How to Apply for the Veterans Aid and Attendance Pension Benefit
Long Term Care Benefits for Veterans
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VA requires that any change in income or assets be reported immediately. The award is calculated for 12 months in advance, but at the beginning of each calendar year, a formal report called an EVR (eligibility verification report) must be filed detailing all income, assets, and unreimbursed medical expenses for the coming calendar year. For example if the award is granted in April for 12 months in advance, an EVR must be submitted in January of the next year that could affect the award amount for the remaining four months. The EVR will be used for determining benefits for the calendar year on which it is based.What is a veterans federal fiduciary, and does that affect the application?
VA can appoint a number of different types of fiduciaries to manage the funds on behalf of an incompetent veteran. A federal fiduciary is typically an individual such as the spouse or a child whom the VA is most likely to appoint. If VA is not notified with the application that the veteran may be incompetent and that a fiduciary appointment is requested, this could slow down the application and approval process.Will the pension benefit pay a non-licensed homecare provider?
VA does not pay providers directly but provides extra income to make up for the cost of medical care providers. Medical conditions or injuries or diseases that require a need for ongoing homecare will allow the applicant to reduce household income by the cost of home care making it possible to receive the additional income from a pension award. If the beneficiary has an aid and attendance or housebound allowance, VA will pay nonlicensed providers.Will the pension benefit pay a member of the family to provide care at home?
As explained above, VA will not pay providers directly but only indirectly through extra income. If the beneficiary receiving care in the home has received a rating for aid and attendance or housebound, VA will allow expenses paid to a family member for care to be counted as unreimbursed medical expenses to qualify for the benefit.
Does the pension benefit pay the costs of a nursing home?
The application form has provision for indicating residency in a nursing home and whether or not the applicant is eligible for Medicaid. VA will automatically apply the monthly cost of the nursing home in determining the pension benefit. If the applicant is single with no dependent children at home and is eligible for Medicaid, VA is required to stop any payment of benefits and only provide the veteran with $93 a month.