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Almost
Unknown benefit for our heroes
This
is Important!
Are you or do you know a veteran
of any US war?
The Veterans Administration’s
Aid and Attendance pension can help.
Now as WWII and Korean vets are in their 70s, 80s, 90s,
and even 100s an estimated $22 billion of this little
known benefit for wartime vets goes unclaimed.
This special "pension" pays up to $1644 a
month ($19,736 a year) for assisted living, nursing
home care or even in-home care. Veterans and their spouses
can receive up to $23,396 a year and spouses of deceased
veterans $12,681 - all TAX FREE.
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Recipients must have served at least
"90 Days of continuous, active duty military service,
one of which was during wartime." This doesn't have to
be in combat. The vet could have served in the US and never
gone overseas. To claim the pension, applicants must be 65
or older.
For help applying you can try one of these
companies:
GBA, "Government
Benefits Analysts, Inc., is a public service company whose
personnel have been trained to seek out Veterans and their
Widows who may be entitled to the Department of Veterans Affairs
benefits, particularly, the Non-Service Connected Improved
Pension Benefit."
There is NO cost associated with these services.
Not to the facility, not to any resident of the facility and
not to their family members.
We will work with any Veteran or the Widow
of a Veteran, in obtaining their allowable benefits through
the Department of Veterans Affairs."
Via snail mail
Government Benefit Analysts, Inc.
2651 Morning Dove Lane
Charleston, SC 29414.
Phone: 888-311-8880
Here's a letter from one who has taken advantage
of this program for family members. The names have been left
out:
"Thanks for thinking of us
with this. Here is a summary of our story in case it may
be of any value to your readers.
We had contracted a home health care service for <Name
withheld> . They put us in contact with the above organization
that assists interested veterans in making application.
They were, by the way, very helpful. We made the initial
application on Oct 6, 2008.
Since then we have sent lots of paper work, documents, copies
of stuff, et al. in reply to several separate requests for
information. We learned last week that <Name withheld>
have been approved for the maximum benefit - Yea! - . With
this information, they also sent notice that because of
various documents, including doctors' information as to
their conditions, the VA was declaring them incompetent
to handle their own affairs. And that they would have to
appoint a fiduciary to handle all that. And payment would
be withheld until a fiduciary was in place.
I called our contact at GBA and he said all they are doing
is saying they have no record of a fiduciary and need to
know if there is one. Urban
(at GBA) sent us a form to complete and said we should be
in good shape. My question is why are we just now hearing
about this?
It is an excellent benefit - <Name withheld> could
get up to $1,900 per month. We do have to keep detailed
records to verify that any money they get is spent to pay
medical costs. This has to be reported once a year. Also
have to let them know of any change in their situation -
including just moving to another assisted living facility.
If this all actually works out and they get their payments,
other good news - it is retro to Oct 6.
The person we worked with is Frank R. Urban. (888) 311-8880.
Or you can contact him directly at his site, http://www.gbausa.org/Furban.
I recommend him.
Caveat #1: It is looking OK so far, but
the money is not in the bank yet.
Caveat #2: In VA correspondence to us regarding representation
if you want to dispute any point in your claim, this statement:
An accredited representative of a veteran's organization
or other service organization recognized by the Secretary
of Veterans Affairs may represent you without charge. The
organization we used is not listed on a lengthy list of
national organizations. There is also a list of states (looks
like most of them) that maintain veterans service agencies
which are recognized to help people with their claims. SC
is a listed state, but I have not looked it up."
You can also contact Senior
Care for Veterans, (866) 970-8387 "The Veterans Administration’s
Aid and Attendance pension helps thousands of eligible veterans
and their surviving spouses pay for home health care or residence
in an assisted living facility. Although many may be eligible,
few know about Aid and Attendance, and the application process
can be confusing and intimidating. In fact, claimants can
be wrongly denied or incorrectly processed, and many give
up. You will receive all of these services for a onetime fee
of $450.00. All clients are pre-screened prior to payment
to ensure eligibility.
Ref:
A little-known veterans' benefit BY PAULA BURKES
Published: February 8, 2009
Frank R. Urban.
http://www.gbausa.org/Furban
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