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1. Can one do anything proactively...mom has dementia, dad, a WWII vet is with her much of the time; I am a young senior, single, living with and caring for them. I work part-time and while I technically could retire, I am only 63 and want to try and work as long as I can to get as much in retirement income as possible especially being single. Mom will not be able to be left home alone for a part time work day I don't think...so I'm wondering if anything can be set up prior as far as applying...2. Are there income guidelines? They do have a bit in savings and I would hate to blow through that if we didn't have to.
This above came from an article "A Little-Known Benefit for Aging Veterans" b Susan Seliger <http://newoldage.blogs.nytimes.com/author/susan-seliger/> (for the entire article to read)
This should help to answer some of your questions.
Just went thru this for my 89 year old mom last week. Pretty much same exact situation as yours! I went to VA and had them help with paperwork. There is a lot of questions and forms. You also will need husbands DD214, DOB, they're marriage cert. (if it's the spouse of Vet appling), bank statement for 1 month and blank checking account check. Call first to make sure you can go without her. They won't accept POA or DPOA so you will need something making you legal rep for her and able to sign that they will accept. But they will tell you what is needed. They are VERY nice and helpful with it all. Took a good hour to go thru all the papers and they will give you copies. You could do it online but if you mess up or forget anything it will get denied. Once you start it with VA that will be the date used if you are approved and payment will be retroactive from that day. It can take months to get approved also so don't expect anything quickly. This is in Florida so keep that in mind. Some of these others may be more helpful for your area. Hope it helps. Good Luck!
If you intend to mail in this information, PLEASE SENT IT CERTIFIED RETURN RECEIPT so you have proof you actually mailed the application & all the documentation. KEEP A COPY OF WHAT YOU MAILED IN.
This site provides the mailing address you will need to mail the completed application & supporting documents. There's more than one address; so, make sure to use the correct one - it is dependent upon which state your mother resides.
If you are having trouble understanding any portion of the application procedure, it's possible your local VA Representative can help you. However, since at least in Indiana they are political appointees, they may not be aware of the process. Sometimes your local Veterans of Foreign Wars, Vietnam Veterans groups may have someone who can. If not, contact your state's main office of these organizations & they will have a list of members who can help you.
You will have to fill out a VA form & obtain the required signatures in order to be able to do this for your mother.
There also may be a fax number the paperwork can be faxed to - make certain you can get delivery confirmation; however, I strongly advise mailing hard copies as well - CERTIFIED RETURN RECEIPT - & be sure to following up every weeks by calling the center to which everything was sent.
When I did this for my mother, I included a cover letter in which I listed everything I sent in as well as the application & made sure everything was in the order I listed it.
Good luck.
It took over 9 months to go through all the hoops needed to be done.
https://www.agingcare.com/topics/138/veterans-benefits/articles
First: The VA has a form that may help you. In any event, it can't hurt you! It is called "Appointment of Individual As Claimant's Representative." Form # 21-22a, the current one I believe is from Feb 2019. This is for IF you want to represent your mother, instead of a veteran's services organization doing it.
The VA does not accept a POA. I tried that route. Failed. Something to do with having to declare my mother incompetent legally, and I did not want to do that.
So I found out about this form, which they actually tell you about if you call the VA; it's one of the voicemail choices: if you are an authorized representative.....blah blah blah......and if you don't have the form filed then they tell you how to get one.
I just mailed it May 2nd so I honestly cannot tell you if they paid attention to. it.
Generally, the VA looks at income and assets and medical expenses. If your mother is already getting $200/month, then she must have passed those eligibility tests. If you want to try to get more money per month, it is going to be hard work, and the VA is the most inefficient agency I have ever had to deal with. You cannot even get them to change the mailing address after several tries. Everything you send them, depending on the type of form, goes to a different person.
So, I sympathize with you.
Your mother lives with you? Have you tried applying for "at home" Medicaid? It won't give you much, maybe 6-18 hours a week home health care aides, and free incontinence supplies, but that's better than nothing.
Keep us posted okay?
“ VET ASSIST” it’s out there to help you get a caregiver set up to be brought in to your home to help you. In some cases you can be the paid caregiver if this is what you wanted. You would have contact this program if they have it find a homecare agency that would allow you to become the caregiver and go from here. The organization will walk you through everything. They are wonderful people to work with. They do ask about income and will need copies of all the military paper work. You also probably can get Medicade for your loved one. If you go through the state they will come in and talk to you and your loved one. They will access the situation and assign your family members hours then you will be able to use the hours ( for a caregiver)once you get approved for them. The state should recommend a homecare agency to you. This will help you get some respite time you need for yourself. Either way you go they are going to ask financial information. The Vet Assist program is very helpful in getting the process started. They are like a middle man per say. If you would go this route be prepared to have someone come into your home as well. Both ways they need to be able to access the situation and talk about the needs at hand.
The Vet Assist program will help you find a good homecare agency as well. Like I said they play middle man and get things moving faster. One thing though if you’re POA you will not be able to be a paid caregiver for your mom unless transfer it to someone else. I just wanted to let you know that.
Good luck to you!
This website appears to provide a good overview of the process and the papers/copies you should get together: https://www.veteranaid.org/apply.php
I really relate to the feeling that it's hopeless. But it isn't. I found it helpful to contact a county office for local support first. Many of them have prepared checklists and can also recommend other programs (such as VA Home and Community Based Services that can more quickly step in to provide part-time home care).
I really feel your panic and anxiety, but reaching out and taking one day, one hour, one step at a time is the ladder to cling to. Once you have made contact with a legitimate, non-profit Veterans Service Organization (VSO) or VA-supported/certified office, you will start to feel sane and supported.
I don't want to add to being overwhelmed, but the VA also has a lot of information to digest at:
https://benefits.va.gov/PENSION/aid_attendance_housebound.asp and
https://www.va.gov/GERIATRICS/
I was "overwhelmed" caring daily for both my parents; was blessed when I was referred to "Patriot Angels" (844-757-3047 / www.patriotangels.com) - I honestly could not have done it alone. P.Angels answered ALL my questions; when other organiza-
tions could not. NOTE: I had to Re-apply for Spousal Aid & Attendance for my mom after my dad died Nov 2018 (sadly; my parents only collected for 4 mos) Mom/I are still waiting for VA approval....over 6 mos now.
Make sure VA claim is submitted with "expedited" status for any applicant over 85 yrs old.
Good Luck!
A & A is for a Vet and spouse. The Vet must have served during wartime.
Get your Dads paperwork together. With my Dad it was a typed discharge and another paper saying he was entitled to benefits. The framable discharge doesn't count. Call ur local VA for an appt. Your questions should really be answered by someone who knows them. Be aware though, the more info you have the less research is needed. A&A does not happen overnight.