Case Study on Aid & Attendance a Veterans Benefits
Problem: Christian is a 72-year-old veteran of the U.S. Air Force, who served during the Vietnam War. Due to serious health problems, Christian now needs to live in an assisted living facility, which costs $3,500 per month. Christian meets all eligibility requirements for the VA Aid & Attendance program, but he only receives $2,000 per month in social security. Additionally, Christian has $20,000 in his checking account. Christian’s funds will not last long, because of the cost of the assisted living facility.
Case Study on Aid & Attendance Solution: Because of his military service, his medical condition, and his low asset level, Christian is eligible for VA Aid & Attendance. The maximum 2009 pension rate for Christian is $1,644 per month. The $3,700 monthly cost of the ALF effectively nullifies his income as an unreimbursed medical expense under the VA rules. Accordingly, Christian will receive an additional $1,644 per month from the VA.
Case Study on Aid & Attendance Result: Because of Christian’s eligibility for Aid & Attendance, the out of pocket expense for the ALF is now only $54 per month as calculated $2,000 x $1644 = $3554 – $3,500 = $44.
Veterans who served in the U.S. Armed Forces during specific periods of war–including wars in Afghanistan and Iraq–qualify for a little-known special care pension called Aid and Attendance (A&A). This pension is also available to widows and widowers of wartime veterans. Applying for the pension can be tricky, considering that so few care administrators nationwide are aware that A&A even exists.
This benefit provided by the Veteran’s Administration (VA) is the “Improved Pension Disability Pension with Aid and Attendance entitlement” is often called just the Aid and Attendance VA Benefit.
The VA Aid & Attendance program is designed to provide monetary assistance to those veterans who served our country during a time of war and are now in need of aid or assistance with activities of daily living. This aid or assistance can be provided at home, in an assisted living facility, or a nursing home and can be provided by friends, family, or healthcare professionals. As a practical matter, Aid & Attendance is often of most help to residents of Assisted Living Facilities.
If you are a veteran and need help with such daily activities as cooking, cleaning, dressing, driving, mobility, or other assistance, this benefit may provide the funds you need to pay for help.
Please contact Attorney Frazier who is an experienced Florida Aid and Attendance lawyer today for your free telephone initial consultation at:
Office: 727-260-2581
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