| There are many veterans and surviving spouses of | | | | has other assets? Yes, however, there are legal |
| veterans who are currently either in assisted living or | | | | ways to move these assets around to become |
| are looking to move into an assisted living | | | | eligible for the benefit. I would use the professionals |
| community; however, the costs become such a | | | | to help you do this to make sure you're doing it right. |
| burden on the resident and often times, the family | | | | Now, how do you get the benefit? There are two |
| has to keep their loved one at home due to the high | | | | ways. You can either go to the VA yourself and do |
| costs of moving their loved one into an assisted living | | | | all of the paperwork yourself or you can have a |
| community. What many people don't know is that | | | | company help you in the process. There are pros and |
| there is a benefit for veterans and surviving spouses | | | | cons to each. If you do the paperwork yourself and |
| of veterans. The benefit is called Aid and Attendance | | | | work directly with the VA, it may take a while as |
| and is provided by the VA. For the actual veteran, he | | | | there are several forms to be completed and if you |
| she can receive up to nearly $2,000.00 each month | | | | don't submit them just right, it may delay the |
| as a reimbursement for his/her expenses in assisted | | | | reimbursement. If you use a company that specializes |
| living. | | | | in this process, they'll know exactly what needs to |
| Now, I'm not the expert on getting you the benefit, | | | | be submitted and they'll help you submit it correctly |
| but I am the expert on giving you enough | | | | the first time (allowing you to start getting the |
| information to know if it's something that you should | | | | maximum benefit). These types of companies |
| be looking into and where you can get more | | | | typically charge anywhere from $500-800 to help you |
| information. For the surviving spouse, he/she may be | | | | complete the paperwork, but that will pay off after |
| eligible for close to $1,000.00 each month as a | | | | one month of reimbursement potentially. is the site |
| reimbursement for his/her expenses in assisted living. | | | | where you can find more information about this |
| Now, you or your loved one is living in a skilled | | | | benefit. Put in the key word "aid and attendance." |
| nursing facility and you're wondering if the benefit will | | | | So how do you find a company that will help you in |
| help pay for those costs. The answer is, absolutely. | | | | this process? I would call an assisted living community |
| Most (if not all) medical expenses in fact, are | | | | near your home and ask them. In Utah there is a |
| reimbursable up to the cap amount that was | | | | company in Salt Lake County call Senior Care |
| mentioned previously. | | | | Associates that does a pretty good job at this. |
| How do you know if you qualify? Here are a few | | | | One final and very important piece of information. |
| tips. The veteran will have had to be on active duty | | | | With this benefit, it's not retro-active in one sense; |
| at least one day during one of the major wars such | | | | however, there is a form called Statement in Support |
| as Vietnam, World War II, or the Korean War, etc. | | | | of Claim found at va.gov/vaforms |
| The VA will look at your current income also. If your | | | | form_detail.asp?FormNo=21-4138. THIS IS SO |
| income is less than your medical costs (and yes, | | | | IMPORTANT! Get this form in first. From the time |
| every penny of the cost of assisted living is | | | | that the VA receives this form from you, you will be |
| considered a medical cost), you will be eligible to be | | | | reimbursed back to the date they received this (while |
| reimbursed up to the full amount of the benefit. For | | | | you're taking some time to gather all of the other |
| example, say your income is $1,500 per month and | | | | necessary forms and documents to get the benefit). |
| your medical expenses are $3,000 per month. You | | | | After jumping through all of the hoops, you'll be |
| will be eligible for a reimbursement of up to $1500 | | | | grateful to have know about this benefit. Now you |
| each month. This amount is paid to the veteran | | | | need to share this valuable information with others |
| directly and not to the facility. Will they take into | | | | who could benefit from it. |
| consideration that the veteran still owns a home and | | | | |