Veterans Home Care Reveals 5 Things To Know To Help Aging Veterans

ST. LOUIS - Nov. 8, 2022 - PRLog -- The month of November honors veterans and their families, and Veterans Home Care is highlighting five ways to help these wartime heroes navigate the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and receive some unknown benefits they richly deserve.

According to David Laiderman, CEO of Veterans Home Care, The VA has considerable long term care benefits for aging veterans and their surviving spouses, yet many are underutilized.

First, Laiderman said don't assume veterans or their survivors will be notified by the VA if they are eligible for benefits. "Unlike Social Security and Medicare, the VA typically does not advertise or notify those who may be eligible but have not applied for benefits."

Secondly, all three VA branches need to be checked for available benefits. This includes the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA), Veterans Health Administration (VHA) and the National Cemetery Administration (NCA). For example, an aging veteran may receive benefits for an in-home caregiver through both the VHA and the VBA at the same time.

Thirdly, aging veterans receiving Disability Compensation payments may eventually need more help at home and can apply for Special Monthly Compensation (SMC) or a higher amount also known as Aid and Attendance.

"Aid and Attendance can help with activities of daily living such as bathing, dressing, moving about, meal preparation, light housekeeping and more," Laiderman added. "It's widely known that the VBA pays Disability Compensation for those who suffered a service-connected disability for a disease or injury due to military service. However, the Aid and Attendance benefit is not often publicized. Compensation payment amounts are based on the level of disability and there is no income or net worth requirement."

Fourthly, certain wartime veterans age 65 years old and older are eligible for the Aid and Attendance Pension even if they do not have a service-connected disability.

"Soldiers need not have gone overseas or served in combat. Even those who served at a desk stateside are eligible," emphasized Laiderman. "The benefit pays up to $2,050 for a single veteran and $2,431 for a married veteran. Veterans must have served at least 90 days of active duty with one day during official wartime. Other restrictions apply."

Fifth, veterans' widows (surviving spouses) are eligible to receive the Aid and Attendance Pension. The veteran must have met the criteria, the spouse should have been married at least one year and married at the time of the veteran's death.

Before filing a VBA claim, veterans should consider filing a short "Intent to File" form which can start the clock and set an earlier effective date for your benefits.

Founded in 2003, Veterans Home Care helps qualified wartime veterans and their surviving spouses, apply for Aid and Attendance from the Department of Veterans Affairs  For more information: https://veteranshomecare.com, 314-514-2444, info@veteranshomecare.com