VETERANS ON MASSHEALTH FOR NURSING HOME CARE CAN KEEP $90 OF MONTHLY PENSION

Little known to many nursing home residents, current MassHealth regulations exclude $90 of the monthly Veteran's Administration pension paid to a veteran or a veteran's spouse currently residing in a nursing facility and receiving MassHealth coverage from being applied as countable income paid to the long-term care nursing facility. This means that nursing home residents who qualify may keep $150 a month rather than the standard $60 a month personal needs allowance.

To do this, the Veteran's Administration pension recipient must apply by sending a letter to the local Boston Veteran's Administration requesting to reduce their benefits to $90 a month. The Veteran's Administration will seek verification of the necessity of long-term care services from the veteran's doctor and the nursing home. If this benefit is not requested, the veteran's entire pension will continue to be paid to the nursing home.

-Adapted from: ElderLaw News February 19, 2007, e-mail from Harry S. Margolis, Margolis & Associates.

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