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I have not applied because we do not qualify but, you can go online to the VA site and their is an application. Please familiarize yourself with the VA website. Very helpful and informative.
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It is actually against the law for attorneys to charge for helping you fill out those forms. Many attorneys specialize in helping families qualify for the A&A pension by putting assets into trusts. They can charge for setting up the trust, but they can't charge for filling out the VA forms.
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I seriously doubt that it is "against the law". Attorneys charge for their "time".
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I was told my an elder attorney that is against the law to charge for preparing it. You might want report that attorney that charged $10000. We did it ourselves but had a volunteer veteran help a bit.
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You do not need a high priced lawyer! Contact your local Department of Aging and they are happy to help. Perhaps they may even send someone out to visit you if income eligible. It is a "detailed" process, but do not get discouraged. There is also a website called Veteran's Angels. Linda and her husband founded the foundation to help veterans and are WONDERFUL Angels. Contact them. You will be happy that you did.
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I am in the process of filing for this for my mother. It has been burdensome, to say the least. We are working with the lawyer who helped me file for legal guardianship of my mom (he is also a friend of ours, but we pay his rate; trust me, this whole thing is an expensive process!). I have a TON of stuff to track down for the VA right now after submitting the initial paperwork in March. Fortunately I am not in as dire a position as College, but my mother's money will not last beyond 3 or 4 years, so my lawyer said it is important to get the process going now to show the court we are pursuing all avenues of revenue for my mom and so that when her funds do trickle down, we will be in a position to receive VA money (my mom is the widow of a Navy veteran). As for advice for you, have patience and go through everything the VA asks for methodically and make sure you check everything off the list. It can be a huge amount of paperwork. For example, one of the sections of the VA's response to me is asking for "any treatment records, especially those which are recent (within the last 12 months). This includes reports or statements from doctors, hospitals, laboratories, medical facilities, mental health clinics, x-rays, physical therapy records, surgical reports, etc. Thse should include the dates of treatment, findings and diagnoses." OK, right. To me, that is DAUNTING. And it's just one of a bunch of things the VA is asking of me. So, I just need to take it one doctor at a time and make the call and request the information (or dig through my own papers to see if I have the paperwork). The process is definitely designed to wear you down and throw in the towel. Good luck!
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I'm so sorry for the type-os. I just woke up with brain fog this mornig, need more coffee.
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We used American Veterans Aid, they have a website. They are out of California. We paid $1150.00 for my mother to get the VA Aid and Attendance Pension. We got it in 4 months to the day. The VA told me that I should not pay for this service. They do it for you. They help you fill out the paperwork at their office. My Mother was so sick at that time so I think it was the best thing I for us at that time. I had to charge it to a credit card. I also wrote to my senator to help with the process. Veterans Aid told me it could take up to 12 months after we had completed the paperwork and sent it in for processing. I was very upset and poor because I had quit my job to take care of my Mother. One person jujubean, waited 20 months. That's when I called and wrote to my senator. We also filled a hardship case a month after sending in the paperwork.
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I didn't apply for A&A for my mother-in-law, but I did apply for DIC for her and had no problems. I didn't use an attorney but I have heard that there are some wonderful veterans that volunteer to help people in filing all kinds of paperwork. I suggest you contact your local VFW or VA's office and see if they have any suggestions. Good luck!!
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