VA Benefits In Less Than 3 Months !

On July 7th my mom received her first deposit for VA benefits for aid and attendance. 

This was less than 3 months after we applied! Now that is quite good considering they told us it could take 9 months to a year before we saw anything. So I thought I would share the way I went about applying for the benefits in hope that it would help anyone beginning the process.

I will try to make this as simple to understand as possible.

Aid and Attendance Benefits can be used to help pay for care in a facility like assisted living, in home caregivers and the like. These benefits can also be used to pay family caregivers. 

Unlike the government website I will make this as simple to understand as possible. I hope it helps.  

It's suggested to hand deliver the claim to your local VA office. Ask to speak to a representative and have them look everything over. They will let you know if anything is missing and they will begin your claim for you.

Open the form search page on the government website. CLICK HERE to open in a new window, or copy and paste this link in your browser - http://www.va.gov/vaforms/

Print out the following forms:

1. Form 21-534ez
2. Form 21-2680 
3. Form 21-22
4. Aid And Attendance Affidavit (see below where to get this form)

Form 21-534ez:  Application For DIC, Death Pension and or Accrued Benefits
This form is the one you will use when applying for Aid and Attendance Benefits. You can apply for the veteran or the surviving spouse of a veteran.

The first few sections are self explanatory. When completing section II you will find the information you need on the veteran's discharge papers. 

Section VII :  Your net worth at this point must be below 60,000 for a surviving spouse and this does not include a home, vehicle, furniture or clothing.

Section VIII : This is the section on your monthly income so have all your income sources handy such as social security, retirement benefits, pensions, public assistance etc... when it asks for social security  they what the full amount before the medicare deduction, this is listed on your social security statement as the gross monthly amount. 

Section IX :  Expected Income. Here is where you list your expected income such as interest and dividends or any income not listed in section VIII

Section X : Here you will need to show that your medical expenses including what you pay for care like paying a caregiver, paying assisted living costs and the like along with your insurance premiums if you have supplemental insurance along with your medicare and the premium you pay for medicare part D prescription drug coverage and the deduction for medicare that comes out of you social security.  Here you want to make sure to show that the amount of money spent each month on medical costs along with care exceeds their monthly income. If it exceeds the monthly income by $1149.00 or more you will be approved for the full amount of benefits which is $1149.00 a month. But don't make things up -  you will need to keep records and prove that you are actually paying out for these services. 


The one for whom the claim is being submitted will have to sign a couple of forms and there is a section for witnesses if the claim is being signed by someone else due to the inability of the claimant.

Form 21-2680:  This form needs to be filled out by a doctor. At the time we applied for my mom she was in rehab and they were very helpful in getting this filled out in just one day for us. The doctor should fill out the full diagnosis including the need for aid and attendance. If your patient is blind or mostly blind like my mother, this diagnosis will almost automatically get approval for benefits - as will dementia and other illnesses that require regular daily aid.

 

Form 21-22:  Appointment of Veterans Service Organization As Claimant's Representative

I recommend this form because I think one of the things that made our claim move so quickly is that I took all the forms to the local VA office and requested help in filing the claim. With this form the VA rep will be able to have access to the claim and can follow up on your behalf. This form also needs to be signed by the claimant, so make sure you put that in the stack of forms for them to sign. 

Aid And Attendance Affidavit form:

CLICK HERE to open a link to a copy of this form, or copy and paste this link in your browser -  http://www.stclaircounty.org/offices/veterans/forms/Attendant%20Affidavit.pdf

It is very important that you have a copy of this form filled out by each of the caregivers that will be paid for care giving. And as you will note the claimant will need to sign these forms also affirming that they are paying these people for care. If you have more than one caregiver being paid you will need a form for each one. ( note: you will be required to issue a 1099 if these are in home caregivers so make sure they know this and they will be required to pay the proper taxes on these wages unless you are taking taxes out of their pay for them. In that case you will issue a W-2 as usual for employees. 

 Now that you have these forms filled out you will also need the following when filing a claim:

• Discharge papers for the Veteran WWII Vets form 53-55 Vets -  after WWII Form DD214
• Marriage certificate if filing for surviving spouse
• Death Certificate if filing for surviving spouse

Well that is it for forms. Now I suggest as stated above to hand deliver the claim to your local VA office. Ask to speak to a rep. and have them look everything over. They will let you know if anything is missing and they will begin your claim for you. If you are missing anything get your reps email address as most missing information can be emailed to them by you, saving you extra trips. 

MAKE COPIES OF EVERYTHING - EVERY FORM - EVERY DOCUMENT - AND STORE THEM IN A FOLDER FOR EASY ACCESS.

Now you wait. If you have not heard from the VA in 60 days call your rep and ask them to check on your claim. 

If you have any questions feel free to ask me and I will answer to the best of my knowledge. I do not claim to be an expert, I just wanted to share what I did with the hope that it may  help others.

Until Next Time 
Take Care
Ruth Anne