| Are there really secret benefits for veterans? | | | | ($18,654 per year). He/She therefore will not qualify. |
| No, but the VA often makes it very difficult to easily | | | | However, the income qualification is not on total |
| find the benefit you need. And then, if you find the | | | | income, it is on "countable income". This is the most |
| information, you have to then try and decipher the | | | | common mistake that probably prevents thousands |
| government lingo. These factors combine to make | | | | of veterans receive the VA benefit they deserve. |
| most people believe that there really are secret | | | | COUNTABLE INCOME |
| benefits for veterans. Or at least secrets from the | | | | The income qualification for the veterans disability |
| common everyday person! | | | | pension benefit is based on having "countable income" |
| Let's look at one of the most infamous secret | | | | below the maximum disability pension benefit level of |
| benefits for veterans...the veteran disability pension | | | | $1,554 ($18,654 per year). |
| benefit. It is not a retirement benefit that one | | | | Countable Income is arrived at by subtracting from |
| normally correlates with the word "pension". | | | | the total household income all qualified un-reimbursed |
| It is the most misunderstood benefit available from | | | | medical expenses. These expenses include |
| the VA. In fact, a large majority of the local and | | | | supplemental medical insurance premiums, long term |
| county veterans offices that are suppose to help | | | | care insurance premiums, prescription costs or |
| you learn about and understand the benefit are | | | | co-payments, certain medical supplies like oxygen or |
| unaware of its existence. | | | | incontinence pads, home care costs and even the |
| Those that do know about the pension benefit often | | | | cost of assisted living. |
| too easily dismiss those that inquire that they | | | | Our veteran has $3,000 per month in total household |
| probably do not qualify. We have sampled various | | | | income. Straight-up he/she does not qualify. BUT, the |
| county veterans services offices in multiple states | | | | veteran pays $697 per month in supplemental |
| and have consistently received incomplete and | | | | insurance premiums and $297 per month in |
| inaccurate information in the majority of them. | | | | unreimbursed prescription costs. In addition, the |
| HERE IS WHY | | | | veteran has a home care aid coming in to help at a |
| The veteran disability pension is an income qualified | | | | cost of $1,385 per month. The veterans total |
| benefit. If the right questions are not asked, then the | | | | qualified expenses are $2,379 per month. |
| adjustments to income from qualified un-reimbursed | | | | The veterans countable income is thus $3,000 minus |
| medical expense is not applied to the income qualifier. | | | | $2,379 = $621. With a countable income of $621 this |
| For example, if a veteran has household income from | | | | veteran is eligible (from the financial qualifier only) to |
| social security, retirement pension, interest and stock | | | | receive a veterans disability pension benefit of |
| dividend of $3,000 per month he/she would be told | | | | ($1,554 maximum benefit minus $621 countable |
| they do not qualify as their income is too high. | | | | income) $933 per month! |
| Yes, this veterans total household income of 3,000 | | | | Now that is a great secret benefits for veterans to |
| per month is above the veteran disability pension | | | | know about! |
| benefit maximum allowable amount of $1,554 | | | | |