Giving Back To Those Who Gave So Much by Bob Murray

I did it for my country….
While these six words are simple in nature, they hold a tremendous amount of importance for a Veteran who has served in any branch of the military. Not every person is cut out to be a member of the military.  It takes a very unique individual who is willing to sacrifice their time and dedication to ensure the people of the United States of America are safe. At times, this sacrifice entails risking their lives in order to safeguard our freedom.

While there is no way our government can truly thank Veterans and their families enough for their service, the Department of Veterans Affairs has developed a program that helps to supplement income for disabled or sick veterans (or their spouses) who served during specific war time eras. In order to qualify for this type of benefit, first and foremost, the Veteran must have served at least 90 days of active duty service with at least one day of service during a designated war time period. The wartime periods can be found at this link: http://www.benefits.va.gov/pension/wartimeperiod.asp Eligibility can easily be determined by checking the veterans discharge papers, also known as their DD-214.
Once war time service has been established, the VA will then look to the veteran’s (or spouse’s) current health status. In order to qualify for the benefit, the applicant must show that they have certain physical limitations. Those limitations would include being totally and permanently disabled, being a patient at a nursing home or needing a higher level of care at an assisted living facility, or being blind. For example, if your loved one requires assistance bathing, eating, transferring, toileting, or dressing themselves, then he or she would meet the medical requirements for the benefit.

Finally, the VA will look at the applicant’s financial situation. The VA requires the applicant to provide information regarding their income and assets.  First, the claimant must have unreimbursed medical expenses that exceed his or her income.  Second, the claimant’s assets have to be below approximately $40,000 for an individual or $80,000 for a married person.  The primary residence is not considered a countable asset.  Based off of that information, the VA will then determine the benefit amount that the applicant is eligible for. Benefit amounts can vary depending on the case, however, there is a potential that the applicant could receive thousands of more dollars per year through this program.   

​The VA Pension Amounts can be found at the following link: http://www.benefits.va.gov/pension/current_rates_veteran_pen.asp
Combined with the proper long term care plan, the Veteran’s Aid and Attendance benefit is a program that could help to ease the financial burdens that a family often experiences as their loved one grows older. Our team at the Murray Firm is dedicated to assisting as many Veteran families as possible to attain this valuable benefit. With our experience, expertise and a proven record of approvals for this benefit, we are confident that we can guide an eligible applicant through the process.