I don't understand why I have to write to VA for this, to another state for that form... You would think the VA would have all this info on their veterans, put in a name and SSN and there's all the info. It takes months to get the info, to get it back, and then months to file. She needs home care as she won't go to a home. Neither of them planned for their future. I feel as though the VA makes this benefit so hard to get that you just give up. That's what I did. I gave up.
You have to admit, if it is designed to get people to just give up, it works.
Look up your states county office for VA assistance. It is not the VA , but a county office. They helped me get the forms all submitted . My mom was in another state. I used my states office.
if you cannot do the above, try your county office of aged and disability, maybe they know of someone you can hire to do this. My moms first in home care company had contacts for someone I could hire to file for my mom. I did not go this route.
your mom will need this benefit. My mom is now in memory care and receives over $1200 a month in aide and attendance benefits.
Babs suggests what we did: we went to the County VA office and got the help we needed. The counselor had Internet access to records sources and streamlined the process immensely.
But you should at least have the DD214; all Veterans should keep that handy.
Yes, they make it hard.
Next piece of advice, isn't all that obvious but it might come in handy. Try to find out if there are "Veterans' Centers" at local universities and colleges (including community colleges). Usually the Director (or whatever her or his title is) is a vet. And their staff is usually made up of vets, also. In principle, these places are set up to help vets use their educational benefits, but they also have their hands in a lot of pots, and believe me (as I worked with one) they KNOW how daunting the process may be to find out what's available to vets, and how to cut through red tape so vets can actually use their benefits.
I'm not sure the VA itself is at fault here. Dealing with any kind of bureaucracy these days is difficult.
Good luck.
See if you can contact your state's Dept of Military and Veteran's Affairs and be put in contact with the Service Officer there specifically to help you accomplish what you are trying to accomplish. You will need the service documents, however, along with other forms as the Federal government LOVES red tape and documents, as we all know *and hate*
I hope you can get this all figured out. Mom was getting $1318 a month in 2022 which helped a lot.
GOOD LUCK
There is a BIG problem with some of the information though. There was a fire in St Louis in 1973 at the National Personnel Records Center that destroyed many records of Veterans of the Army and Air Force. So other necessary information might be scattered.
You need this form.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Personnel_Records_Center_fire
80% loss to records of U.S. Army personnel discharged November 1, 1912, to January 1, 1960;[2]
The VA system is not perfect. Even now, wait times for some appointments are unreasonable,and I would say unhealthy, but still, the process is difficult. We did not use an attorney. In fact, the VA caseworker was very helpful.
https://codes.findlaw.com/us/title-38-veterans-benefits/38-usc-sect-5901.html and
https://codes.findlaw.com/us/title-38-veterans-benefits/38-usc-sect-5902.html
"(a)(1) The Secretary may recognize representatives of the American National Red Cross, the American Legion, the Disabled American Veterans, the United Spanish War Veterans, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, and such other organizations as the Secretary may approve, in the preparation, presentation, and prosecution of claims under laws administered by the Secretary."
There are more statutory establishments of representation issues, but this one seems to be the broad, overall mandate.
Before my MIL passed we tried over and over to get spousal aid from the VA that she should have been entitled to from my FIL’s time in the service.
It was always this form was needed or we didn’t have the correct info.
Absolutely ridiculous dealing with the VA system.
We eventually spoke to an Elder Care Law lawyer and he told us to give up. He said they make it so hard that often the person is gone by the time you get any money and he was correct.
I wish you the best!
"Aid and Attendance".
There ate many attorneysNationwide that will do this for you. You need the Veterab's DD 214 to begin and medical documentation
This is a applications tgat takes time and detailed nedical and income information but if you qualify they can provide BACK TRACK COMPENSATION FROM DATE OF APPLICATION. You pay nothing upfront. The VA Pays the Attorney 20% of the claim value.
I did use the help of American Veteran's aid.
BUT, I agree it is cumbersome. Seems like the VA would use info already in their system to approve. Maybe someone could assist you, like a church member?
The VA Form is 21P-534EZ.
Again, get an accredited VA Agency like DAV or better Attorney to help you apply and monitor the process.
You don't pay the attorney 20% unless your claim is approved.
This is a lesson to all members that have spouses who served. Keep those records. My Mom had a drawer in her bedroom where she kept everything. TG she had Dads papers. I had worked with the government prior trying to get my nephews SSD for him. For the wheels to go a little faster you must have as much information as possible. I could have allowed the lawyer to contact Nephews previous doctors in another state, but I had already done that for his Trust. So the lawyer just recopied what I had.
My husband was good at keeping his paperwork from his army days through discharge. It was still a long, time-consuming process. Sometimes, I would have to send a document, completed form, etc., three times. Please try to keep all copies of documents you forward to VA. It might make the process easier. I originally started out by filing the paperwork in a big four-inch / three-ring binder. When he died, I had three big accounting boxes full of his paperwork to / from VA.
If you have a DAV in your area, they might be able to assist you. One does not have to be a member for this service. They were helpful to us in the Phoenix area.
I personally think VA makes it difficult on purpose - so they don't have to pay out some benefits. I've seen some people just give up. I did not want to give up - as I felt spouse deserved whatever benefits might be provided by VA. He put the time in - all those years ago. Please don't give up.
Best to you both.
We had started with a local elder care consultant who left out some important details about the application process, which cause me considerable stress and confusion, and I was ready to throw in the towel. Hers was a for-profit business, and we didn't have any money for care to begin with. You actually have to have records of medical and/or care expenses, and we did not. She did, however, tell me about VHC, who will walk you through the application, and once they determine the applicant should qualify, they will make a no-interest loan so you can begin care right away. Benefits are retroactive to the month that you file an Intent to File form. We had some of FIL's documents, and they helped us to get the rest that are needed. I emailed or faxed everything to them and they checked it all over and sent it on to VA.
Mom ended up with several months of retro pay in a lump sum, and that's how we repaid the loan, with quite a bit left over. The one drawback is that they will administer the home care and set you up with an agency, which is how they get a little bit of a kickback for their efforts. If you are going through an agency, you'll get a lot fewer hours of care because they will charge $37/hour and pay their employee $14-$15. The agency takes care of employment taxes, workers' comp, etc. We stuck with this arrangement for about a year, just because I wanted VHC's help with the periodic reporting to VA. Once I know the ropes pretty well, I released VHC and the care agency and hired a payroll service at $45 a month and bought Workers' comp insurance at about $500 a year. We were able to almost triple the hours of care and give the caregiver $2.00/hour more than the agency paid. Releasing VHC did trigger sort of an audit from the VA, with several pages of forms to fill out, so be sure to keep detailed records of care and medical expenses from the beginning. Best of luck to you. I think you'll find it worth the effort in the end.
Please check with your local Veterans Assistance Commission they can help navigate this and help determine what he would qualify for.