Proud to serve those who served.

 You May Be Eligible For Rarely Explored

Veterans Benefits

Did You or Your Spouse Serve Your Country?

However, few take advantage of the Non-Service Connected Improved Pension Benefit, commonly referred to as the "Aid and Attendance" benefits program.

The veterans of our country are entitled to health benefit programs from our federal government.

To provide supplemental income to older Veterans as well as spouses or widows who have a low income or high monthly out of pocket medical costs.

Purpose of VA Disability Pension

Veteran Affairs (VA) considers this program as one of the department's most underutilized offerings.

This Pension benefit is not dependent upon service-related injuries for compensation.

• Must have a discharge other than dishonorable.

Veteran Military Requirements

• Must have served at least 90 days of active duty with one day during a period of war.

Many veterans or their single surviving spouses can become eligible and receive monetary benefits if:

MEDICAL

• They have a regular need for the aid and attendance of a caregiver or if they are housebound.

• The Aid and Attendance benefit can be used to pay for home care, assisted living or nursing home care for a veteran or the veteran's spouse.

The VA automatically classifies veterans 65 and older and surviving spouses 65 and older as “disabled “ for purposes of qualifying for VA Pension benefits.

To be eligible for the additional housebound or aid & attendance benefit, the claimant must be “confined to premises” which means dependent upon another person for transportation needs.

You can own a vehicle but the claimant can not be the driver.

Little known facts….

FINANCIALPension is primarily intended for low or no income veterans, but a special provision in how Pension is calculated can allow veterans or single surviving spouses who have high monthly out of pocket medical or care costs to qualify for the pension benefit.

If the veteran’s income exceeds the Pension amount, there is usually no award given, however, income can be adjusted for unreimbursed medical expenses, and this allows veterans with household incomes larger than the Pension amount to qualify for a monthly benefit. There is also an asset test to qualify for Pension.

Out of Pocket Monthly Medical Expenses

Sample Monthly Medical Expenses

• Medicare premiums

• Medicare supplement and advantage plan premiums

• Medicare drug plan premiums

• Home care monthly costs for private company or for family caregivers.

• Assisted living or residential care monthly cost

• Adult day care monthly cost

• Nursing home monthly cost

• Any other recurring monthly medical costs such as:

• Over the counter meds • Doctor visit co-pays • Special dietary needs • Continence products, etc

The VA will allow veterans' households to deduct the annual cost of paying any person such as family members, friends or hired help for care when calculating the Pension benefit.

Family Care Arrangements

Subject to Federal & State Tax

requirements

Can be a welcome benefit for families struggling to provide eldercare for loved ones at home.

• up to $1,056 a month for a single surviving spouse of a veteran.

• up to $1,644 a month for a single veteran.

• up to $1,949 a month for a *couple.

The extra income…

*In the cases where the non-veteran spouse is the one requiring care or has high monthly out of pocket medical expenses the benefit may be awarded at a reduced rate.

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How Pension Is CalculatedTotal 12 month future, family income from all resources $48,000

Less future unreimbursed medical expenses adjusted for 5% of MAPR

$39,600

Total countable income or IVAP $8,400

Couples MAPR with aid and attendance allowance

$22,113

Less countable income $8,400

Yearly pension calculation $13,713

Monthly pension award (yearly divided by 12) $1,143

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Assets

• Household cash assets or assets that can be readily converted to cash cannot exceed $80,000.

• The VA makes the determination on a case-by-case basis what the allowable level of assets should be.

• Personal residence, vehicles and personal property are exempt from the asset test.

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Income• The veteran household *countable income must be less

than the Maximum Allowable Pension Rate. (MAPR)

• MAPR single veteran -- $1,644 per month

• MAPR veteran couple -- $1,949 per month

• MAPR single surviving spouse of a veteran -- $1056 per month

*Countable Income is your monthly gross income – eligible expenses

How AWG Veteran Services Can Help

We provide:

• Information about the benefit including:

• what it is • who qualifies• necessary documentation to

file a claim.

• A Free pre-qualification analysis to

assist with determining eligibility.

Our program, under the direction of a VA accredited *Veteran Service Representative, ensures a well developed claim for the maximum benefit with the least time for processing the claim.

• Access to an accredited *Veteran Service Representative

• The AWG VA Benefit Guide & Toolkit provides easy to understand guidance for members. This valuable tool helps establish a well developed claim.

• Final review of paperwork prior to submission to the VA.

Additional help Included with Aging with Grace Eldercare Program Membership includes:

*Accredited VA Claims Agent status pending.

Medicaid DovetailingAssets that may disqualify an applicant for VA Pension can be given away or turned into income and there is no penalty for doing this as there would be with Medicaid.

Unfortunately, assets that are gifted within a five-year period starting from the date of the gift could disqualify someone applying for Medicaid.

It is extremely important that anyone who has given away assets to qualify for the household or aid and attendance benefit should also make provisions to avoid or reduce the penalty imposed through early gifting by Medicaid.

AWG Veteran Services understands both veterans benefits and Medicaid and can help with dovetail planning for the two benefits.

Understanding the Impact of VA Pension Disability on Medicaid

By anticipating all of the documentation requirements that are necessary and submitting them with the original application, the time from submission to a decision is shortened.

A Well Developed Claim

AWG Veteran Services is a private practitioner. Under the direction of a *VA Accredited Veteran Service Representative , we comply with federal statutes and regulations governing the preparation, presentation and prosecution of any claim for veterans benefits with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.   *Accredited Claims Agent 

Status pending.

Call us today! (877)369-5418

or visit

www.agingwithgrace.net

For your free no obligation pre-qualification

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