Veteran Files™ assists Senior Veterans, Surviving Spouses of Veterans and Veteran families navigate the complexities of the Non-service Connected VA Disability Pension for Housebound and Aid & attendance Benefits.
If eligible, the extra monthly income can be a welcome benefit for families struggling to provide eldercare for loved ones. Under the right circumstances, the benefit can be used to pay a family member, friend or any other person providing care. (Spouses are excluded.)
Among the out-of-pocket expenses this benefit may cover:
- Adult day services
- Home Care
- Assisted living/Board & Care Homes
- Private pay nursing home expense
- In-home safety equipment
- Medical co-pays
- Medicare premiums
- Payment of family caregivers
- Prescription co-pays
- Over the counter products, such as incontinence products
Eligibility guidelines:
- Veteran must have served at least 90 days of active duty with one day during a period of war.
- Veteran must be age 65 or older. If younger, must be deemed totally and permanently by Social Security.
- Surviving spouse of a veteran must be age 65+.
- Discharge must be other than dishonorable.
In addition to service criteria, the veteran or surviving spouse must also meet medical and financial requirements. Our staff of VA Accredited Claims Agents can not only tell you if you are eligible, but more importantly, we can determine if you likely could “qualify.”*
Check your eligibility with our Self Eligibility Questionnaire.
Before Deciding to File for Benefits:
Having an accredited professional to provide a pre filing Care & Resource Consultation is crucial for our senior veterans to avoid conflicts with federally funded programs. The documentation to support a claim should be reviewed carefully before a decision is made by the Veteran or Surviving Spouse about applying for the benefits.
The Department of Veteran Affairs assists with “filling out the forms and submitting them to the VA”. They cannot provide any medical, legal, or financial assistance.
The process requires a trip to the VA office, which in itself is a challenge for those who no longer drive; have little or no family to get them there; are hard of hearing; sight impaired…the list goes on & on.
A Well Developed Claim:
Submitting a fully developed claim the first time not only increases your chances for a successful outcome in the shortest amount of time, it lessens the load for the VA when everything needed to decide the claim is included with the application paperwork.
My father was notified via a letter from the VA notifying him of their decision to award him the full amount in less than two weeks from the time of your submission! Incredibly, the claim was received by the VA on the 8th of November and the letter announcing the award was dated 18 November 2011! Wow! I have worked for the federal government for almost 40 years and have never seen that type of lightening speed response! You really have found the magic recipe for dealing with the bureaucracy. Hats off to you!
Wish you could have seen the look of relief and sheer joy on my 81 year old mother’s face when I read her the VA letter. Not sure my father completely grasped the full magnitude of the award, but he was visibly happy that the VA had given him his reward for his service in the Island Hopping Campaign in the Pacific. I suggested mom give my 94 year old father a hug and kiss for being a WW II veteran and she did with an enthusiasm I hadn’t seen for years! So thanks so much for all you’ve done to change the lives of my parents, for me, and for so many other veterans from multiple wars who have sacrificed so much for the freedoms we enjoy today!
Rita you are the best! I salute you!
Edward T Cope, Col, USAF (ret)
