Veterans Aid and Attendance Pension Benefit - Long Term Care Benefits for Veterans

Veterans Aid and Attendance Pension Benefit -- Long Term Care Benefits for Veterans What Is the Aid and Attendance Benefit? The Veterans Benefits Administration offers a disability income available to veterans who served during a period of war or to their surviving spouses. This special benefit is officially called "pension" but is more popularly known as the "veterans aid and attendance pension benefit". For a pension benefit for veterans younger than 65, evidence of total of disability must be provided. Veterans 65 and older do not have to disabled.

The National Care Planning Council estimates that as much as 30% of the US population over the age of 65 would qualify for the aid and attendance pension benefit under the right circumstances. That's how many war veterans or surviving spouses of veterans there are. The benefit is such a well-kept secret that only a small fraction of these eligible veterans are actually receiving it. Death pension -- a benefit available to a surviving spouse-- is a lesser amount based on the same rules for applying for a living pension claim. In other words, the deceased veteran must have met the rules for pension -- with the exception of being totally disabled or over age 65 -- or have been receiving pension in order for his or her spouse to receive the lesser benefit. In addition, in order to be eligible or keep receiving the benefit, the surviving spouse must remain single.

Who can submit a claim? A claim is submitted by the veteran or by the veteran's single surviving spouse in the case of a death claim. A duly appointed service organization, an employee of the local regional VA office, or a VA approved agent may file a claim on behalf of the veteran or the spouse. A claim cannot be filed with a general or durable power of attorney. The application will be sent back requesting proper documentation for a VA power of attorney. The veteran must sign a document specifically authorizing a power of attorney for someone to submit an initial claim for him. Many chagrined children with a durable power of attorney have submitted claims on behalf of a parent only to have the claim rejected by VA.

What happens if the veteran is incompetent? If the veteran cannot submit the original application or sign a power of attorney for a surrogate to file an application, then a duly appointed guardian can complete the application. VA also allows the spouse, a parent or next of kin, or a friend to complete and submit an application on behalf of an incompetent veteran if that person submits the proper power of attorney request and indicates the applicant could be considered incompetent for financial affairs. Even though the veteran or surviving spouse may be incompetent for financial affairs, he or she should always sign the power of attorney request if he or she is competent to do so. VA may appoint a fiduciary to take over the claim and the affairs for the claimant if VA determines he or she is incompetent.

How does VA handle power of attorney? Employees of VA and veterans service organizations already have authorization for power of attorney to file an application on behalf of the veteran. They have forms for the veteran to sign to allow this to happen. An attorney representing the veteran in other affairs can also request a power of attorney in the proper format and on his or her letterhead. Any single individual may also submit a letter requesting power of attorney to submit an application if it is signed by the veteran and if the letter provides certain required information. There is also a VA form in the book support packet that can be submitted for power of attorney. All attorney requests submitted for power of attorney must state that the veteran is not paying a fee to file the application on his or her behalf.

What is an "aid and attendance" or "housebound" rating? A "rating" is granted by a veteran service representative where a condition exists that makes the disability more severe. Medical evidence is required unless someone is a patient in a nursing home, and then the requirement is waived. The rating allows VA to pay an additional monthly amount of pension or compensation to a veteran or a surviving spouse for additional costs associated with this disability.

How does one qualify for aid and attendance or housebound rating? The application form has a block allowing for a request for either rating. Submitting medical evidence in advance instead of waiting for a request from VA can help expedite the process of getting this rating. We have provided in the book support packet, a sample form that might be used for this purpose. This form is also designed around information that VA is looking for and may be a more effective presentation of the facts than typical medical records from the doctor.

What is the effective date? The effective date is generally the day VA receives an original application. If it takes three months for the process of approval or six months, it doesn't matter. The effective date still reverts to receipt of the original application.

When does payment begin? Generally, payments start on the first day of the month following the month of the effective date. This means that if it took six months to get approval, at least five months of benefit will be paid retroactively. VA requires automatic deposit of awards in a checking or savings account.

What happens if the veteran dies during the period of application? If the veteran dies during the period of application and the application was not approved prior to the death, there may be accrued benefits. If the regional office had all of the information in its possession that would have led to an approval, then there is an accrued benefit payable. Otherwise there is none. The full benefit is available for the month of death of the veteran and to a surviving spouse through an application on Form 21-534. This is the same form a surviving spouse uses for a death benefit claim for himself or herself. VA will award either an accrued benefit or death benefit to the surviving spouse whichever is larger. If there is no surviving spouse or dependent child, VA will pay the unreimbursed costs of last illness and burial to the person who paid those costs. A special claim must be submitted for these costs, not Form 21-534.

What is a veteran's federal fiduciary, and does that affect the application? For a veteran who is considered incompetent to handle his own financial affairs, VA will appoint a fiduciary to receive the money and pay the bills. A federal fiduciary is an individual appointed for this purpose, usually a spouse or a family member. In most cases -- except for the spouse living with the veteran -- there is an interview required and mounds of paperwork. This process can take a long time, and it is to the advantage of the person filing an original claim to request the appointment of himself or herself as a fiduciary or for some other appropriate person or organization to help expedite the process. VA always makes the final decision on whom it appoints as a fiduciary. In fact, the agency might well ignore court appointed fiduciaries. In general, the decision favors declaring the veteran competent and avoiding a fiduciary where at all possible.

What is the income test for pension? If the household income adjusted for unreimbursed medical expenses and a deductible is greater than the maximum allowable pension rate -- MAPR -- there is no benefit. In 2007, the maximum allowable rate for a couple with aid and attendance allowance is $21,615 a year. For a single it is $18,234 a year. Without aid and attendance or housebound allowance the maximum couple's rate is $14,313 a year and for a single it is $10,929 a year. Death pension rates are lower. People seeking a benefit with adjusted incomes greater than these levels will be denied.

Can a household with income above the maximum limit qualify for pension? A quirk in the way benefits are calculated can allow individuals and couples earning between $24,000 to $60,000 a year to still qualify for a benefit. It has to do with the treatment by VA of the very large recurring medical costs associated with home care, assisted living, or nursing home care.

What is the pension household asset test, and what can be done if the asset test is not met? As a general rule assets cannot exceed $80,000. A veteran or spouse occupied-house, a reasonable amount of land upon which it sits and a vehicle are exempt from the asset test. In reality there is no specific test in the regulations. Veterans service representatives are required to file paperwork justifying their decision if they allow assets greater than $80,000. Thus this amount has become a traditional ceiling. The service representative is encouraged to analyze the veteran's household needs for maintenance and weigh those needs against assets that can be readily converted to cash. In the end, the decision as to allowable assets is a subjective decision made by a service representative. In certain cases a benefit award could be denied even if assets are below $20,000 or $10,000 or even zero dollars. There are legal ways to get around the asset test if assets are too high. These are described in our book.

What proofs and documents are required with the pension claim? We have already discussed the requirements for power of attorney and fiduciary if they apply. In addition, an original copy of the discharge from service -- typically DD 214 or form WD -- is required and the discharge must have been honorable. If there is a question about the marriage relationship, a marriage certificate or other proof may be necessary. Birth certificates of dependent children are usually not required but may be necessary under certain conditions. A dependent child is a minor, a dependent student under age 23, or a totally dependent adult child. There are certain documents that need to be submitted to prove future recurring medical expenses and to prove need for aid and attendance or housebound allowances. VA does not furnish these documents nor provide any information that they are required. Sample documents that could be used for these purposes are included in our book.

Can someone charge to help fill out the form? Federal code and VA regulations prohibit an agent, advisor or attorney from charging a fee to fill out and file a claim for pension. Most practitioners or providers help their clients for free, sometimes in the context of solving other retirement issues or providing long term care services. Some practitioners offer application advice for a fee (which is legal) but will send their clients to a veterans' service organization to complete the application. Some assisted living facilities or home care providers also offer free advice or help and this seems to be an acceptable practice. An agent or attorney can also be paid by a disinterested third party under certain conditions to complete an application. However, a home care agency, assisted living facility or nursing home that pays an agent or attorney to complete an application on behalf of a resident or client does not meet the definition of a disinterested third party is in violation of the prohibition for charging a fee

How are assets, income and unreimbursed medical expenses determined? The applicant must submit details on the application of all income and all assets including retirement savings accounts such as IRAs. Almost any type of money received or anything received that can be converted into money is income. The only exclusions for assets are a personal residence (occupied by the veteran or spouse) and a reasonable amount of land it sits on as well as vehicles and other personal possessions. Personal possessions used as an investment such as a coin collection are counted as assets. Unreimbursed medical expenses can be almost any expense related to medical needs.

Are there any other reporting requirements? VA requires that any change in income or assets be reported immediately. The award is calculated for 12 months in advance, but at the beginning of each calendar year, a formal report called an EVR (Eligibility Verification Report) must be filed detailing all income, assets and unreimbursed medical expenses for the coming calendar year. For example if the award is granted in April for 12 months in advance, an EVR must be submitted in January of the next year that could affect the award amount for the remaining four months of the initial 12 month period. The EVR will be used for determining benefits for the calendar year on which it is based.

What is a veteran's federal fiduciary, and does that affect the application? VA can appoint a number of different types of fiduciaries to manage the funds on behalf of an incompetent veteran. A federal fiduciary is typically an individual such as the spouse or a child whom the VA is most likely to appoint. If VA is not notified with the application that the veteran may be incompetent and that a fiduciary appointment is requested, this could slow down the application and approval process.

Will the pension benefit pay a nonlicensed homecare provider? VA does not pay providers directly but provides extra income to make up for the cost of licensed medical care. Medical conditions or injuries or diseases that require a need for ongoing licensed homecare will allow the applicant to reduce household income by the cost of homecare making it possible to receive the additional income from a pension award. If the beneficiary has an aid and attendance or housebound allowance, VA will allow deductions for nonlicensed providers as well.

Will the pension benefit pay a member of the family to provide care at home? As explained above, VA will not pay providers directly but only indirectly through extra income. If the beneficiary receiving care in the home has received a rating for aid and attendance or housebound, VA will allow expenses paid to a family member for care to be counted as unreimbursed medical expenses to qualify for the benefit. The care arrangement must be legitimate and appropriate evidence must be provided.

Does the pension benefit pay the costs of a nursing home? The application form has provision for indicating residency in a nursing home and whether or not the applicant is eligible for Medicaid. VA will automatically apply the monthly cost of the nursing home in determining the pension benefit. If the applicant is single with no dependent children at home and is eligible for Medicaid, VA is required to stop any payment of full benefits and only provide the veteran with $90 a month.

Does the pension benefit pay the costs of assisted living? As explained above, VA will not pay providers directly but only indirectly through extra income. If the beneficiary receiving care in assisted living has received a rating for aid and attendance or housebound, VA will allow expenses paid to assisted living for aid and attendance or housebound ratings -- including room and board -- to be counted as unreimbursed medical expenses. The cost of assisted living being used as a retirement residence is not considered a medical expense. It does not warrant a rating and cannot be deducted.

What are the requirements to receive a death pension benefit? The applicant must be a surviving spouse or a dependent child of an eligible veteran. VA form 21-534 is used to apply for death pension, death compensation, accrued benefits, or dependency and indemnity compensation (DIC). The surviving spouse must be single. A surviving spouse of any age is eligible as long as the deceased veteran served at least 90 days during a period of war. They had to be married at least a year prior to death or have a child as a result of the marriage. There is no requirement for total disability for the surviving spouse nor for the deceased veteran to have been totally disabled or older than age 65.

How does one prove that unreimbursed medical expenses will recur every month? VA has specific rules for proving future recurring medical expenses. Information in our book outlines the type of paperwork that must be submitted for each type of long term care service. The book also contains appropriate forms for this purpose. Neither the claims form nor information from the regional office provides any guidance on the rules for proving future recurring medical expenses for home care or assisted living. One simply has to know how to do it. This one crucial step often makes the difference between a successful claim and a denial.

What if the veteran or spouse is currently receiving Medicaid? Our interpretation of the rules leads us to believe that VA will not consider Medicaid payments as income. However, Medicaid will consider the nonallowance portion of the pension to be income. This could affect Medicaid eligibility in income test states. There is evidence that some income test states count the entire pension benefit including the allowance as income. According to federal Medicaid rules this should not happen.

What happens when the veteran or spouse wants to receive pension & Medicaid together? Federal law requires that a single veteran receiving Medicaid with no spouse or dependent children can receive no more than $90 a month from VA. Veterans in state veterans homes are exempt from this requirement. The veteran with a spouse can receive the benefit to help defray the costs of a nursing home. As a general rule, the pension benefit would probably not work if Medicaid were paying the bill. But the benefit does work well for non-Medicaid nursing home beds and while the recipient is going through the Medicaid spend down.

This article is an excerpt from the book -- "VETERANS AID AND ATTENDANCE BENEFIT -- LONG TERM CARE BENEFITS FOR VETERANS" -- published by the National Care Planning Council and written and edited by Thomas Day, Council Director. This first-of-its-kind book is available in two editions -- the Standard Edition (209 pages) for the general public and the Professional Edition (443 pages) to be used as a handbook for advisors and care providers. Both books contain the necessary information and forms to complete an application for the benefit. The Professional Edition also includes citations from rules and regulations, hypothetical planning cases, asset reduction strategies and a software CD with benefit estimate software, all applicable forms and planning sheets. To review and purchase the book go to longtermcarelink.net/a16veterans_books.htm longtermcarelink.net/a16veterans_books.htm or type in your browser window veteranbook.com veteranbook.com.

Thomas Day specializes in the area of long term care planning. As director of the National Care Planning Council and chief spokesman for the Utah Elder Care Planning Council he maintains a busy schedule giving advice to concerned caregiving families and conducting radio and reporter interviews. He is also responsible for maintaining several Internet sites one of which, longtermcarelink.net longtermcarelink.net is a frequently visited and popular site for long term care issues. The site currently is receiving the equivalent of 6 million hits a year. Tom is also busy writing articles and has completed three new books on long term care planning published by the National Care Planning Council.

Tom graduated from the University of Utah with a BA in physics and math and an MBA in finance. He holds a CLU designation from the American College. Tom and his wife Susan live in Centerville, Utah. They have seven children and 17 grandchildren.

Please contact Tom at 800-989-8137 or

Taking the Stress Out of Finding a Mortgage

We all dream of the days of buying our first house. Where will it be? How many bedrooms will it have? Our minds conjure up vivid fantasies about a perfect house. It seems like a dream come true... until we get to the mortgage. Finding the funding for your new home purchase can seem like daunting task for those new to the process. You will find that finding the perfect lending program for you will be easy once you know some simple information about funding.

The most important step that a person can do is a careful analysis of their situation. You should not only review your credit scores from all three agencies but also how much of a down payment you are willing to make. By knowing this information you can increase your options in funding which could save you money! Bring this information to your bank or mortgage broker.

There are several types of loans you can get for a home. One of the most common types is conventional financing. This will often require the largest amount of money for a down payment but could get you the lowest interest rate. This could be a good option if you plan to own the home for years due to the interest savings. Paying the larger down payment can also help lower your monthly payment.

Another type of home loan is FHA funding. This is a low down payment loan that often can be used with only a 3.5 percent down payment. This a great program that allows people with lower credit scores to participate. The down side to this program is the fees and costs to get the loan, or closing costs, could be higher than with other forms of funding.

The most important thing to remember is the more information about your situation you have the more opportunities you have available to you in the funding process. Use your knowledge to make the buying process as fun and profitable as possible!

Ryan writes articles about 95mortgages.net/95-mortgages 95% mortgages and about the difficulty in finding 95mortgages.net 95 percent mortgages in today's financial climate.

Babysitter Service - What You Need to Know

Babysitter services are not uncommonly today. It is therefore impossible for you not to find a good sitter. The good services of your sitter however, depend to some extent on how you communicate with your sitter and how you treat her. Here are some good points to remember when dealing with your sitter.

Settle the Rate

Agree on is the sitter's rate. The rate will depend on a couple of factors. These include age of the sitter, number of kids to watch over, ages of the kids, amount of work to be done, hours of work and experience of the sitter. Unfortunately, there is no set rule for coming up with a permanent sitter rate. What you have to do then is to carefully talk to your sitter about an agreeable rate considering various factors. These days, it is usually quite unacceptable to pay a sitter below $3. You would have to pay over that depending on what you agree on.

Set Rules for Dealing with Kids

Clear and concrete rules and instructions. If you want your sitter to be effective, you have to tell her what you want. You have to be very clear and specific with your instructions. Tell her what you allow your kids to eat or to watch on T.V. Give instructions on what to do when your child misbehaves or refuses to follow instructions.

One good example is the schedule. If schedules have to be followed, then be sure to tell her about that. This may include schedules for naptime, sleep time, classes and snacks. If there are any special concerns such as a toddler that is prone to tantrums, then be sure to tell your sitter in advance.

Set Rules for the Sitter

Do you have specific rules in mind for your sitter to follow? Your babysitter service provider should also know if you have rules for her to follow. It is only natural for you to set some guidelines since she will be staying in your house. At the same time though, you should be prepared not to be too strict with your sitter. It would be very unreasonable for example not to allow your sitter to use any of your things in your living room or kitchen. The guidelines you should set may have something to do with the length of personal calls, sleeping on duty and having personal visitors while on duty.

Always Ask Questions

Have a brief chat with your sitter when you get home. Ask her how things went and if she enjoyed being with your kids. This would also be a good time to address specific concerns. Your sitter for example may have had a particularly difficult time with handling one of your kids. Ask her how she dealt with the situation and make sure to praise her if she did a good job at handling it.

Be Generous

Meals - Never forget to leave your sitter something to eat or drink. This is a basic courtesy. Even if you are paying her, it would be a sign of generosity on your part to offer her something extra. This is an especially good idea if she hasn't eaten her meal yet. Being extra kind and generous on your sitter would make her feel that only the best kind of service is expected from her.

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How to Find an Updated Real Estate Listing

Real estate listing is a way to find best possible deals for those who want to buy or sell any kind of immovable asset. This is a very wide sector and contributing effectively to the success of every economy. Investing in property is a wise decision but if it is taken with proper care and followed by deep research work.

There are many ways to find an updated real estate listing but finding suitable one is quite mind storming. Here are few effective ways to discover latest property rates:-

Online Directory- This is the best way to find a profitable deal and interaction with many potential customers. One can easily find different service providers and companies offering attractive deals.

Agencies and Agents- There are many agencies and agents offering their services. One may find them online and ask them for any related query and they will provide accurate solution.

Online Guides- With the help of online guides one can locate names and contact details of various property dealers. People are also provided with an option to take appointment of some professionals and meet them personally.

Media and News- This is an effective way to search various dealings because the information provided through media or news is always accurate and updated.

Consultancies- The establishment of various consultancies makes things easier because personalized attention is given to the client. Information is provided on the basis of personal details and investment limit provided by the client. One must make sure that accurate information should be provided at the time of registration.

Associations- These are specially designed regulatory bodies providing outstanding knowledge about real estate listing. One can interact with highly skilled professionals or experts in order to know best ways to grab profitable opportunity.

Conferences- This is an efficient way to gather appropriate know-how. This does not require personal interaction because people can discuss through online services.

Legal advisers- This is most reliable source to find best deal because they provide accurate information. This is a perfect solution for beginners because having a sound knowledge of all legal formalities is very important.

Online Articles- Those who want to collect core information should read some online articles regarding best ways to find updates real estate listing. Make sure that one is referring to high quality articles only to avoid any kind of confusion.

Audio and Video Galleries- This is the best example of latest technology as one can see and listen to the experience of previous investors. Some companies offer special presentations of their professionals in o order to educate people.

There are enormous ways to find latest property deals but this requires people to devote some time on research. There are some other factors also that must be considered well in advance, playing a crucial role in financial transactions. This includes study of current market trends, market fluctuations, effective comparison of similar properties and services rendered by different companies.

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Selecting a Nanny - Interviewing Prospective Nannies

Interviewing prospective nannies is an important task as it is the best way to form a first opinion of a potential child care provider. The personality of the nanny you plan to hire is one of the most essential requirements, yet one of the toughest items to gauge.

If you opt to work with an agency for help selecting a nanny, the agency will select potential nannies for you to meet with. If you opt to find a nanny on your own, be sure to conduct a background check.

During the interviewing process, remember that you are not just learning about them, but they are also learning about you. Treat the prospective nanny as if they were already working for you. What to ask is really dependant on what qualifications you are looking for in a nanny. At this point you should have a few nannies to consider that meet your current requirements for things such as education and experience.

Following are questions to ask a nanny during the interview process:
Verify all information provided on the application or in their resume, such as inquiring about previous nanny positions.


Ask them about past situations, such as the worst situations they encountered in previous positions and why they chose to discontinue the nanny position.


Test them with "what if" scenarios, such as "What would you do if there was a fire in the home?" or "How do you handle injuries?"


Ask them questions befitting your requirements, such as "We are looking for someone that can help our daughter with her math homework. How can you help us with that?" or "We are looking for someone to work part-time during the evenings after our son is home from school. Are you able to commit to these hours Monday through Friday in a long-term arrangement?"

Asking yes or no questions will not give you the results you need to form a decision. Instead, make sure you ask open-ended questions. Take note of their tone - is it loud and forceful or quiet and laid back? Also, take note of their mannerisms - are they smiling and appear happy or grimacing in disinterest?

During the interview, mention every aspect of the job you are offering. Discuss the salary, hours, benefits, responsibilities, duties, time off, and much more. Talk about any issues or concerns the prospective nanny has in this regard.

Hilary Basile is a writer for MyGuidesUSA.com at myguidesusa.com myguidesusa.com, you will find valuable tips and resources for handling life's major events. Whether you're planning a wedding, buying your first home, anxiously awaiting the birth of a child, contending with a divorce, searching for a new job, or planning for your retirement, you'll find answers to your questions at MyGuidesUSA.com.

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Important Considerations For a Nursing Agency Business

Having a nursing agency commerce is not that dissimilar as you think it is. As long as you do the accurate things needed to powerfully start and run it, you will quickly obtain victory. There are lots of works attached with this trade such as planning, marketing, publicity, picking the right employees, targeting possible clients, charging clients, paying nurses and a lot more. Yes, there are masses of things to do to be able to handle your business well. It really takes a lot of setting up. Think of the best location, checking on the regulations of your state, find ways on how to market your business, create rules and regulations for your business, find staffs, find ways to target potential clients and many more. Prior to opening a nursing agency business, you must look into the rules and system about nursing business in your state. You must stand with the rules and system in order to avoid problems. Location is important, so you have to pick the right place in order to make sure to easily attract possible clients. Of course, you have to go to the location that can assist you easily draw your possible clients. Put up rules and system that can help you powerfully manage your commerce. Put up rules that your clients and workers should abide. Be tough and firm with your rules and system to avoid problems. You must let people know your business. Create business.educationeasy.net business cards, and flyers. Put an ad on your local newspapers. These are few of the ways to promote your industry, there are a lot more. Go and discover of the finest ways to publicize your nursing agency business.

How to Effectively Advertise Your New Nursing Agency Business

If you at last decide to own a nursing agency business, well done then! It is true that with this industry you can income a lot from it and at the same time you can have lots of fun particularly if you have a spirit to care of others.

If you love what you are doing, you will absolutely obtain success with it. So, for individuals who wish to get success, this is the business for you.

In putting up commerce, you must have customers to keep the industry going. Now, in order for you to get clients, you must advertise your nursing agency business. Are you wondering on how to do it? If yes, just read on...

You must advertise locally. Meaning, you have to let the facilities in your community know your business. You can give the people in your neighbourhood your business.educationeasy.net business card in order for them to know about you and your business.

Creating flyers is one first-class way of advertising a business. In creating your flyers, you must put the name of your business, your name, address, contact number and other significant details. After printing out, you can post it on bulletin boards, malls and others. Yes, flyer is an effectual way of advertising your business and the good thing about it is it is not expensive.

Putting an ad on your local paper is another good way of publicizing your nursing agency business. In making an ad, make it expert looking in order to attract potential clients.

Yes, in advertising your industry, you can find lots of clients. But in order to get a lot more and to uphold current customers, you have to provide great services; you must always satisfy your clients in order to gain success.

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