Thank you for this article. I am in the process of filling out the paperwork for my mom who is housebound with a diagnosis of dementia. My mom has a monthly income from social security of 1200 and she also get 325 survivor benefits from my father. I have been in the process for about 1 month. I am almost done now good thing I am not a quitter, but this is not an easy process. I pray my mom can receive these benefits in case she need to go into an assisted living.

I didn't realize your mom was a surviving spouse; yes, they're not entitled to nearly so much; that's the concern hub's aunt has as well, that she will outlive uncle and not enough to be taken care of herself, especially since her income - his income - will be cut as well - guess those credit card bills won't get paid then

I called the VA and asked about the max benefit you quoted here of 1644.00, the rep said that amount is for the veteran only, my mom is already getting the max for surviving spouse with no increase due, it is less than 1644.00.

If they have increased her monthly rate you should be able turn that in to get an increase in her pension to help cover it

She fell and broke her hip, had partial hip replacement surgery, and is going to therapy. Before the fall, she was not walking as much with the walker and depending more on the wheelchair. The AL facility has increased her monthly rate due to points and more care needed for getting around etc. We are looking to transferring her to the new memory unit, she will have a shared room so she will not be alone and more one on one care which she will need with her advancing age.

How have her needs increased beyond what's being provided for at the AL?

How can my 94 year old mom get the maximum pension of 1644.00, She is in an assisted living facility and is receiving VA benefits, but the pension is not the max and her needs have increased and so has the cost. Do we re-apply?

Mom is living in my home now, her and my dad both served in the army. Both got honorable discharges. My dad passed away abot 12 years ago. MY mom is not receiving any benefits. Is she eligible for any?

We applied February 2012 through the state VSO specifically for caregiver; received first payment end of July 2012 plus, I believe, the retroactive back to February but then discovered a discrepancy between the amount on the application for the caregiver and the amount on the caregiver contract/agreement form, so they only paid the lesser amount, so refilled, again, through the VSO, and began receiving the full amount in December 2012; the payments were all put on a card; not sure if they will still do that; done that way through most of 2013, then fiduciary began to be required in November 2013, I believe, based on doctor visit, I believe, in March 2013, so new bank account had to be opened but based on time frame of the month couldn't be direct deposited in time so check had to be issued but somehow got tangled up with Thanksgiving, for one thing; for another, they got address mixed up and sent to an invalid address so was returned; by then direct deposit had had time to be processed so then that was done and for both November and December or at least the payments to be issued in those months, just thankful used a bank with branches in more than one state because by the first, then, of January, was back in the hospital, but do believe these monies are retro, as in for previous months, since still did get on first of January for then previous December; just glad, since there, was able to go to that local branch and get to pay caregiver, then, since passed away in January, no check for February, so do need to always make provisions for that with the retro you get at the beginning; ours got tied up in a secure loan, which became an issue.

First ; when did you apply?
Is it a VA owned or State Veterans Home, or Private Pay?
It is "Improved Pension, Aid and Attendance"
Depending on medical Expenses
The benefit is payable one month (retro) after it is received at the VA; in other words an app mailed in March and rcvd in March begins payment the following month April( if approved), and the first payment credited in May.Direct deposit
Did you self apply?

I am asking this on this forum because I do not know where else to take this issue. My dad is a Korean War Veteran and is in a VA Retirement Home. He has just started receiving a "War Veteran's Pension" (I think that is what my sister called it). That money now pays the VA Home monthly on his behalf. Upon his admittance my sister and my dad were told if he qualified for the War Pension money, any out of pocket money he paid for his monthly residence would be reimbursed up to 60 days (2 months payments). He checked in on January 29, 2015. So the few days at the end of January were pro rated and the cost was shared by my sister and I. February and March were paid by my dad's social security (his only income). Eventually (mid March) we were told he was approved to receive the War Veteran Pension but there would be no reimbursement for February or March. In fact they act like they don't know where we got the idea that he would be reimbursed by the War Pension Money. We did not jus arbitrarily make this up. Does he have the right to have 2 months of his social security payments reimbursed? If so where can I find that in writing?

I need to know how to apply, for my step father!

For Ronp83136:

If you connect a service connected issue to obtain disability.

I am an army veteran, 1956 to 1958. I am also a cardiac patient and had 2 quad bypass surgeries, a stent and also physically disabled where spinal surgery is not a choice. Is there any financial assistance that I can get in addition to my social security allowance?

The article was very informative, but disappointing, I am a 100% disabled and housebound, my husband is unable to leave me alone for very long due to my disablity and worries constantly when he does our grocery shopping, and working is out of the question, but I missed being a wartime veteran by less than 2 months so he doesn't qualify for A&A can you give us any tell us if there are any other benefits he may qualify through the VA. Thank you

There are so many aspects. all lot depends on what HAS been done; What CAN be done, and financial situations.

A non spouse caregiver can be paid......

My mom and dad have a small farm in a trust. Does the farm and house that my mom live in, need to be in her name and not the trust? Dad is in assisted living.

Actually,this information enables an encourages us to look
forward to recovery,through programs that provide financial,medical and living assistance that should be appropriated as intended when received. Also note that some programs provide for us to contribute back into the program even as a comment with true appreciation

I have been taking care of my mother who is the widow of a 100 percent disabled vet my uncle and aunt take care of her finances my mother had a stroke to which left her paralized on her left side and her mind is slipping I bathe her keep her bed dry get her up to feed her she pretty much stays in her bed she says due to the pain of her tail bone sitting is to much pain she cant even sit up on her own once sat up she can then sit alone all muscle have just about depleated I just learned about this program and I dont even know where to start I have received nothing in the last two years and my little disability checks I spend on my mother aunt and uncle say I have a place to live and please forgive me I do all the cooking bathing cleaning of the house yard work and take care of my mother im almost 50 and its killing my back I get hardly no sleep because she is always awake calling and yet I cant send her to a home I dont even know where to start I only need just a little help and a few minutes of me time and Iknow that probably is selfish either way can someone please help please

If it
does what it is suppose to and another door isnt slammed in my face it truely will be heaven sent and the next 2
years wont be as difficult as the last two were

LadyKKA:

When you say you began 2 years ago; is your application still in a pending stage? Or was it denied?
Most likely you applied on your own; omitted critical forms and did not understand assets /income/property, thus they keep you in an endless loop, the case is never rated, the Vet dies, and you get nothing.
There is not nearly enough info in your post to begin to even make a judgment.

I began applying for aid and attendance 2 years ago. My father ha lost of one kidney and has renal disease. He has had prostrate cancer and a heart attack last January. Do you think we can get a response form the VA. NO!!! I care for him 24/7 and cannot work because of it. we are in dire need of assistance to just keep our home. The VA apparently does not care about WW2 vets or the hardship we are going through,

Independent living (IL), is a difficult but doable situation ; given the right circumstances. very important!
While the "enhanced" IL facility provides shelter security, meals, in a main dinning room, pull cords,24 hour manning, etc.;
The ADL's (at least two), must be provided by an outside contracted (with the family), in house regular provider, and a Dr. Report (in all cases) must indicate the need, in IL that care must be proven by affidavits, and be consistent, and regular.

Assisted living is somewhat simpler (as compared to IL) to obtain the Improved Pension benefit, as they include ADL's as part of the monthly charges, and provide more services.
There is still a process that leads to "qualification, each case is individual based on ALL Assets, Income, Expenses, Medical Need, Age, etc..

My grandmother receives benefits. She says she can no longer apply (or get a credit?) towards living in an independent living facility, which is different from assisted. In the past, she could receive a portion off her rent for independent living. By independent living, I mean she lives in a facility where she is given meals, activities, rides to places, etc. Has this since changed?

You can apply online to the VA, but again if you got the gist of my previous comment self application is not suggested.
Each case is individual and all are different.
Generally if you self apply you won't submit all required paper work, going to the VA is not only frustrating, but often defeating. I just had a client come to me who told the VA about the assets at the regional office, they said "no problem" only to be officially denied
Expenses have to be close to, or exceed income; to obtain the full benefit, It does not matter what state it is in because it is a federal benefit US CODE TITLE 38
Don't make the mistake of hiring casual labor as aides; you must have caregiver contracts and do not pay cash.
The property, income, and assets of the surviving spouse are important, Allowable assets really are a function of age, longevity, and subjective determination by the case rater. YES I said SUBJECTIVE. There are valid ways to handle assets and property BEFORE applying.
Also while the VA may claim one can 'own a house and apply ' they do not explain the dire consequences of having that in the claimant's name at time of application

Assisted living provides the required ADL's which make approval simpler.
Since I have no idea about income or assets/ property it is not possible to offer suggestions.
One tip be aware that proper VA planning also considers the eventual possibility of needing Medicaid.

This is the kind of info I've been looking for. My father was aWW2 vet & my mother, now 86 has Alzheimer's. I've had to pay out of pocket for aides to come in & help her.
She lives in N.Y. as does many of her relatives (they all feel assisted living is needed) They don't want to be caretakers & I am poa. I don't want to force her to move away from the family, but she also has family in SC.
This care is twice as much as the same care in SC. Would this affect benefits if she changes state of residence?
I have looked for a specialist in the county to help with this as she's homebound unless someone picks her up.
Is there a way to apply online?
Would my father's SS no help locate his discharge status?
My mother has thrown away many important papers.
We're at the point where the cost of keeping her in her apt with help is about equal to Assisted Living-but will benefit from this help.
I would appreciate input from anyone who's gone through the VA process successfully.

The $80,000 upper asset limit is just an example of another unexplained and misunderstood nuance in this process, The income & asset limit is not understood by most families either. As a consequence most families falsely think they will not qualify.
I've been assisting families in the metro Atlanta GA area for years. Applying for this on your own is like learning as a result of bad experiences, but produces no positive result.

IF veteran, who is 100% P&T, is in a VA nursing home, does the spouse still receive the monthly check benefit? same question if veteran is in hospital, VA or not.

For Maxwell 18:
Aid & Attendance:

For those over 65 who served in a wartime era; if they need ADL's and are not working: then by definition they ARE 100% disabled.
If someone is under 65 they must be declared 100% disabled by Social security

Generally if a vet is getting COMPENSATION at 100% (not PENSION) the rate would be higher than the rate for Aid & Attendance, A&A IS NOT injury related. COMPENSATION is INJURY related

However A vet is entiteled to the benefit which provides him/her with the highest amount in each individual case

Again so many misunderstandings, and misconceptions.
Assets can be reduced by transfer, yet Medicaid considerations are involved, no one case is EVER the same; do not assume that if a Vet/surviving spouse has under $80,000 they will qualify.... far from it!, and it is important to think about Medicaid ramifications in this process.