Under the Uniformed Services Former Spouses Protection Act (USFSPA), enacted in 1982, a state court is permitted to award a percentage of the service member's pension to the former spouse. If they had been married for at least 10 years, then the former spouse may also apply to the federal government to receive the payments directly from the Defense Finance and Accounting Service. By the way, remarriage of the former spouse does not affect the payments.
It has been mentioned several times to have a company help with the application process for Aid and Attendance benefit. Is it possible to provide the type of business that is skilled in this area?
Mary 11, we have been waiting since Jan.2013 and we filled out two sets of paper work for my mother in law. I keep telling my husband to go down to the local office and keep hounding them but he is tired of all the rigamarole. It is my feeling that they just want to keep you and the loved one hanging on until the person dies. My mother in law in 90 years as of April and I have read they are supposed to expedite a claim when a person is that old. If any of you can offer advice I surely would like to hear what to do. Are her benefits retroactive even if she was admitted to a nursing home and being on Medicaid?
The VA will work harder to not give you the benefit than to give it to the people who have served their country. What a travesty-it is like they pay the people to find how not to give you the benefit instead of helping you get the benefit. I have been waiting over 2 years now and every time I send a letter asking to expedite (my Mother is a widow of a WW2 veteran and is 91) they send more paperwork. Call Elder Care resources - they seem to get it done quicker- or perhaps an attorney.
Hadenough---I am in total agreement with your post. It is a travesty and they run you around in circles. But that's our illustrious government at work.
This is so helpful, what $ amount of assets can a person have to qualify - someone told me $85,000.00 or less before paperwork can be filed… how many years do I need to go back in financial paperwork. Just starting the process…I ordered a pamphlet from VA……..Thank you
I was told the usual dollar amount was $80,000 but that there was no hard and fast rule. Be prepared to do a lot of paperwork as they really do log down the process and will return anything that is not done 100% correctly. My best advice would be to try and find an advocacy group that would help you fill out the paperwork for free. Start gathering documents and getting copies because you are going to have to do that anyway. Go to the VA website and download all of the documents for VA aid and attendance. The document is about 28 pages long if I remember correctly. There is also a guide to help you fill out the forms. There is not a look back at finances so while you are waiting for the VA to get back to you (it takes on the average about 18 months to get approved) try and keep the liquid assets around $80,000. You do not have to declare the house the veteran is living in or the vehicle that they or the caregiver uses. Good luck it is a tedious process and the VA will look for anything to deny because they are hoping the veteran will just die before the benefit has to be paid out. Anyways that has been my experience.
what is VA Aid and Attendance benefit for veterans and their spouses? we are just starting to try to figure out what benefits are out there for my father in law. Just wondering what exactly this is, please help Thank you.
My husband was a vet and was diagnosed with Dementia and had to be admitted to a Memory Care Unit..My son in law is retired from the Air Force and found us an advocate who helped with all the paper work...My husband was approved within 2 months and we received almost enough to take care of the monthly home expenses...It was wonderful, he received excellent care and I didn't have to worry about trying to come up with the money...There is a lot of paper work and you do have to have your finances in order and need to be under a certain amount but it certainly is worth the "head ache", lol...My husband died peacefully, just 2 weeks ago, surrounded by family and those at the home who grew to love him...He was also given a Military funeral and I was presented with the flag...A memory I will cherish forever......Good luck......
If they had been married for at least 10 years, then the former spouse may also apply to the federal government to receive the payments directly from the Defense Finance and Accounting Service. By the way, remarriage of the former spouse does not affect the payments.
https://www.agingcare.com/Answers/If-my-mother-is-caring-for-my-father-and-they-are-divorced-is-she-still-eligible-for-compensation-137581.htm
Going to look them up!