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Canyon727 Asked October 2018

Do VA benefits cover the cost of a memory care facility?

My Mom is in a Memory Care facility and her LTC benefits have just maxed out. Will the VA benefits help with the costs, once her net assets meet the maximum allowance?


Also, how soon can we apply?

Heather10 Nov 2018
The VA is changing their requirements and they are now stricter for aid and attendance to VA spouses.

The VA has also introduced a look back period for gifting, money transfers, annuities or trusts because too many well off people or people with adequate assets were hiding the assets or gifting massive amounts of money to heirs.

In the past you could transfer or hide a trillion dollars and there would be no look back.

Therefore the VA's budget took a big hit and left less for those who are truly needy and have nothing.

The Va as of October 2018, now has a 36 month look back and other stricter requiremets.

Your best bet is to hire an elder care attorney,

MsPatS Nov 2018
The VA may be the answer but if the Veteran has over 90K in assets they will be have to pay a portion of the care.

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IsntEasy Nov 2018
Yes, and you should be collecting the benefit now! Talk to the sales director at your mom's community. If s/he doesn't know how to apply (they often do), she can point you towards someone who can.

You should meet with an elder law attorney and organize mom's assets so that she can receive the benefit now. It's not that complicated and, as I recall, there's no look back.

Rutucker Nov 2018
I would check into this right away. Each state is different for their Medicaid aid. My husband is receiving both Medicaid and VA pension but most of the pension offsets Medicaid payment as co-pay. It does take a while to get all the paper work completed and to get the assets at the appropriate amount.

Canyon727 Oct 2018
Thank you for your answers. I was told in 2015, that she would qualify, when her assets get down to $80,000. I see the VA has changed to a new, net assets formula, of $123,000. Now that her LTC policy has maxed out, she'll meet VA's max in 1 year. (Medicaid has a much lower asset allowance). Looks like, I'll be learning more & applying next year.
SheilaTann Nov 2018
Remember, the VA's allowance of 123,600 is reduced by unreimbursed medical expenses, which includes the cost of her memory care facility.
97yroldmom Oct 2018
Yes. The benefits can be used towards the memory care. At one point I talked to a certified elder attorney about benefits for my in laws. In their circumstance, the attorney was guiding us towards Medicaid rather than VA benefits. Both of those are options when your mom runs out of money since your mom or dad was a vet.
To be clear, It would be either or, not both benefits.
In my inlaws case, both were still living.
There have been recent changes in the VA requirements and there is a better time to apply. I recommend you seek a consult with a certified elder attorney in your mom’s state of residency that is well versed in VA and Medicare benefits. A consultation is sometimes all you need in order to go forward on your own. I would also check with her current facility to see if they accept Medicaid if that becomes an option.
In my case, both inlaws passed before any funds were needed.

JoAnn29 Oct 2018
If Mom or spouse served during a war you can look into Aid and Attendance. The most a Vet can receive is 1700, a spouse 1200. (that may have changed since I applied. This takes time though. Faster if you have all the info, slower if you have to obtain it. Call your local VA office to find what Mom is entitled to.

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