Planning for Veteran’s Benefits and Aid & Attendance
Often, people are surprised to learn, the Veterans Administration (VA) Aid & Attendance Special Care Pension provides monthly aid to wartime veterans, as well as surviving spouses of deceased veterans, who require personal assistance in their activities of daily living, to help them pay for care.
Many families are unaware of the benefits available to them, how to check their eligibility, and how to apply. Furthermore, some people have been misinformed — told that they do not qualify for benefits because their income and/or assets exceed the allowed thresholds. The sad fact is that many have been given the wrong advice!
Many veterans and surviving spouses whose incomes are above the congressionally-mandated legal limit may still qualify for monthly Aid & Attendance benefits with the right planning in place. This includes a combination of estate and elder law planning strategies that will protect a family’s assets from being spent on long-term care. Qualifying veterans receive Aid & Attendance funds to pay for in-home care, assisted living or nursing home care, in addition to their monthly pension and Social Security benefits.
If you or someone you love is a veteran (or surviving spouse of a veteran) and needs assistance with activities of daily living – including but not limited to cooking, cleaning, dressing, driving, and mobility – the Aid & Attendance pension benefit program can provide the funds you need to pay for that care.
The Help of an Elder Law Attorney
To ensure that all questions are answered and benefits paid, it is important to seek the assistance of a qualified elder law attorney who is familiar with Veterans’ benefits. In fact, only attorneys accredited by the Veteran’s Administration can work with clients and help them apply for benefits. John Pucheu has not yet applied for accreditation with the Veteran’s Administration because we have not had enough people in our area ask about taking advantage of these services. At this time, we are referring veterans who may qualify for the Aid & Attendance benefits to service agencies and accredited attorneys.
Our office is experienced in elder law and we will consult with veterans and their families to decide if it is appropriate to apply for this VA benefit and to make a referral to someone who can handle the application and, if necessary, fight to obtain the benefits by filing appeals and other actions.
