Tag: VA pension

What is the VA Pension and Is Your Loved One Eligible?

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What is the VA pension? It is a non-service connected pension, available each month to a permanent and totally disabled veteran when the veteran is 65 years of age or older, honorably discharged after at least 90 days of active duty with one day being during wartime, and experiencing financial need.

Does the veteran over age 65 have to prove that he or she is actually disabled? No, it is presumed that because the veteran is over 65 that the veteran is disabled. A veteran who is younger than age 65, however, must demonstrate that he or she is permanently and totally disabled in order to receive this financial assistance. In fact, this disability for a person under age 65 must be an impairment that renders it impossible for the average person to follow a substantially gainful occupation. This impairment must be one that is reasonably certain to continue throughout life.

What are the three types of monthly non-service connected pensions that are paid by the Veterans Administration to offset the cost of necessary health care? They are: Low Income Pension, Housebound Benefits, and Aid and Attendance Benefits.

In addition, there may be an extra benefit amount if the claimant is “permanently housebound.” The person demonstrates this by being substantially confined to his or her dwelling and knowing that this condition will continue throughout his or her lifetime.

When the disability and wartime service test is met, and before the veteran may begin receiving a VA pension, a three part means test qualification must be met. First, the payments to the potential claimant, his or her spouse, and dependent children from all sources are considered. This also includes recurring income such as social security and pensions, as well as irregular income for the next twelve months.

The unreimbursed medical expenses are then excluded from income. Unreimbursed medical expenses include but are not limited to Medicare Part B premiums, Medigap premiums, Medicare Part D premiums, and prescription drug payments as well as caregiver expenses or recurring assisted living expenses. The gross income less the unreimbursed medical expenses will determine the claimant’s Income for VA Purposes (IVAP). The goal is for the IVAP to be $0. This is because there is a reduction against the Monthly Maximum Pension Rate (the income limit) for every dollar of IVAP.

We know the ins and outs of VA Pension can be confusing. Do not wait to schedule a meeting to ask your questions and address your concerns this November, or anytime throughout the year.

Three Key Veterans Benefits to Know About This November

Three Key Veterans Benefits to Know About This November

With Veteran’s Day, November is a great opportunity to set aside time to honor our veterans and thank them for all they have done for our great nation. One way the U.S. tries to give back to veterans is through veterans benefit programs. Did you know, however, that veterans benefits can be very complicated and many veterans may not even be fully aware of the wide range of benefit programs available to them? Let us take time to review three key veterans benefits to know about this November.

First, there are several education benefits offered through the VA. In addition to the GI Bill offering credits to use towards a college degree, it also provides coverage for training certification courses and vocational training programs. The fact that the GI Bill offers these kinds of training opportunities makes it ideal for those veterans who are seeking a career change that does not require a college degree. Veterans can also participate in free coding bootcamps and comparable software training and technology programs through the VET TEC program.

Second, veterans have the option of getting life insurance through the Servicemembers’ and Veterans’ Group Life Insurance program. Through this program, veterans may be able to receive up to $400,000 in life insurance. Not only does this program offer competitive premium rates, but it can allow veterans a chance to gain life insurance where they may find it difficult to find it otherwise. Many veterans face difficulties in getting traditional life insurance and this can be particularly true if they have suffered a service-related injury.

Lastly, veterans should be aware of the long-term care benefits they may be eligible to receive. For instance, the VA Pension with Aid and Attendance benefits program offers qualifying veterans financial assistance in order to cover the cost of a nursing home and other long-term care facilities. In fact, the program means that couples may receive upwards of $25,000 a year in benefits to help with long-term care costs 

Do you have questions? Please contact our law practice to learn more. We are here for you. Elder and Estate Planning Attorneys PA is a law office small enough to provide personal service but large enough to provide service in Palm Beach, Martin, St. Lucie and Indian River Counties.

Tips for Florida Seniors in Light of the Changes to the VA Pension Rules

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The concept of paying for long-term care in Florida can be daunting. According to the Genworth Long-Term Care Study for 2018, assisted living costs per month average $3,500 while the cost of a semi-private room in a nursing home is approximately $8,150.  For the majority of Florida seniors, they do not have these additional funds available in their monthly income and are looking to pay for care either through savings or public benefits assistance.

When the need for long-term care arises, it is often a crisis. For example, the Florida senior may have a fall that results in a broken bone and the need for rehabilitation in a skilled nursing facility. If the need for assistance becomes more permanent, he or she may not be able to leave the facility or require extensive hands-on care upon the return home.

How do we plan now to afford long-term care in the future? Are we able to plan for what we may need in advance? Further, how can we ensure that we have a plan in place so that we, as Florida seniors, are making our decisions of how we want to be cared for and not leaving the choices to our adult children or decision makers?

Elder law planning contemplates all these needs. Together, we can design a plan that may not only find a way to pay for care but also ensure that you receive good care. In Florida, programs such as Medicaid exist to help us pay for the cost of long-term care. If you are a Florida veteran, however, there also may be additional funds available to you.

For wartime veterans, the VA pension program exists to provide monthly, tax-free income to veterans with a qualifying service record. The VA pension program is in no way tied to a service-connected injury or disability. Instead, it is tied to the service record of the veteran. To begin to qualify, the veteran must have 90 days of active military service with one day during a period of war. Further, the veteran must have been discharged under conditions that were other than dishonorable.

The rules governing the eligibility for the VA pension program change substantially last year on October 18, 2018. Prior to this date there was no set amount that the veteran, or his or her surviving spouse, could have in countable assets. Now, for 2019, the new rules created a limit. The veteran may only have $126,240, less excluded assets that he or she is allowed to own. We anticipate this amount will change each year with a cost of living increase similar to the Social Security program.

Another way this program changed was to create a “look back” period. A “look back” period is the time period in which the VA may look at the veterans bank records to determine if he or she gave away money that could have been used to pay for care. This type of program is currently in place for the Florida Medicaid program, although it operates slightly differently. Under the new VA rules, the “look back” period will be for the thirty-six months prior to application.

We know this article may raise more questions than it answers. We encourage you to reach out and ask us your questions on this, or any elder care issue. When it comes to finding ways to access good long-term care in our community and be able to afford it, we are your local law firm here to help you.

If you need assistance with your VA pension, know THIS

Many older veterans are unaware that they can qualify for financial help in paying for the cost of home care. Most veterans complete their military service and move on with their lives without looking to the VA for help. But VA pension benefits can become important for these veterans later in life. To qualify for VA pension the veteran must be 65 or older, or permanently disabled for reasons not related to military service. In addition, the veteran must have low income and only modest new worth. The veteran must have had 90 days of military service that included at least one day during a period of war. To receive a pension, the veteran’s income must be below the maximum annual pension rate set by the government. Because medical expenses reduce countable income, an aging veteran who needs ongoing long-term care services and supports may now be able to qualify for financial assistance from the VA, says Anné Desormier-Cartwright, of Elder and Estate Planning Attorneys PA. The extra funds can make all the difference in allowing the veteran to get the support needed to remain at home. Elder and Estate Planning Attorneys PA is a law office small enough to provide personal service but large enough to handle all of your state and planning needs.

VA Pension Requirements and how you can get yours

You’ve served your country, protected our freedom, and now it’s time for you to obtain your VA pension. The veteran’s pension is a tax-free monetary benefit payable to low-income, war-time veterans. But it is not always easy to collect. “Generally, a veteran must have at least 90 days “of active duty service, with at least one day during a “wartime period to qualify for a VA pension. “There are stringent asset and income tests “that restrict eligibility “to a limited group of qualified individuals.” Says Anne Desormier-Cartwright of Elder and Estate Planning Attorneys PA. In addition to meeting minimum service requirements, the veteran must be age 65 or older, or totally and permanently disabled, or a patient at a nursing home receiving skilled nursing care, or receiving Social Security Disability Insurance, or receiving Supplemental Security Income. A successful VA pension claim depends on the inclusion of the right VA forms, as well as their correct completion. The guidance of an experienced Elder Law Attorney can be invaluable while you’re navigating long-term care benefits from the VA. Elder and Estate Planning Attorneys PA is a law office small enough to provide personal service, but large enough to handle all of your estate and planning needs.