Part 4 of 6: VA Aid and Attendance Pension Benefit

This is Part 4 of a 6-Part Series for families regarding ways to pay for elder care services in Indiana. This information accompanies the 23-page e-book/guide called “A Family Guide to Paying for Elder Care Services in Indiana“, available for free download HERE.elder care services

Before Applying for the VA Aid and Attendance Pension Benefit for a Veteran or Surviving Spouse – Get Organized!

Make sure you have all of your paperwork in order and copies of all important documents PRIOR to filing. More importantly GET HELP. See notes below. See links to important documents at the bottom of this article.

Step 1:

First, the Veteran must have certified copies of his or her discharge papers. If the Veteran has a copy of his or her DD 214, take it to a local Veteran’s office where they will make certified copies at no charge. If there is no copy available, contact the VA to get a copy.

Step 2:

Second, the Veteran must have a medical reason for needing home care. They must be considered homebound.  The medical reason does not have to be a serious or life-threatening condition.  The home care agency will have a doctor’s report to be completed by the Veteran’s doctor. A copy of this report must be filed along with the application.

Step 3:

Third, to qualify financially, an applicant must have on average less than $80,000 in assets, excluding their home and vehicles.

Step 4:

Fourth, the Veteran must actually be receiving home care services at the time of application. The application process takes from three to six months and is retroactive to first day of the month the application was originally filed. For this reason, make sure your Veteran has the funds to cover the entire cost of home care for at least the first six months. Once the application is processed, the Veteran will receive a lump sum check for the retroactive benefit, then a monthly benefit check from that time on.

Notes- Get Help:

Veterans Home Care LLC Helps Veterans and Surviving Spouses with the VA Aid and Attendance Application Process, and in many cases may PAY for the home care while the veteran and family wait for approval.

Their unique services make the difference

Veterans Home Care begins providing care promptly after the application goes to the VA. Clients pay for their own home care through their interest-free client loan, which they repay from their “Aid & Attendance” reimbursements once the VA approves the application.

Veterans Home Care keeps working

Throughout the VA’s approval process, they work on behalf of their clients – answering questions, processing additional paperwork, and setting up and managing home care. Even after the VA approves the claim, Veterans Home Care is on the job, helping clients remain in compliance to receive the full benefit available, and maintaining home care scheduling, invoicing and payments.

Veterans Home Care brings home care to disabled elderly veteran families who otherwise couldn’t afford it.

  • They assist clients with the VA application and with any required follow up, at no charge.
  • They help clients pay for their home care, by providing a loan for that purpose with no interest charges − ever.
  • They arrange and monitor each client’s home care, and charge no fees.

Contact VHC today to get all of your questions answered. 1-888-808-4290

Important Documents for the VA Aid and Attendance Pension Benefit (note please contact Veterans Home Care LLC PRIOR to filing a claim on your own 1-888-808-4290)

  • Standard Form 180 – Requesting Military Records
  • Use VA Form 21-526 to apply for compensation and/or pension benefits.
  • VA Form 21-534 to apply for benefits as a surviving spouse.
  • Nursing Home Status Statement
  • Physicians Statement for Need for Regular Aid and Attendance
  • AUTHORIZATION TO DISCLOSE PERSONAL INFORMATION TO A THIRD PARTY
  • Use VA Form 21-601 to apply for accrued benefits due the beneficiary but not paid prior to death.

The veteran must have served during a period of war as defined by the VA.

  • Indian Wars: January 1, 1817, through December 31, 1898. The veteran must have served thirty days or more, or for the duration of such Indian War. Service must have been with the U.S. forces against Indian tribes or nations.
  • Spanish-American War: April 21, 1898, through July 4, 1902, including the Philippine Insurrection and the Boxer Rebellion. Also included are those individuals engaged in the Moro Province hostilities through July 15, 1903.
  • Mexican Border War: May 9, 1916, through April 5, 1917. The veteran must have served for one day or more in Mexico, on the borders thereof, or in the waters adjacent thereto.
  • World War I: April 6, 1917, through November 11, 1918, extended to April 1, 1920, for those who served in the Soviet Union. Service after November 11, 1918, through July 2, 1921, qualifies for benefits purposes if active duty was performed for any period during the basic World War I period.
  • World War II: December 7, 1941, through December 31, 1946, extended to July 25, 1947, where continuous with active duty on or before December 31, 1946.
  • Korean Conflict: June 27, 1950, through January 31, 1955.
  • Vietnam Era: August 5, 1964, through May 7, 1975.90 However, February 28, 1961, through May 7,1975, for a veteran who served in the Republic of Vietnam during that period.
  • Persian Gulf War: August 2, 1990, through a date to be prescribed by Presidential proclamation or law.
  • Congress has not enacted legislation that would make the periods covering the 1983-1984 Lebanon crisis or the invasions of Grenada and Panama wartime service.
About Julie Sullivan

Julie Sullivan is the Owner at GreatCare of Indianapolis IN.
GreatCare is a licensed, personal services agency, providing in-home care services to the Indianapolis, Indiana and surrounding areas. We serve the personal health and daily care needs of seniors or individuals who prefer to stay at home, but require assistance with everyday activities, such as dressing, personal hygiene, meal preparation, laundry or errands. Our team of certified nurse aids and home health aids can provide you with personalized, in-home care services to meet your needs, including:
Daytime hourly in-home care
Temporary or post-hospital respite care
24-hour, around-the-clock home care
Morning and evening care
Overnight / Slumber care
In addition, we offer our Care Compass service, to assist in setting the course for the next stage in your loved ones life. We guide you through the currents of aging, and help you find your true north. Our licensed nurses, with experience in hospice and geriatric care, will help guide you through the complex and often sensitive journey of selecting an in-home care service, and will provide a smooth transition to a new way of life for your loved one, without the anxiety and fear.

Our current nursing and management team has more than 75 years of combined experience in the home healthcare services industry. All of our caregivers are bonded, insured and screened thoroughly, so you know you’ll be receiving the greatest care possible. That’s why we stand by our mission: to deliver the same, quality care we expect for ourselves and our loved ones.
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