Yes they can - that’s what Congress designed them for! VA pension is meant to help defray medical costs as aged Veterans and widows need more medical care. Further, VA pension can be used by your clients to remain private pay, to prolong their private pay, and to repay monies advanced by family members while ALTCS is pending.
VA Wartime pension (for Veterans) and VA Death pension (for widows) must satisfy certain eligibility requirements. The requirements are identical except that widows have no total disability requirement.
Wartime Service: Veterans must have served at least 90 days of active duty, with one (1) day included in the wartime periods established by Congress. This service must be other than dishonorable.
Inability to Work (totally disabled): Veterans must be totally disabled and incapable of gainful employment. If the veteran is 65 years old, or older, they are considered totally disabled. If they already have qualified for Social Security Disability (SSD), they are considered totally disabled. If they are younger than 65 years old, and do not receive SSD, medical records are needed for the VA to access total disability.
Limited Income: There is a limited income provision that ranges from $11,181 to $22,113 for veterans, and $7,498 to $14,298 for widows. However, do not be discouraged if your income exceeds these amounts. Income that is counted by the VA is reduced by Unreimbursed Medical Expenses.
Limited Assets: Assets are your savings, checking, trusts and CD’s; they do not include the equity in your home, your automobiles, or art and jewerly. The VA requires you to certify the value of your estate the day you sign their application. There is no “look-back” period for VA, unlike ALTCS. Generally, a Veteran or a widow will be eligible if their assets are less than $40,000. Since the VA has some flexibilty in this requirement, $50,000 may be approved.
These are the basic requirements for pension. Watch our blog for future discussions of specific subjects on pension, or sent us your comments.
Tags: ALTCS, Private Pay, Veterans