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Category Archives: Veterans Aid & Attendance ← Older posts
Planning for Long-Term Care (Part 5)
Posted on Oct 23, 2012Written by Evan Farr	0 The Veteran’s Aid and Attendance Pension Benefit
The best advice that I can give you when planning for long-term care is not to delay. We never know what the future holds. While we are able, we must prepare for a variety of situations, and so it is imperative not just to plan for long-term care, but to plan properly.
Part 1 of this five part series began showing why establishing a good Long-Term Care Plan is a necessary and urgent matter. Part 2 outlined the three most essential documents found in a good Long-Term Care Plan and Part 3 explained how long-term care insurance might enhance that plan. The last installment, Part 4, discussed how a trust that is unique to our firm, the Living Trust PlusTM Asset Protection Trust, can protect your assets from the hassles and expenses of probate PLUS the expenses of long-term care. The Living Trust PlusTM is the only type of self-settled asset protection trust that allows a settlor to retain an interest in the trust while also protecting the assets from being counted according to state Medicaid laws. What I have just described is the single most prominent feature of the Living Trust PlusTM and it is also what makes this type of trust be the preferred form of asset protection for most people. The final installment of this series will now discuss an under-utilized, special monthly pension benefit available to wartime veterans and surviving spouses of deceased wartime veterans who are incapable of self-support and in need of regular personal assistance.
Who Is Eligible for the Veteran’s Aid and Attendance Pension Benefit?
To receive the Veteran’s Special Pension Benefit for Aid & Attendance, a veteran must have served on active duty, at least 90 days, at least one day of which occurred during a period designated as wartime.
Periods Designated As Wartime:
World War II — December 7, 1941 through December 31, 1946
Korean Conflict — June 27, 1950 through January 31, 1955
Vietnam Era — August 5, 1964 through May 7, 1975; for veterans who served “in country” before August 5, 1964, February 28, 1961 through May 7, 1975
Gulf War — August 2, 1990 through a date to be set by law or Presidential Proclamation
There must have been a not dishonorable discharge. If younger than 65, the veteran must be totally disabled. If age 65 and older, there is no requirement to prove disability. However, the veteran or spouse must be in need of regular aid and attendance due to: inability of claimant to dress or undress, or to keep clean and presentable; frequent need of adjustment of any special prosthetic or orthopedic appliances which by reason of the particular disability cannot be done without aid (this will not include the adjustment of appliances which normal persons would be unable to adjust without aid, such as supports, belts, lacing at the back etc.); inability to eat due to loss of coordination of upper extremities or through extreme weakness; inability to attend to the wants of nature; or incapacity, physical or mental, which requires care or assistance on a regular basis to protect the claimant from hazards or dangers incident to his or her daily environment.
Not all of the disabling conditions in the list above are required to exist. It is only necessary that the evidence establish that the veteran or spouse needs “regular” (scheduled and ongoing) aid and attendance from someone else, not that there be a 24-hour need.
Determinations of a need for the aid and attendance is based on medical reports and findings by private physicians or from hospital facilities.
What Is the Amount of the Aid and Attendance Benefit?
Effective December 1, 2011, the Veterans A&A Pension can provide:
$20,447 per year (~$1,704 per month) for a qualified veteran;
$24,239 per year (~$2,020 per month ) if the veteran is married;
$13,138 per year (~$1,095 per month ) for a surviving spouse of a qualified veteran;
$31,578 per year (~$2,631 per month ) if both spouses are qualified veterans.
Is Aid and Attendance Only For Low Income Veterans?
No, and this is the primary reason that this benefit is so widely misunderstood. If you speak to a Veterans Service Representative in a regional VA office and ask them about the Veterans Aid and Attendance benefit, they will typically ask for your household income. When you tell them your household income, they will compare it to a chart and most often tell you that you earn too much income to receive the benefit. While the information they provide may be technically accurate, what they typically don’t explain is the “income” for Veterans Administration purposes (sometimes called IVAP or “adjusted income”) is actually your household income minus your recurring, unreimbursed medical and long-term care expenses. These allowable, annualized medical expenses are such things as health insurance premiums, home care expenses, the cost of paying a family member or other person to provide care, the cost of adult day care, the cost of an assisted living facility, or the cost of a nursing home.
To be able to receive the Veterans Pension with Aid and Attendance benefit, the veteran household cannot have adjusted income (i.e., household income minus unreimbursed medical expenses) exceeding the Maximum Allowable Pension Rate — MAPR — for that veteran’s Pension income category. If the adjusted income exceeds MAPR, there is no benefit. If adjusted income is less than the MAPR, the veteran receives a Pension income that is equal to the difference between MAPR and the household income adjusted for unreimbursed medical expenses. The Pension income is calculated based on 12 months of future household income, but paid monthly.
How is the Aid and Attendance Benefit Calculated?
The monthly award is based on VA totaling 12 months of estimated future income and subtracting from that 12 months of estimated future recurring, unreimbursed medical expenses. Allowable medical expenses are reduced by a deductible to produce an adjusted medical expense which in turn is subtracted from the estimated 12 months of future income.
The new income derived from subtracting adjusted medical expenses from income is called “countable” income or IVAP (Income for Veterans Affairs Purposes). This countable income is then subtracted from the Maximum Allowable Pension Rate — MAPR — and that result is divided by 12 to determine the monthly income Pension award. This cash benefit is paid in addition to the family income that already exists.
Filing a claim for the Veterans Aid and Attendance Pension Benefit is complex and time-consuming. If you want to do it correctly, it’s important to get qualified assistance. Just knowing which form to fill out and how to complete it is a complex endeavor in itself. Even if the proper form is completed, failure to check a single box may result in a complete denial of your claim.
The application process involves: obtaining evidence of prospective, recurring medical expenses; appointments for VA powers of attorney and fiduciaries; and a thorough understanding of the application process. Often, qualification for this benefit involves reallocation of assets and shifting of income in order to qualify, and these re-allocations may have significant impact on Medicaid eligibility.
Given that many veterans who need the Aid and Attendance Benefit will eventually wind up also needing Medicaid, this process should not be attempted without the help of a qualified elder law attorney who thoroughly understands both the Veterans Aid and Attendance Benefit and the Medicaid program, as well as the interaction between these two benefit programs.
We assist Level 4 clients of our firm, at no charge, in completing the required paperwork.
Evan H. Farr is an Accredited Attorney with the U.S. Dept. of Veterans Affairs, and the Farr Law Firm is an Elder Law and Estate Planning Firm that helps Veterans and their spouses obtain the financial assistance to which they are entitled. If you are a Veteran or spouse of a Veteran and you need assistance in your home, or are living in or considering moving into an Assisted Living Facility or Continuing Care Retirement Community, please contact us to see if you might qualify for the Veterans Aid and Attendance Special Pension Benefit. Call us today and take the first step towards gaining the peace of mind that comes with a good Long-Term Care Plan. If You’d Like More Information About Veterans Aid & Attendance,
Please Fill Out the Form Below to Receive our Veterans Aid & Attendance Special Report!
Email: Published under: Advance Care Plan, Advance Medical Directive, Aging, Alzheimer's Planning, Asset Protection, Disability Planning, Elder Care, Elder Law Blogs & News, Estate Planning, Geriatric Care Manager, Geriatrics, Incapacity Planning, Income Only Trust, Irrevocable Trust, Living Trust, Living Trust Plus, Long-term Care, Long-term Care Directive, Long-Term Care Insurance, Medicaid eligibility, Medicaid Planning, Power of Attorney, Senior Care, Uncategorized, Veterans Aid & Attendance	Planning for Long-Term Care (Part 4)
Published under: Advance Care Plan, Advance Medical Directive, Aging, Asset Protection, Disability Planning, Elder Care, Elder Law Blogs & News, Estate Planning, Geriatric Care Manager, Geriatrics, Health Care, Hospice Care, Incapacity Planning, Income Only Trust, Irrevocable Trust, Living Trust, Living Trust Plus, Long-term Care, Long-term Care Directive, Medicaid eligibility, Medicaid Planning, Medicare, Power of Attorney, Senior Care, Uncategorized, Veterans Aid & Attendance	Planning for Long-Term Care (Part 2)
Published under: Advance Care Plan, Advance Medical Directive, Aging, Alzheimer's Planning, Asset Protection, Disability Planning, Elder Care, Elder Law Blogs & News, Estate Planning, Geriatric Care Manager, Geriatrics, Health Care, Hospice Care, Incapacity Planning, Income Only Trust, Irrevocable Trust, Living Trust, Living Trust Plus, Long-term Care, Long-term Care Directive, Long-Term Care Insurance, Medicaid eligibility, Medicaid Planning, Power of Attorney, Senior Care, Tax Planning, Uncategorized, Veterans Aid & Attendance	Planning for Long-Term Care (Part 1)
Published under: Advance Care Plan, Advance Medical Directive, Age In Place, Aging, Alzheimer's Planning, Asset Protection, Assisted Living, CCRC, Custodial Care, Disability Planning, Elder Care, Elder Law Blogs & News, Estate Planning, Family Caregivers, Geriatrics, Health Care, Home Health Care, Hospice Care, Incapacity Planning, Income Only Trust, Independent Living, Irrevocable Trust, Life Estates, Living Trust, Living Trust Plus, Long-term Care, Long-term Care Directive, Long-Term Care Insurance, Medicaid eligibility, Medicaid Planning, Medicare, Nursing Home, Power of Attorney, Residential Options, Retirement Communities, Reverse Mortgage, Senior Care, Uncategorized, Veterans Aid & Attendance	Veterans Aid & Attendance Benefits Increase
Posted on Dec 16, 2011Written by Evan Farr	0 Good news! For the first time since 2008, the Department of Veterans Affairs has announced an increase in maximum Aid and Attendance benefits available to veterans of the armed forces. These new figures for 2012 reflect a 3.6% cost-of-living adjustment, effective December 1, 2011:
What is Veterans Aid & Attendance?
Veterans Aid & Attendance pension benefits are intended to be a form of financial assistance to meet the care needs of veterans and their surviving spouses. If you are younger than age 65, then you must be completely disabled in order to receive this benefit. Those over 65 do not have to be disabled. However, the veteran or spouse must be in need of regular aid and attendance due to: Inability of claimant to dress or undress himself (herself), or to keep himself (herself) ordinarily clean and presentable; frequent need of adjustment of any special prosthetic or orthopedic appliances which by reason of the particular disability cannot be done without aid (this will not include the adjustment of appliances which normal persons would be unable to adjust without aid, such as supports, belts, lacing at the back etc.); inability to feed himself (herself) through loss of coordination of upper extremities or through extreme weakness; inability to attend to the wants of nature; or incapacity, physical or mental, which requires care or assistance on a regular basis to protect the claimant from hazards or dangers incident to his or her daily environment.
It is helpful to note that not all of the disabling conditions in the list above are required to exist. It is only necessary that the evidence establish that the veteran or spouse needs “regular” (scheduled and ongoing) aid and attendance from someone else–not that there be a 24-hour need.
How do I know if I can qualify for Veterans Aid & Attendance Pension Benefits?
You or your spouse must have served on active duty for at least 90 days, at least one day of which occurred during a period designated as wartime (see below). There must have been an honorable discharge as well. Single surviving spouses of such veterans are also eligible.
Periods Designated As Wartime: World War II — December 7, 1941 through December 31, 1946
If you would like to learn more about the Veterans Aid & Attendance program and how the Farr Law Firm can help you obtain the benefits you deserve, contact us!
If you would like to sign up to receive Evan Farr’s Aid & Attendance 4-Part Mini Series via e-mail, please click here.
Filing a Veterans Aid & Attendance Claim
Published under: Medicaid Planning, Personal, Senior Care, Veterans Aid & Attendance	Happy Memorial Day: Are Additional Aid and Attendance Benefits Around the Corner?
Posted on May 27, 2011Written by Evan Farr	0 Fun Memorial Day Facts
The Farr Law Firm wishes you and yours a Happy Memorial Day Weekend! Monday is Memorial Day, and we would like to take this opportunity to say “Thank You” to our many friends, colleagues, and peers who have made sacrifices to ensure our freedom and principles.
Here are a few fun facts* you may not have known about Memorial Day:
Memorial Day was officially declared on May 5th, 1868 by General John Logan, commander of the Grand Army of the Republic.
The first state to officially recognize Memorial Day was New York in 1873.
Soldiers of the 3d U.S. Infantry place small flags at each of the over 260,000 headstones at Arlington National Cemetery. This has been taking place since the 1950’s.
Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts of St. Louis place flags on 150,000 burial places at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery.
You can thank Congress (’71) for your three day weekend. Memorial Day has been a federal holiday since passage of the National Holiday Act of 1971.
In 1988, 2,500 motorcyclists traveled to Washington, D.C. for the first ever Rolling Thunder demonstration. By 2005, the numbers swelled to a half-million riders.
There is some related news worthy of mention:
The Honoring All Veterans Act of 2011 – introduced yesterday by Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) –seeks to improve health care, education, employment, and housing for veterans. “Our military men and women have kept their promises to our country, and now we must keep faith with them, not only in words but in deeds,” said Blumenthal.
For some couples, aid and attendance benefits may increase. The Bill passed the House May 23rd and will need to pass the Senate next. The legislation seems to be on the fast track to becoming law. GovTrack reports, “the vote was held under a suspension of the rules to cut debate short and pass the bill, needing a two-thirds majority . . . [usually reserved] . . . for non-controversial legislation. The totals were 380 Ayes, 0 Nays.”
The aid and attendance benefit would be increased for disabled veterans who are married to one another.
The Department of Veterans Affairs would gain a new source of key medical personnel through the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USU).
The Veterans Administration would seek to remedy substance abuse by using data from state prescription drug monitoring programs (PDMP).
An Independent Board would review DOD/VA transition problems including benefits.
“Our nation must keep faith with men and women who serve and sacrifice for our freedom. Unfortunately and unconscionably, America is still failing them and their families by tolerating unemployment, homelessness and inadequate health care,” said Blumenthal.
“This legislation comes from listening to and working with veterans and their families. While the Honoring All Veterans Act addresses many critical needs, it is only an opening salvo in a sustained, unceasing campaign to ensure that no veteran is left behind. It is a down payment on a larger debt,” said Blumenthal, according to politicalnews.me. “Our military men and women have kept their promises to our country, and now we must keep faith with them, not only in words but in deeds.”
*Fun Facts Source(s):
http://articles.cnn.com/2009-05-25/living/mf.holiday.memorial.day_1_decoration-day-organization-of-union-veterans-wreaths-and-flags/3?_s=PM:LIVING
Published under: Veterans Aid & Attendance	Tagged with: veterans aid and attendance, veterans benefits, veterans pension	How to Avoid Losing Massive Amounts of Money to a Nursing Home
Published under: Asset Protection, Estate Planning, Income Only Trust, Irrevocable Trust, Living Trust, Living Trust Plus, Medicaid eligibility, Medicaid Planning, Nursing Home, Power of Attorney, Veterans Aid & Attendance	Tagged with: Asset Protection, estate planning, income only, irrevocable, living trust, long-term care, Medicaid, medicaid asset protection, medicaid asset protection trusts, nursing home cost, will	Top 3 Advancements to Help Seniors Stay at Home: “No Thank You, Nursing Home”
Posted on Mar 29, 2011Written by Evan Farr	0 Evan H. Farr, Certified Elder Law Attorney
“Getting old is not for sissies” goes the quote. Perhaps one of the biggest challenges people face as they age is a seemingly inevitable and impending change to their living situation, whether it be due to health concerns, financial circumstances or both. This feared transition may not be so inevitable after all. With the right plan, seniors can qualify for Medicaid, take advantage of today’s latest elder care technologies, and protect the assets which otherwise could be drained by the catastrophic costs of long-term care.
Most people are familiar with care options such as In-Home Care, Assisted Living, and Nursing Homes. But now, a fourth option is gaining popularity: Aging-in-Place . . . a care option that allows individuals to continue living independently in their own home without the need for a live-in caregiver.
Drug compliance is the most common issue for those living alone. For those with memory issues, pill-reminder services and gadgets can issue daily visual and audio alerts to take medication, dispense the correct pills at the right times, and can even send a confirmation message to a caregiver once the medication has been dispensed. If a dosage is missed, an alert is sent to the caregiver and appropriate action can be taken. The TabSafe is one such product; you may visit their website here.
Falling is the leading cause of injury and death among those ages 65 and older.[1] For those with a high fall risk, monitoring devices like eNeighbor use unobtrusive sensors to monitor a resident’s daily routine. If the resident were to fall and not be able to get up or reach the phone for help, the device would trigger a phone call to a list of contacts as well as a 24-hour call center.
HomMed Genesis
“Remote monitoring” is an in-home technology that measures vitals such as heart rate, body weight, blood pressure, and blood glucose levels–making it useful to patients with a variety of health concerns, from cardiovascular disease to diabetes. Check out the HomMed Genesis.
These latest technological advancements are not necessarily cheap. One of the goals we at the Farr Law Firm seek to accomplish through our Level 4 Planning is to protect assets from the disastrous expenses of long-term care, so that some of those assets can be used to enhance the standard of living with goods and services not covered by government financial assistance, such as the ones I’ve described. Of course, if Aging-In-Place is not the ideal option for you, we can help you prepare for and decide on your other long-term care options.
If long-term care planning is a relatively new subject area for you or your family, I suggest you take a few moments to watch this segment from the National Business Series.
If you have been contemplating you or a loved-one’s long-term care options, we can provide the solutions that you may be looking for. Achieving long term peace of mind is an invaluable asset that we are honored to assist you with. Please do not hesitate to call us at 1-800-399-FARR to schedule a free, initial consultation.
Images from: http://www.TabSafe.com
http://www.hommed.com/Products/Genesis_DM.asp
The Farr Law Firm’s Levels of Planning
*Virginia has no procedure for approving certifying organizations
Published under: Age In Place, Aging, Asset Protection, Elder Care, Elder Law Blogs & News, Health Care, Long-term Care, Medicaid eligibility, Medicaid Planning, Veterans Aid & Attendance	Tagged with: Asset Protection, HomMed, in-home care, long-term care, Medicaid, TabSafe, technology	Alito: VA Should Not Enforce “Rigid” Jurisdictional Requirements Against Veterans
Posted on Mar 7, 2011Written by Evan Farr	1 While it may be true that the Supreme Court is often tasked with the daunting assignment of deciding the most controversial and divisive of issues, last Tuesday’s unanimous ruling was a little different.
Most who are familiar with the facts of Henderson v. Shinseki would probably agree that the decision “felt right;” especially to the elder law attorneys and senior-serving professionals who help U.S. Veterans on a daily basis.
The Court reversed a decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals that ruled Veterans Court judges could not extend the deadline to appeal, even when a Veteran’s mental illness procured the delay.
Justice Samuel Alito explained the Courts’ rationale in reversing the decision of the Court of Appeals;
The (Dep’t of Veterans Affairs) is charged with the responsibility of assisting veterans in developing evidence that supports their claims, and in evaluating that evidence, the VA must give the veteran the benefit of any doubt. … Rigid jurisdictional treatment of the 120-day period for filing a notice of appeal in the Veterans Court would clash sharply with this scheme.
For an interesting look at how the case developed in the headlines over the course of the past several months, read the first Washington Post article I referenced late last year, Court hears appeal from veteran who missed deadline, here. Then, read Supreme Court eases benefit deadline for vets, the recent article from USA Today, available here. The latter link also includes a photo of the late Mr. Henderson.
Last year I called attention to Henderson on my National Elder Law News Blog, in the article, Veteran Misses Filing Deadline Due to Mental Illness: Fair? a case about a Veteran with Schizophrenia, whose illness prevented him from meeting a deadline imposed by the government.
Mr. Henderson’s lawyer argued in front of the Court that his client’s disability – which developed as a result of years in the service – prevented him (Mr. Henderson) from meeting a deadline to appeal the government’s denial of his request for home care by the Veteran’s Administration. The argument was that it would be an injustice to strictly enforce the deadline against Mr. Henderson.
Veterans’ disability compensation is paid to Veterans who are injured as a result of their service to the country. If denied a request for benefits, there are 120 days to file a notice of intent to appeal. Mr. Henderson was denied home care by the Veteran’s Administration, after which he filed his notice of appeal 15 days late. The case really boiled down to inquiries of fairness and Congressional intent. Henderson argued that Congress intended for Veterans to be treated fairly, and that the 120-day time limit was meant to be flexible; a permeable deadline, should the interests of justice require an extension.
The loser in this case (The Secretary of Veterans Affairs) argued that the time period was meant to be strictly applied and that any change to the deadline must come from Congress itself and not from the discretion of the bench (a judge).
Various veterans groups followed this case from its inception. With the traumatic stress and psychological scars evident in many soldiers who have returned from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, groups like the National Organization of Veterans’ Advocates, the National Veterans Foundation, and Paralyzed Veterans of America are undoubtedly happy with how Henderson turned out.
For information on Aid & Attendance benefits, you can check out our Firm’s links to frequently asked questions below:
Image Credits: Photograph uploaded by FreeDigitalPhotos.net Admin
Published under: Medicare, Senior Care, Veterans Aid & Attendance	Tagged with: aid & attendance, Henderson, supreme court, veteran assistance, veteran finance, veterans benefits	“The Soldier” by Charles M. Province
Posted on Nov 11, 2010Written by Evan Farr	0 Today I received this piece by Charles M. Province from a colleague. In honor of all the brave men and women who have served our country, it is my pleasure to pass it on. Please feel free to email or forward it to your friends and family.
If you can read this message thank a teacher, If you are reading it in English of your own free will THANK A SOLDIER!
It is the soldier, who salutes the flag, who serves under the flag, and whose coffin is
draped by the flag, who allows the protester to burn the flag.
To all the brave men and women who have dedicated or given their lives to protecting this country and it’s freedoms:
GIVE THANKS FOR ALL OF THE VETERANS THAT HAVE GIVEN US THE FREEDOMS WE ENJOY
Published under: Uncategorized, Veterans Aid & Attendance	← Older posts
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