47 Secret Veterans' Benefits
for Seniors Available From CRC

 

The department recently purchased a copy of 47 Secret Veterans' Benefits for Seniors that is available for staff reference through the Community Resource Center. Many veterans don't realize all the benefits available to them and their family members, in part because the military doesn’t advertise them. Among the tips are how to qualify for aid & attendance benefits, service-connected disability benefits, benefits for spouses and children, nursing home benefits, and burial benefits.

Did you know?

• Certain elderly veterans who have a NON-service connected disability can receive a benefit called “Improved Pension”.
• Eligibility :
• Period of Service : Veteran must have served 90 days of active duty and at least one of those days must have been during war-time. Does not have to have been on the front or in active combat.
• Dec 7, 1941– Dec 31, 1946
• June 27, 1950 – Jan. 31, 1955
• Aug 5 1964 – May 7, 1975 (Or as early as Feb 28 1961 if in Vietnam)
• Aug 2, 1990- Present (through a future date et to be set by Presidential Proclamation)
• Discharge other than dishonorable
• Claimant and household must have limited income and assets*
• Claimant must have permanent and total disability at time of application. (Widows can apply for Low Income Pension without disability requirement.)
• Disability must not be due to willful misconduct or abuse of drugs or alcohol.
• It has three levels:
• Low Income Pension
• Pension with Housebound
• Pension with Aid and Attendance
• Income can be up to the maximum benefit amount. Simplified benefit calculation: if eligible, countable income will be subtracted from the benefit and the difference would be paid as the benefit. (Note there are other calculations involved; this is an estimate.)
• Key tip: Before determining eligibility subtract recurring, non-reimbursed medical expenses of both spouses.
• Typically includes insurance premiums, prescriptions, home health care, assisted living and/or nursing home care.
• In some cases a non-spouse family caregiver may be paid and this would count as a non-reimbursed medical expenses expense.
• Assets – no clear definition. Varies by age (due to life expectancy) and at discretion of the VA adjudicator.

 

2011 VA Improved Pension Income Limits & Maximum Benefits (Rates effective since 12/1/08)
	Veteran with No Dependents	Veteran with Dependent Spouse	Widow of Veteran	Healthy Veteran with Ill Spouse
Low Income Pension
	$985 month/ $11,830 year	$1,291 month/ $15,493 year	$661 month/ $7,933 year	N/A
Pension with Housebound
	$1,204 month/ $14,457 year	$1,510 month/ $18,120 year	$808 month/ $9,696 year	N/A
Pension with Aid & Attendance
	$1,644 month/ $19,736 year	$1,949 month/ $23,396 year	$1,056 month/ $12,681 year	$1,291 month/ $15,493 year

 

Additional Tips/Secrets

• Pension with Housebound- in certain circumstances one can still be driving, but be considered “Housebound”.
• Pension with Aid & Attendance is easier to obtain than Pension with Housebound.
• ALS may be a presumptive service connected disease.
• The VA is required to expedite an application for benefits if a claimant is receiving hospice care.
• You can enroll in VA health benefits, but continue to use your own doctor. The benefit of enrolling with the VA is additional benefits such as such as discounted prescriptions and free hearing aids.
• It is illegal for anyone to charge to assist with preparing an application for VA benefits, for filing it on your behalf, or for following-up on its status. If you have been denied benefits or granted less benefits than you think you are entitled to, the first step is to file a Notice of Disagreement (NOD). An attorney cannot charge for asisting with that either. Only if/after the NOD has been filed can an advocate charge to help with the appeal.
• To find an attorney accredited by the VA: https://www.va.gov/ogc/apps/accreditation/

Thanks to Lisa Mortimer for recommending this book.

- Parts of this article adapted from http://www.elderlawanswers.com/resources/article.asp?id=8770&section=5, retrieved 4/13/11.

 

5/11