Aid and Attendance VA Benefit

[hcoles]

Any advice for signing someone up for the VA Aid and Attendance benefit?

As I understand it the qualifications include:
- served during WWII (12 months min.)
- honorable discharge
- assets below $127k, can have 1 car and 1 house
- currently in assisted living or skilled nursing or needing help at home with 2 of 5 Daily Tasks

There are companies or "services" that help you file for this benefit. Any experience with these? The process seems like doing it on your own is doable but getting it done in a reasonable amount of time may be problematic.

Thanks.

[cassisrot]

I’ve used Disabled American Veterans for 40 years. They generally do a good job. Paralyzed Veterans also have a good rep. You need to have a service officer to help file the claim and keep you in the loop.

[John Rogers]

We are looking at that as my wife is dealing with failing kidneys and can not do very much. She was in the US Navy reserve as a personnel clerk during Vietnam and was discharged. I can't find her DD-214 form but they have several forms to use as our representative to try and get it. We are looking at VetAssist Program and they seem a tad pushy towards us but their contact person was very up front with me about how hard they work at this. Here is the requirements right from their document my wife needs:

Proof of Military Service
• Discharge Certificate, separation papers or DD214 form (Please return with the VHC Military Release Form.)
• Please sign both the enclosed NARA Request for Military Records and VHC Military Release Form to receive the document and return it to us. We will submit it to the National Archive and Records Administration on your behalf.

Medical Diagnosis
• VA Form 21-2680 must be completed by a licensed physician. Please sign the enclosed VHC Medical Release Form and return it to us. We will send this directly to your doctor, unless you prefer to make other arrangements.

Health Care Insurance Cost / Drug Plan Expenses
• Health insurance statement and/or drug plan statement– for the health care insurance policy or drug plan that you pay out-of-pocket monthly or quarterly. If you do not have a health care insurance policy or drug plan, skip this step.

Proof of Income
• Social Security Award Letter from current year (If you do not have this, go to www.ssa.gov/pgm/receiving.htm and click on “Award Letter”) or call 1-800-772-1213.
• Pension statement or Internal Revenue Service (IRS) 1099 Form – for all pensions being received.
• All 1099-INT forms for documentation of interest and/or dividends – from all interest/dividend-bearing accounts for the last three years.
• Last three year’s tax return – if you file.
• Voided check – needed for direct deposit routing.
• VA Award and Disability Rating Decision Letter

Proof of Assets
• Bank account statements – for all accounts, all pages, the last three months.
• Statements (three years history) for any other type of assets (IRA, CD or other).
• Life insurance policy – Cash value (if any).
• Documentation of government bonds or any other assets not listed above, for the last three years.
• Trust (if applicable) and Trust Schedule A– which lists assets in the trust.

Additional Documents For Surviving Spouse
• Death Certificate – (if you cannot find it, go to www.vitalchek.com). We need you to send us a copy of this to include with the request to the NPRC for a Discharge Certificate. The Death Certificate must include a cause of death.
• Marriage Certificate – if couple or surviving spouse

Additional Documents For Couple
• Marriage Certificate

[Ayles]

Interesting topic. My father is getting up there in age and having some health issues.

He has always been stubborn about leveraging VA benefits. I have been trying to convince him for years that he earned these benefits during his time in Vietnam and he should take advantage of what is available to him. I don't even think he uses USAA. It's kind of driving me crazy.