If my Mom applies for my deceased Dad's VA benefits, does the rest home get that pay too?

You need to contact your local VA office. My Mom is in rehab and we are waiting for the Medicaid to be approved so we can look at Assisted Living Facilities. VA told me the benefit is Aid and Attendance for surviving spouse. The Aid and Attendance benefit is "only" for assisted living facilities, not long term care. I will not be able to apply for that benefit until she is physically admitted and living in the Assisted Living Facility. My understanding how it all works, is that Medicaid will convert the Skilled Nursing Facility Medicaid to meet the Assisted Living Medicaid. The Medicaid portion of the Assisted Living Costs is only for the medical needs portion. VA, Aid and Attendance will also pay a portion, up to 1100.00 and the rest will be out of pocket.

As for the Aid and Attendance benefit, you can qualify if in EITHER Assisted/Personal Care or Skilled Nursing, and even in home care. It will pay as long as you have qualifying expenses called Unreimbursed Medical Expenses (UME's). Medicaid/Medical is applied for when you are broke and have spend your money down...to certain limits. A qualified Medicaid advisor or attorney can help with this process. You may be able to protect a certain portion of assets to apply for Medicaid or the VA if a qualified advisor is used.

Rule of thumb is, if the individual has applied for and accepting state assistance the state considers ALL INCOME, they then pay the balance to the NH with the exception of the amount she is allowed to keep in what they call a patient trust fund, in GA. that amount is $50. Also in GA. she would be allowed to have up to 2,000 in that fund.
I did apply for the VA and the NH gets it, gets his Civil Service Retirement and all of her Social Security. Reason I applied for it, my Dad was a 3 war vet, dedicated is life to service for this country and he would have wanted my Mom to get the funds to help take care of her no matter who was getting them. hope this helps you in some way. Keep up the good caregiving!!!

I have a friend who is having a VA specialist file all of the paperwork. I asked her if he worked for the VA or if he was a lawyer and she was very vague, but said that there was no out of money expense for him to help her with the paperwork. Perhaps it comes out of the VA settlement for the back funds. Check out and see of there is a specialist with the VA, then perhaps in the private sector.
I filed all of my mother's paperwork myself and it was a real bear to do it. The key is to call her "housebound". (which she obviously is) and that will expedite things. I had a very helpful VA employee help me through all of the hurdles, but I understand that most VA offices are not great help. Mother had applied 2 years previous and been turned down. "housebound" is the key to an easier "yes" on her benefits.

I Inquired in Mo. For my mother and was told first that she had to already be admitted to assisted living when applying. That accomplished with my financial help, I contacted the VA and was shocked to learn she couldn't get it because she remarried someone who wasn't a Veteran. Period! Even tho he has passed away too. So basically they are punishing her for finding someone to help her survive after her veteran husband died. Who knew of this benefit and this rule in 1988 when dad died and that unless she married a veteran she couldn't get the help other veteran wives were entitled to, so best stay single and destitute??
That's just wrong! The gov. Promises soldiers they will help their spouses when they die, but have enough "conditions" that few women actually get it.
My husband and I are paying a chunk of our retirement money for long term health care, prepaid funerals, medical insurance, so our kids won't be in our position some day.

My mother in law was on Medicaid in order to get into an assisted living facility. Since she was only left with $25 a month we were also encouraged to apply for the VA benefit and told the home could not touch the money and they didn't for a period of time. Then we got hit with "we made a mistake and we do have to count that money." So she was back in the situation she was before she applied. It was a really long application process and the money basically ended up going to someone else. This was in Colorado. We ended up taking her out of the assisted care facility and bringing her here to live with us.

In PA she would be applying for MEDICAID (State Welfare program). I have not heard of MediCal? At any rate, if eligibility for a welfare program is met, the State will pay only the difference between the monthly cost of care and the patient's income. Therefore, the VA benefit would increase her income, thereby increasing her share of the monthly payment. The State will not TAKE her VA, but it will reduce what the State pays. Now, even though you would refuse to apply for benefits that you are aware your mom is eligible for, the State may require that you do so, thus reducing their payment. I hope this is helpful and I hope I have understood your question well enough. Good luck with your mom and her situation!

The VA will pay $90 per month if on Medical/Medicaid. They won't pay the full benefit. If approved for the benefit before applying for aid, the benefit will drop to $90/mo. This is a Federal benefit and doesn't change from state to state. The person in the SNF can keep the $90 (plus $45/mo allowance) from what I've been told....at least in PA.

Some things to remember:
1. The Medicare benefit for Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) is "up to 100 days per benefit period", as long as the patient meets criteria for medical necessity and making reasonable progress. It is not a guaranteed 100 days.
2. As Kevin said, the purpose of Medicaid (or MediCal, the California version of Medicaid) if for the SNF or personal care provider, etc. to be paid for unreimbursed expenses. They are not "taking the patient's money", per se. They are attempting to get reimbursed for their expenses. Depending on the level of services provided, with room, food, general care, nurses, doctors, medications and things like therapy and durable medical equipment, the cost of skilled nursing in a facility can be as much as $1,000 a day. So if they are being paid anything less than $15-20,000 a month, they are likely losing money. If you look at the numbers, few of these facilities make any money - they are barely keeping their heads above water. It is best if you apply for whatever aid she qualifies for and get the facility as much as you can, so the care will be better for her and everyone else.

I know I feel naked without a few dollars in my pocket. In my experience with my in-laws and my mother, a few dollars here or there made them feel better, but overall basic needs are taken care of while in the SNF and cash is not useful except for the hairdresser or barber. I prefer to leave a check for those services so I know for certain what is being paid.

It's all so confusing. We tried to get Mom into assisted living, apllied for the VA benefit for her. Since it takes some time to get the benefit approved, we were encouraged to apply for a bridge loan. That loan was denied, leaving us dead in the water. I DO NOT understand why there is no one out there to walk us through this process with the right answers!! We desperately need someone to tell us our options and how to go to the right agencies. I have heard we should not have her apply for Medicaid; we should apply for Medicaid. We should not apply for the bridge loan; yes, we should. My Mom lives in New York State and I live in PA. We are seriously considering bringing her here so I can take care of her. But I'm not sure if I have the ability to care for her properly. It's all so overwhelming and frustrating.