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.
1. Made a phone call and was told what documents would be needed.
2. Brought the documents to an in-person appointment.
3. At the appointment, we answered questions while counselor completed the application online for us. She even pulled info from his online records when needed.
4. We went for the medical appointment to verify issues.
5. He was approved, received the back-pay from date of application and began getting his monthly benefits.
6. There was never a fee for services and I think it only took 6 months.
Several years ago we applied by ourselves for Aid and Attendance and it took months to complete the forms and then after waiting months longer he was denied. I now know more about what it will take to qualify and I plan to go back to the benefits counselor again for help and expect it will take a lot less time to go through the application process. We now have a trust for our retirement funds, etc. In six more months it will be beyond the 3 yr. look back period and we can reapply with it not counting against us and in 2 1/2 years it won’t count against us for Medicaid if there is a need. Hopefully with Aid and Attendance and what we have saved we can have more choices and delay Medicaid for a long time.
When my husband applied for SS disability, we went to the SS office…. a rep completed his application for us and just like working with the County Veterans Affairs Office, he was approved the first time around, all with no attorney fees.
Never try to work through a government application alone or use a paid service until you have exhausted the free services of the agency involved.
Never deny yourself of benefits you are entitled simply by not applying. Find your local County Veterans Affairs Office and hopefully you will find a good benefits counselor like we did to file the application for you.
900 dollars....as Dad was blind and I was happy and just plain unaware that this existed at all....calling on behalf of brother caretaker of Dad who fell 5 yrs earlier and was low income and taken care of by my brother for many yrs...of yes you need the Discharge papers for this....or you will wait longer to locate this paperwork through the VA....remember WW2 was eighty years ago!
Please check with your local Veterans Assistance Commission they can help navigate this and help determine what he would qualify for.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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?
I did use the help of American Veteran's aid.
"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.
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!
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.
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://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]