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Well, we applied for aid and assistance November of 2013 and finally received it this spring of 2015!! Yes the paperwork is tedious, but the monies will be retroactive. Keep copies of EVERYTHING! I met with a VA advocate for my county as well as the social worker from the VA clinic, they were both really helpful in helping to navigate to VA. After we completed the paperwork, it was turned into the social worker and then we played the waiting game. You shouldn't have to pay anyone!
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no way pay that much - sounds possibly like the organization that was featured at the seminar I went to where I first learned about it that played a video from 60 minutes telling about it but learned it's actually illegal for them to charge you - at least just to file a claim for the benefit; now there may be more involved but not just for filing for the benefit; yes, they're probably right about the time frame, why they've implemented the intent to file form now, so that places you in line at the beginning of the process; good you have the discharge papers but they usually get the actual certified ones, which I doubt you have; having them just confirms he is eligible; have you done that?
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Do not pay anyone to file for benefits for you! The VA specifically says that it illegal for someone to charge a fee. I went to the VFW and a person there was able to help me. I had already gone on- line to the VA website and had gathered all of the necessary forms. I had to obtain copies of my parents marriage license, Dad's discharge papers, Dad's death certificate, Mom's 1099 from SS. The form itself can be printed off of the web site and is about 8 pages long. I filled out everything and the VFW guy checked over everything so he sent it off on my mother's behalf to the regional VFW office where it was copied then sent on to the regional VA office. I filed August 28, 2014 and just yesterday July 20, 2015 I received the letter that Mom would be receiving the full amount allowed. I now have to reply to their letter so that I can become the Fiduciary for my Mother before they will release the funds. Mom will be getting funds retroactive back to my original filing date of Aug. 2014. The 3-5 months waiting time is the time it took for the VA office to start sending me monthly letters stating that they are still working on her claim. I wrote to the in Jan 2015 VA asking them to expedite her claim because she was running out of money. In April of this year they sent back the forms because I had put "n/a" in some of the areas instead of putting a O with a slash through it. I faxed the corrections back to them the same day. In May a lady called to say that it was going to take 30-60 more days until I become the fiduciary then the monies would be paid monthly? Stick with it, don't give up! If you do need to call the VA have your claim number ready. Also, The VA opens EST at 8am est then on the hour the next 3 time zones. If you call mid day you will never get through. If you wait to call later in the day when the AZ office is still opened I always got through. Good luck, hang in there it can be done!
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DebsRockyRoad and WomenofGod, DO NOT PAY any organization to help you file a claim. It's illegal. These organizations pretend to file the claim for free, but in doing so will require itemizations of your financial assets. Then they'll recommend investing them in securities or other financial instruments they or an affiliate organization sell.

Or if they want to charge, they're even more unethical.

Contact the VFW, American Legion (I believe there are others), as well as any County Veterans' Affairs offices. The latter will prepare the claims and e-mail to one of the service organizations, which then handles the paperwork and filing of claims.

They also know what they're doing. I wouldn't necessarily think that these so-called outfits that want to charge you would have the knowledge or the concern for veterans that the service organizations do.

And they most certainly don't charge $1500 - that's outrageous.
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Just a side note, there are a lot of financial planners out there that claim they can get the paperwork done and pushed through the system faster than on your own. This is where they "get you" with a fee. They indicate that they can move finances around so that you will qualify for VA...This is where you get charged. They are not charging you per say,for filing the paperwork. What they do is charge you for the "financial planning" part. It's a way for them to fly under the radar and get a fee. To me, it is despicable. They will hold seminars and claim that if you try to file on your own, you will have a difficult time. This is BS. Go onto the VA website ( through the government) and you can download everything you need along with instructions. Make copies of EVERYTHING. Hand deliver it to the VA if possible, otherwise send it registered mail, return receipt. Call and follow up along the way. It is tedious, but it can be done. And run like Hell if someone says they can "move your parents assets around" so they can qualify...... it's illegal.
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Bubblehead, thanks for providing the insight and explanation as to how the scam works. I did attend one of these so-called "seminars", having already done the research, but my father was interested so I tagged along to make sure the presenters didn't corral him into any commitments.

Their approach is exactly as you described - they make it seem so complicated that someone really feels the need to hire them.
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my husband is va. I was told from my coworker. I have some benefits. when I ask him, he refuse to give any answer. any help or any document I need. please help
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Rosa, are you still separated or are you divorced? There were some good answers to your earlier question on getting benefits. Has anything changed since then?
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I haven't read all the remarks, but I have been told that you can also ask your state senator/congressman, etc. to help push the application along faster.
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It took my husband over three years of struggling to finally be approved for service connected disability due to Parkinson's Disease. The good part of it all was that the reimbursement was retroactive to his application date.
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