| There are way too many people who don't know | | | | and does not include your primary home, car and |
| about veterans assisted living benefits that can make | | | | personal property. It does include stocks, bonds, |
| the difference in the quality of care and the homes | | | | mutual funds, IRA's, 401K, bank accounts, cash and |
| they can choose. | | | | collectibles. But here is the best part! There currently |
| If you are a war-time veteran (no you do not have | | | | is no look back period. That means if you are over |
| to have seen combat or serve overseas) you | | | | today you can use common estate planning |
| probably have not been told about a VA benefit that | | | | techniques and be eligible tomorrow! |
| could give you up to $23,388 a year to help pay for | | | | 5. The last financial criteria is based on your income. |
| assisted living. | | | | You countable income needs to be below a certain |
| There are literally thousands of veterans and their | | | | level established each year. But, again here is the |
| widowed surviving spouses who are struggling | | | | best part! The VA uses what they call COUNTABLE |
| everyday with finding funds to pay for their care and | | | | income. That means you can subtract certain medical |
| living space at assisted livings across the United | | | | and care expenses from your income to bring your |
| States of America. Why is this happening is the | | | | countable income down to the qualifying amount. |
| biggest question. | | | | The income criteria are the ones that trip most |
| The reason, it is a government run program from a | | | | people up. Not because they can't qualify but |
| government agency, the VA. Is there really anything | | | | because they are not told what they can do to |
| more to say? | | | | meet these 2 criteria. |
| Here are the 5 things you need to know to see if | | | | There is a veteran in California that has a monthly |
| you too are one of the eligible veterans missing out | | | | income of $5,000 per month from Social Security and |
| on this financial assistance benefit. | | | | Retirement Pension and he gets $1,644 each month |
| | | | in financial assistance from the VA! |
| 1. You need to have served 90 days of active duty | | | | How? |
| with just one of those days during an official stated | | | | He lives in an Assisted Living Facility and that |
| time of war. (WWII, Korea, Vietnam, Gulf War I and | | | | expense coupled with his other qualified medical |
| Gulf War 2) | | | | expenses his "countable income" now meets the |
| 2. You can no longer be driving. This is a biggie, but | | | | financial eligibility criteria. |
| you have to be housebound by VA standards and | | | | Another widowed surviving spouse in North Carolina |
| that means not being able to safely drive a vehicle. | | | | had $150,000 in savings after selling her house and |
| 3. You need to have your physician state on a form | | | | was spending this down paying for her veterans |
| that you need assistance of another individual with | | | | assisted living cost. Simply by learning the true |
| activities of daily living. These are things like | | | | information (which was different from what the |
| assistance bathing, grooming, hygiene, attending to | | | | county VA officer told her) about this VA aid and |
| the needs of nature, etc. (There are many more but | | | | attendance benefit she too is getting financial |
| too many to list in this article. See | | | | assistance from the VA equal to $1,057 each month. |
| VeteransCareAdvisors dot com for a complete and | | | | What About You? |
| comprehensive list) | | | | Isn't it time that you found out if you too can get |
| 4. The benefit is also dependent on your financial | | | | this VA financial assistance. Veterans assisted living |
| need. The first in based on your total liquid assets. | | | | options have never been better. Don't let your |
| This amount needs to be less than around $80,000 | | | | $23,388 not get paid to you. |