I am a veteran who is a caregiver for my spouse. Would I qualify for VA financial assistance for outside caregiver help?

To qualify for thr Aid and Attendence benefit from the VA, you can pay anyone for help other that a spouse. Google Area Agency on Aging to find a local office in your area. They may have the PDA Waiver program that can offer you some help a couple days a week for a couple hours each day.

Go to VA.gov and print out a 2680 form. Read it over and see if she qualifies.
Work with a consultant if you can, it's free and very helpful. On the top right of this page, go to Money and Legal, click, and click on Veterans Assistance.

The 21-2680 form is for the doctor to fill out on the claimant....this tells the VA if they need help with their ADL's. Reporting expenses, which can be for a caregiver would be done on form 21-8416 and there would either be a caregiver agreement to verify the expenses or an attendant affidavit to verify expenses. The question is if the spouse can get paid for help...and the answer is NO. BUT, you may be able to get help from the VA through their health care division. Go to your local VA clinic and ask them if they can help you. They may be able to offer (if the claimant qualifies) for a few hours of care a couple days a week...just like the AAOA waiver program...combine the two and that might be enough...both at no charge to you.

Thanks to you KevinB and pstgeman for your info. This gives me a clearer picture of my path for possible assistance.

I am the spouse of a three war veteran and I take care of him because of his dementia. However, I filed for Aid and Attendance and there is a certain financial income level that prevents us from receiving it. I am not entitled to it, he is as the veteran, but we both are allowed to live at the AZ Veteran's home should we need to in the future. I would check out you local veteran's home requirements and availability. Thank you for your service!

Be very careful with this program. My mother receives survivor benefits and qualified for Aide & Attendance which allowed her and additional $300 per month. Together her doctor and I discussed the VA form 21-2680 Examination for Housebound Status or Permanent need for regular Aide and Attendance. At that time her cancer had diminished her capacity but she was still cognizant and our answers to the questions reflected her current state. Her financial award notice was accompanied by a letter stating that the VA was going to declare mom incompetent for their purposes and she would need a "fiduciary" appointed for her to manage her money. This may or may not be someone of your choosing/family member/her caregiver. Once we received this letter, I Googled the fiduciary as it related to the VA Aide and Attendance and read one horror story after another...out side professional fiduciaries being assigned instead of the caregiver, not having access to funds when you need them and having to make a full accounting to the VA for funds spend for the benefit of the award recipient.

We are still in process for establishing the fiduciary for my mom, it seems to be a 60 day process. She is in hospice care and frankly with her current health status this may never become an issue for us. In hind sight I fell short of doing my due diligence. Please research this carefully to be sure this meets your needs. Finally, your local VA office and/or health center generally has a social worker on staff that is great for helping sort out local as well as national programs that may suit your needs. Good luck and God bless you for your service.

When you apply for A&A, you can request on form 21-4138...who you want to be fiduciary....out of helping over 400 vets apply...the VA has always appointed who we requested. Yes, they do an accounting sometime after 90 days....never has been a big deal from what my clients have told me. It does take 60-90 days after being awarded the benefit...for the VA to contact the requested fiduciary. I have beeen in several fiduciary meetings...not a big deal. If you think something is taking too long, contact your local US Congressman for help.

Ferris1, there are limits on income and assets....but....you need to work with people who can give financial and legal advice...the VA isn't one of them. You need to know what is deductible from your income to reduce the "countable income" so you may have a better chance of being in a position to qualify. The VA still...as of now...does not have a lookback for moving assets...BUT, if you do it wrong, you may disqualify the claimant from qualifying for medicaid in the future. Lots of misinformation being passed around. ..from advisors who SHOULD know...be careful. Also, you should never pay a fee for help with the application process. You are not allowed to charge a fee for this.

Hi, yes I think you should qualify, you can use this website to look for your VA forms also I know the software is free if you invite a couple of friends to try it out thanks.

1. VA cannot give you legal or Financial advice

2. A spouse will not be paid for performing care services. an 'outside agent' , (non-spouse) will qualify as a deductible qualifying medical expense.

3. the VA says it is OK to own your home; (which is true,) but very limited as how to begin protecting that home from future VA denial and charge back, and Medicaid rules.

4. VA lists confusing Asset/Income limitations, there are proper ways to deal with that subject, so many families are bathing in the misconception they won't qualify...mistakenly!

Self Application is often a quagmire! I'll provide some education at my office (free) if you are in Metro Atlanta.