Long Beach Veterans' Aid And Attendance Qualification

When a senior citizen you care about is no longer able to cope with the routine tasks of daily living, it may be time to start considering long-term care options. If that loved one is a veteran of the armed forces or the surviving spouse of a deceased veteran, he or she may have access to home and community based services through the VA that can make life safer and more comfortable. Your loved one may have access to these services even if he or she is living in a residential setting like an assisted care facility.

Sandra Diaz - United States Marine Corps

Sandra Diaz | U.S. Marine Corps

Figuring out whether or not an elderly person you love is eligible for long-term VA care benefits can be a complex and time-consuming task. The Law Offices of Sandra Diaz PC in Lakewood, CA, works with elderly veterans and their families throughout southern California to connect them with VA long-term care resources. We’ll work hard to develop an action plan that will protect your loved one’s assets as much as possible. Our principal, Sandra Diaz, is widely recognized as a leading legal specialist in elder law, practicing in southern California.

Help the senior veteran in your life take advantage of the healthcare services to which he or she is entitled. Contact The Law Offices of Sandra Diaz PC today so that we can help you begin planning a secure and comfortable future for someone you love.

Home and Community Based Services

Long-term care benefits through the VA can be used to pay for a variety of services, including:

  • Assisted Living Facilities
    Assisted Living Facilities allow an eligible individual to live more-or-less independently in a room or an apartment inside a facility. Trained caretakers are on call within the larger facility 24 hours a day. The VA will not pay rent in an assisted living facility, but it may pay for necessary ancillary services.
  • Home Based Primary Care
    Home Based Primary Care is an option for eligible individuals with medical needs that make coming to a clinic impractical. Under the supervision of a VA physician, team members will provide medical services, case management, and assistance with the routine tasks of daily living.
  • Home Health Aides
    Under the supervision of a registered nurse, a home health aid can offer assistance with everyday activities such as bathing, dressing, and taking medications. Home health aides are generally employed by agencies that have contracted with the VA to provide such services. This program can be used in conjunction with other VA Home and Community Based Services such as Respite Care.
  • Skilled Home Care
    Skilled Home Care is a set of services that provide medical care and case management as well as assistance with routine activities.
  • Hospice Care
    Hospice Care is palliative care that’s provided to individuals who’ve been diagnosed with a terminal condition and have less than six months to live.
  • Respite Care
    Respite care enables primary caregivers to take time out without leaving their loved ones unattended.

Paying for Long-Term Care as a Veteran

If the senior in your life is a veteran or a survivor who is eligible for a VA pension, the Veterans Administration offers benefits that may be able to help subsidize any home or community based services this individual may need. These benefits are called the Aid & Attendance benefit and the Housebound benefit, and they are added on to the monthly pension your loved one already receives. These benefits are also available to individuals younger than 65 who have disabilities that qualify them for a VA pension.

Aid and Attendance benefits are designed to assist veterans and their families in meeting the growing costs of long-term care. Aid and Attendance can be used toward a variety of long-term care options ranging from:

  • Care at home
  • Retirement community
  • Assisted living
  • Board and care
  • Nursing home

To qualify for Aid and Attendance, a veteran must meet the following requirements:

  • Wartime service — Serving a minimum of 90 days with at least one day during war. Service outside war zone is acceptable.
  • Need for assistance — Requiring regular assistance as certified by a physician. Can be for mental or physical reasons.
  • Assets and income — If your income after recurring medical expenses are factored in is less than the maximum Aid and Attendance benefit, your income qualifies. You must have less than $80,000 in assets to qualify.

If you served in the military during wartime, you need to investigate your eligibility for Aid and Attendance benefits.

As we age, the level of medical care that we require becomes more intense and costly. Facing those costs without losing your home or depleting your assets is a difficult challenge that few can overcome without skilled guidance. Understanding what benefits are available and what they can do for you is your first step toward retaining control over your future.

Contact The Lakewood Veterans Benefits Lawyers Of The Law Offices of Sandra Diaz PC
The vetting process for these benefits is very complex and involves submitting necessary application forms as well as evidentiary reports that document both financial and medical need. The Law Offices of Sandra Diaz PC can streamline the application process for you so that it goes as smoothly as possible. We can help you put protections in place that may be able to safeguard your loved one’s home, savings accounts, and other assets. Our planning strategies are designed to help your loved one take advantage of Medi-Cal benefits as well so that these two benefits programs can work synergistically.

For more information about applying for VA benefits on behalf of an elderly loved one, contact The Law Offices of Sandra Diaz PC today to schedule a free initial consultation to discuss your VA Aid and Attendance benefits questions with an attorney at our firm. You can call us at 562-210-5790, or simply contact us on-line.