My father-n-law is a WWII Veteran, but has never used any benefits, he now needs assisted care. Are there benefits for him?

Basic information is at:
https://www.agingcare.com/articles/veteran-aid-attendance-benefit-long-term-care-156656.htm

https://www.agingcare.com/articles/veteran-aid-and-attendance-improved-pension-136402.htm

Information about coming changes to the Aid & Attendance eligibility is at:

https://www.agingcare.com/articles/va-aid-attendance-new-eligibility-rules-177294.htm
https://www.agingcare.com/articles/propsed-changes-to-aid-and-attendance-affect-caregiver-pay-178761.htm

My Father did not ever utilize all his WWII benefits either, but I am currently applying for the Aid and Attendance from the VA for my Mom, who has Alzheimers and is living in Assisted Living. You can call the VA system and get assigned to a counselor who will help you with the application papers. They will also research off the discharge papers and determine any and all benefits that a veteran is entitled to. I was told that being 90 years old is when the applications are expedited, and that a VA counselor has to code it a certain way for that to happen. All the forms can be downloaded on line. The counselor I a working with says that right now, approvals are coming faster, and we could get an answer as soon as six weeks. Aid and attendance unlike Medicaid, pays back to the day of the official application being turned in. There is no look back period as there is with Medicaid either. My mother will be entitled to $1149/month, and it will be paid directly to her from the VA for the rest of her life, based on her diagnosis and already needing to live in assisted living. One does have to be considered disabled to get the benefit, but I would think that at his age, with Parkinson's and needing help with meds, he would be qualified for the rest of his life too. You will find that there are people out there who will do all the paperwork and ensure that it goes through the system, properly, for a fee, but my VA counselor said that no one should have to pay to have it done. The hard work, any how is getting all the forms and information together that has to go on the forms or with the forms....like the discharge paper, and the death certificate if the vet died and it's the spouse to get the money. The marriage license, and proof of certain medical expenses, diagnoses and a budget that shows what income sources the person has as compared to what their expenses are.... I am almost done with Mom's application and expect to get it turned in this week. The links that others provided above my post ARE very helpful. I had found a couple of them before and used them to find answers to my questions.

Here is a website that will help you understand with Aid & Attendance Benefits http://benefits.va.gov/pension/

I recently read that if the vet is over a certain age (what I don't remember) that you can have your application expedited thru the system but you need to state that and not assume they will look at birthdate and automatically do so. Just thought I would share, maybe someone here knows the age.

He does qualify for Aid and Attendance and to answer one of the question, they expedite it for anyone over the age of 91. You can have an agency such as http://www.veteranshomecare.com/ to do the paperwork for you and they will be able to start the care before the money is giving to you as long as he qualify. They have to take his monthly income into account to qualify as well. Good luck Lisa.

It is worth the application process. People couldn't be nicer and the care is very good. They will try to work with you on all his needs, medications to grab bars in the bathrooms, everything.

I have authored a White Paper on VA Aid & Attendance and the application process. It will answer many of your questions about the process and the VA.

We were told that my dad qualified for Aid and Attendance, but he died before his paperwork ever was finalized. We later applied for my mom and hers was at first turned down and then, on appeal, was granted. She passed away nearly two years ago at age 98, after having received the Aid and Attendance benefit for several years. This is the only thing that made it possible for us to hire enough help that she could remain at home and, despite the hassle with paperwork, it was well worth the battle. There are many service organizations that will help you with the paperwork. Here in Salt Lake City, the American Legion had an office right on the campus of the George E. Wahlen Veterans' Hospital and I went there and met with them several times. They were very good and very knowledgeable and helpful in seeing me through the whole process, including the appeal. I am now engaged to a man who has many health problems and had to take a disability leave from work. He had no idea, until I asked him and started checking into things that there are many V.A. benefits available to him. He now gets all his medical care through the V.A., including surgery for a brain tumor that the V.A. discovered last year. The surgeon is top-notch from the Huntsman Cancer Institute and it was totally covered through the V.A. You may be amazed when you find out about all the programs and benefits that are available and you will do well to utilize all that are applicable for him.

Great info here! My deceased Dad was a Vet, never used his VA benefits either. My Mom, who is 92, is also a Vet herself. Wonder if she could get double the benefit for assisted living if needed someday?

My father is a veteran and both he and my mother are now in different stages of dementia and are living in assisted living in memory care unit. Dad has never used any of his VA benefits. What agencies can I turn to to help me in getting the Aid and Attendance money for them? How would we access his other VA benefits to help with costs - medical, etc.? Please give me any advice you have. I live in TN. How much paperwork is involved? Thank you.