How long does the approval process take for VA Aid & Attendance Benefits?

To that person who only gets $200+ a month, do you give fulltime care thats absolutely necessary? Are there 3 things that person cannot do alone and the dr agrees? If so, make out a caregivers contract and count it as "medical care."
Also, dont use the VA , they arent on your side, believe me. There are agencies, email me privately if you want the name of one. Your pay will be retroactive and there is 3 months if you go thru a free agency. I waited 17 months and then learned this all, called my congressman and got it in 2 weeks! Well worth the wait, good luck, you should get over $1,000 a month if the person needs fulltime medical care and you are giving it. No, you do not have to be a nurse.

I had been to the VA Service office and it did not help. In fact, she messed things up.
I again would spring for an attorney.

I think that at this point you should hire an attorney who specializes in obtaining what is rightfully yours. He can speed up things. I am in Georgia and I did hire an attorney who worked wonders. Don't try to do this yourself.

I have a new question concerning the VA Benefits. We are in Colorado and they told us we would have to be living in a care facility before being approved, is that right? It was the facility that told us that. We have filed but hear nothing back. Is this help dependent on us moving to the facility first? We cannot afford independent living without the benefits .

very good info re VA aid & assistance...now my search is how does VA figure out how much each applicant receives..I'm a widow of 100% didabled vet who put 20 yrs. in navy reserves. I know how exhausting the VA can be as I went through a JAG investagation many yrs. ago ....thanks

Thanks everyone for your responses. What I am finding seems to be that it SHOULD take about four to five months...HOWEVER, as with most things, it depends on who you get to assist you. My brother, (who is NOT a caregiver for my Mom) got a woman who is not even in our county to do the inital filings and after months and months, I have discovered had I filed in OUR county and used our VSO it might already be determined...We filed in FEBRUARY 2013 and today I hear it could be another month or two....so disappointing to put veterans and their spouses through this after all they have been through. I have had to resubmit and resubmit and send more info , etc.....It did not have to be this way. I would hightly advise anyone applying for this benefit after what I have discovered the past three or four days to go to a Veterans Service Office and get the assistance of someone who actually cares....but I am not giving up....and I encourge those applying to not give up...thanks again for everyone's response...seems I am in the same boat as everyone else....

the va will stall you till were all dead. an aging service knows how to cram the apps thru and they dont charge for it. they can make it happen in 4 months.

It is a fact that the VA pays retroactively. Payments are retroactive to the 1st of the month following the month of application.

my understanding was from the time of application is received at VA

glad to read all these VA outcomes as in future I'll be looking at same topic I did not know payment would be retroactive is this a known fact ? many thanks...

When I first admitted my Dad to an Assisted Living Facility they told me about a VA Rep. and I called him here in the East Tx area. You might call the Assisted Living facilities and see if they might know a rep. Our representative got us setup within 4 months and with back pay which was very nice. My dad 91 is receiving it now and is making his money stretch a lot further- what a blessing.

I don't know how long it takes as I only now started to think about getting someone for my parents. Now that I know it could take six months or more, I believe I'll start the process now. I need a full-time job and maybe by the time I find one the VA aid will be available. I hope someone comes through soon for you. Thank you for your question, now I know I need to start before I desperately need it.

It took 5 months for ours to be approved.. We are in Northeast Florida.. Hope you both hear soon.. We were disappointed in the amount, $221 a month.. does not really pay for my not being able to work and hubby's 24/7 caregiver. BUT I suppose its better then nothing..

We applied in June 2012 and started receiving monthly benefits in April 2013. We received back pay for the months between in August 2013.
Good luck.

Only God knows what the VA does with our applications. We are still waiting having filed May 30th. I got Sen. John McCain's office involved, but who knows if that will do any good. Hope you receive yours before us. Waiting, and waiting...