powerful Aid and Attendance Handbook that guides families step-by-step through each and every phase of the process. This valuable Aid and Attendance Veterans Benefits Handbook is available at http://www.VeteransCareAdvisors.com