In these difficult economic times it is important to hear about financial assistance available. I saw this posting on the Faculty/Staff with Eldercare Issues [ELDERCARE@LIST.MSU.EDU] listserv today. This posting was submitted by Lori Strom, MPA, CHRS;Michigan State University. She wrote:
“Here is a program that may help people pay for in-home and nursing care. This website is helpful www.veteranaid.org.
VA Aid and Attendance
Aid and Attendance is a benefit available to veterans, their spouses, or widows. This benefit is available to help offset some of the cost of nursing homes, assisted living communities, personal care homes or home care expenses.
Qualifications
* You or your spouse was a veteran during war time, includingthose who served state side.
* Served at least 90 days of active service with one of those days being during war time.
* Eligible dates are 4/21/1898-7/15/1903, 5/9/1916-11/11/1918,12/07/1941-12/31/1946, 6/27/1950-1/31/1955, 8/5/1964-5/7/1975, 8/20/1990-present
* Received an honorable discharge
* The spouse must not have divorced the veteran.
* If the veteran has died and the widow remarries, there are some situations where they would still qualify.
* Must need some assistance with at least two adl’s. This assistance does not mean that they require complete physical assistance, ie: cuing with dressing, reminders to bathe, med monitoring, needs supervision, etc.
* Applicants must be receiving the assistance or have a doctor’s order before they can apply. Benefits are retroactive to the application date.
* There are some financial qualifications for those applying. HOWEVER, it is based on an adjusted income NOT the gross income. The applicant can only have assets totaling $80,000 or less. To figure the adjusted income, medical expenses, insurance premiums, meds and even the cost of the community where they are residing is taken into consideration. Assets not included are the applicant’s home, pensions, small life ins. policies, prepaid funeral expenses and annuities in payout status. There is no look back period at this current time. If an applicant has greater than $80,000 a financial planner can assist them with investing today so they qualify tomorrow. If the veteran exceeds the monthly income level after the adj. income is figured they still may qualify for benefits, the dollar amount is simply reduced dollar for dollar that they are over.
* Married veterans are eligible for $1650/month, single veterans $1412 and widows of veterans $905. This is paid directly to the applicant/responsible party as additional income, not to the community where they reside.
* Many communities will pay to have the paperwork completed for the applicant. An example of one company that works with some of our partners, http://www.veterans-salute.com
<http://www.veterans-salute.com/> Or to find the closest VA regional office for the area in which you are working, visit their website at http://www1.va.gov/directory/guide/home.asp?isFlash+1
* Be sure to ask for an application for Aid and Attendance”
Lori Strom, MPA, CHRS
Michigan State University
Family Resource Center Coordinator
Work/Life Consultant
1407 S. Harrison Rd. , Suite 225 Nisbet
East Lansing, MI 48823
(517) 432-3745
