I’m surprised to see so many bad comments. The VA was everything for my late spouse and without all their assistance I would have never been able to keep him at home during the 14 months after his major stroke until his death. It was the most difficult task of my life but without God and the full support of the VA I would not have made it.

He had been using the VA for his medical care for years prior to the stroke. I’m suspecting that had a lot to do with getting the support we received. We received every piece of durable medical equipment and supplies one would need to care for a person in home. From caregivers, gloves to expensive electric bed and Hoyer lift.

Only thing I didn’t know until after he passed is everything they bring belongs to you. I am still looking for a place or someone who needs or will take all of the equipment off my hands. I had no idea how hard giving away things that would make all the difference to a family who wanted to keep their loved one home and not have to put the in a horrible nursing home would be. I am determined to find a good outcome other than calling the junk haulers. I can’t do that in good conscience. Anyone with options I would appreciate them.

I applied this past April 2019 for Aid and Attendance for my Dad who is a WWII vet and is 95 years old.
He and my mother's monthly income is around $1,200.00 ...at this point their monthly expenses exceed their income. We have help coming in 3x per week...
I just checked with the VA person who assisted with the application and basically are still waiting..not sure how long it will take, but apparently takes a very long time. Meanwhile, my parents are quickly spending down their meager savings. AND the VA eliminated the 'age related priority".

All wonderful news but ... my father served in the Marine Corps and when he was honorably discharged he was somewhat bitter about things. He was due to receive a purple heart and did not get it. He also applied for assistance back then for housing etc and denied because the VA or whomever couldn't locate certain paperwork. He is very adamant about not going to a VA doctor or hospital. In his words"i would rather die". Due to his Dementia and declining health I am trying to stress it would be in his benefit. He has Medicare and BC/BS and feels he doesn't need anything else.
Can he tap into part of what the VA has to offer without the other stuff? I am really at a loss. He needs the in home care. Right now we are paying $1200 a month for someone to come in 3 days a week to help our mom with him. If he isn't of a sound mind ... how can I help with getting him into any VA program?

Now that caregivers of vets ( pre 911) I'd like to know when and how we apply for this stipend.

There are special considerations for agent orange, etc. I am just speaking in general as in the case of my father who was WWII. He got nothing. Income of about 21,000 a year. A few small bank accounts where he was trying to save. Don't get your hopes up.

IMO, veterans don't get any special treatment. Your income has to be incredibly low and then then you have to fight for any help. If you make anything over about 20,000 a year you wont get any help. I have done the book work.

If a 100% disabled vet is going to an adult day center 4 days out of the week and have a VA sent aid 2x a week for 4 hours each day can they receive additional aid in the evenings and their caregiver is worn out?

Beware!

The case managers and nurses are great...BUT they do not tell the senior veteran what that great service is going to cost!

My Dad was sold on the idea....he was told that it was a wonderful benefit he EARNED by his service in the war.

BUT.... those bills were in the thousands! After about 2 months the bills started to roll in!! No way my Dad could pay that!

Only good hint about his death...no esatate...didn't have to figure out how to starve for a month to pay that bill!

I had a fit with the VA billing department. They admitted to me that the medical staff doesn't have clue one about the bills. They sell it to unsuspecting seniors!!

Beware

I am an honorably discharged Korean veteran and I need assistance with
meals.I don't know how to cook and need some sort of a meal program.

Before using the VA as an answer speak with those who have been profoundly disappointed in how the VA systems works. It's most difficult on our elder vets and wives, very sad

Only a Post9/11 vet is qualified for the Home Care Stipend. No WWII KOREAN or VIETNAM vet even those w 100% physically wounded and disabled are entitled for it.

For VA aid and attendance benefits the veteran will need to liquidate all investments (IRA, annuities (not life) and all assets in excess of approximately $20-25k. Owning a house is considered an asset as well. Actually any asset tied to the Veterans social security number will be considered an asset according to the VA. But dad was moving into an assisted living facility so he sold his house. Put all assets in an irrevocable trust and appoint a trustee. Preferably one person, a trustworthy family member. The veteran’s medical expenses will need to be 70% of their monthly income. But you can achieve this with assets in the trust account and having the veteran receiving licensed care in home or in a facility. We also prepaid his funeral expenses prior to the application process. I try to keep my dad’s liquid assets below $10k. We are still awaiting approval but these were all the steps we took prior to applying for benefits. I AM NOT AN ATTORNEY. I’ve just spent the last year doing all these things.

I am a service connected 180% in line of duty homebound permanently connected female veteran for 15 years. I have to write letters and plead for 2 hrs of help a day. My caregiver husband no longer can help me. He had small strokes and I need to help him while lying in bed or taking medicine to get around. God is so good though. I couldn't do it any other way. I would rather suffer then let my husband end up lost or homeless. This is such a true story too. Blessings to all veterans. Without you, the U.S. would not be free or the nation we live in today.

Dmicha, I agree. Something needs to change here. It is way too hard to get help. It is like roadblocks everywhere you turn. And you are trying to care for the person while also trying to get all this information together, all the right signatures, dates, etc. with NO help from the VA. It seems impossible to understand the rules and the process and get any action in a timely manner.
I also left on a dime and moved in to help my WWII vet father. I was hopeful about the VA too, but no - they are the most frustrating organization I have ever dealt with. Communication? Doesn't exist. Try to get someone to answer the phone. Try to talk to the same person twice. Good luck. The news is full of changes for the better. I don't see it. I have written my Senator but nothing came of it. The VA sucks up a lot of money. What do we get in return? Our veterans deserve better.

Well I have read the comments.. And I am shaking my head.. We just turned in paperwork for this last month and was told they would make a decision by aug 2018.. My dad is 90.. Heres my scenario.. I left a great paying job and benefits 1000 miles away.. My parents needed help so I moved leaving everything.. I can't get medical insurance unless I pay full amount because I am not working. I can't get a job because they need so much help.. Then we found out about aid from va.. Now totally discouraged.. I am only 58.. I think its time for all of us to start writing letters and bombard them with this issue.. I have found 6 other people who are in the same scenario..

Remembered a couple more things that were not clear at first: If there is any interest at all on a bank account you need to state it on the application - no matter how small the amount is. Also their "date range" is not calendar year. You need to be sure you have this right. I believe it starts in Oct. Also the amount of savings they are allowed to have seems to vary depending on who you talk to. I recall it was hard to find these things out and to get a straight answer on things. And if things are not right, the process can start all over again. As I say, we eventually gave up in frustration. Dad passed about a year later.

You have to be penniless or just plain dead to get help.

Unless you are dirt poor and on Medicaid you are screwed. The VA will do nothing. Your application will be denied. Over and over again. Been there, done that. Complete waste of time.

It is income based but there are other restrictions too.
Tried in 2014/2015 with my father - WWII vet who passed in 2016. I was 24/7 intense caregiver. We wanted extra help so that I could get a break, or maybe some pay for me. I thought his 7000+ in medical expenses in 2014 would be counted against his income which was about 1900/mo, mostly from soc sec. Lots of work applying and they didn't even look at the medical expenses - didn't count them.

Found out later that they want recurring predictable expenses such as nursing homes. His was ER, hospitalizations, specialists and prescriptions mostly. (He was on a United Health Care Advantage plan. Regular Medicare would have been better and we changed that at the next opportunity.) They did count 1200 that he paid me that year - our experiment just to see... But it wasn't enough to qualify him since they didn't count his other expenses.

I guess if he had paid me more, it would have lowered his income... say if he paid me his soc sec. And then I would claim that as income on my taxes and he would wait to be reimbursed from the VA. We just didn't trust that. They also have a special formula that they use so calculating income is not as straightforward as you might think.

Also, in our remote area there were few VA aides available. He was "accepted into the system" but his "income was too high". We also had to go through that Philadelphia office and is was a very long and frustrating experience. Seemed like it was hard to get good information - different depending on who you finally could talk to. The whole process took so long and was so unclear that we didn't trust it. In the end, we just abandoned the whole effort.

I recently checked on this for my father. One thing, the Vet can not have more than $35,000.00 Cash for this service to be provided.

After reading the comments, I am feeling hopeless. Do you have to be penny less or dead to get assistance?

peggyh - We you able to secure disability benefits for him? Aid & Attendance is based on income. That income is calculated less medical expenses. It may make sense for you to look at an assisted living facility. You both could move in and stay together, while he receives the care he needs. Take a second look at A & A for sure.

I just became disgusted with the whole system. I have been told since that you have to be destitute to get any benefits(assets not exceeding $2000). If you are supposed to have benefits from serving in the military, why do you have to fight for them. I contacted my state rep at the time and he couldn't do anything.

My husband served 4 years during WW II, and is now in Memory Care, however I was told that because he has savings and an IRA, he would not qualify for any assistance except burial. Is it true that you have to be poor in able to qualify for any assistance?

To Johnk6749 have you tried getting some help from the DAV. There should be an office in the closest VA hospital or you can go on line to get the closest office. Try calling if you don't have one close enough to you.

We got turned down for aide and attendance. I would like to know what else is out there through the Veterans Administration. My husband is in adult day centers 4 days a week and has a VA provided aide two days a week for 4 hours each. That leaves me with the rest of the care dressing, feeding, cooking, toileting, medications etc. It gets to you after awhile. Any direction would be greatly appreciated. My husband is a 100% disabled vet (PTSD) and should be eligible for more services. I pay for two days a week at an adult day center and two days are paid for by the VA at one of their Adult Day Center.

I am an honorably discharged Vietnam veteran. I applied for VA health benefits in 2003 and again in 2010. I provided full financial disclosure. I never got an approval or denial. If they denied me at least I could appeal it, but they did nothing. Unfortunately, I have to go through the notorious do-nothing Philadelphia VA. Maybe I have to move to another region to get approved.