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Veteran Benefits

If you are a veteran or surviving spouse of a veteran requiring in-home care or the assistance of a caregiver in your daily life, you may be eligible to receive veteran benefits from the Veterans’ Administration.

How Can “A First Name Basis” Help?

We will provide you with professional assistance while you are completing the necessary paperwork and being assessed for eligibility for the Veterans Non-Service Connected Improved Pension.  While your application is being processed, A First Name Basis can be your solution for quality in-home care.

More information is available online at www.va.gov.  Search for “Disability Pension”.

If you think you may qualify for the Veterans Non-Service Connected Improved Pension, contact A First Name Basis office today.   Toll Free: 877.557.5525

Here are some commonly used VA benefits for senior home care:

(1) Aid & Attendance Allowance:

Veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces may qualify for a special Disability Pension Benefit that can be used to cover some of the costs of home care.  This benefit is often referred to as the “Aid and Attendance Allowance”.  There are several qualifications one must meet to receive these benefits.

Who May Qualify?

Veteran Status: The Veteran, alive or deceased, must have served ninety (90) consecutive days active duty with at least one (1) day during war time.  If the Veteran had a service-related medical discharge with less than ninety (90) days active duty and one (1) day during war time, he or she may also qualify.  The Veteran must hold an “Honorable Discharge” status.  There may be special benefits available for Veterans who served “in country”, Vietnam, Gulf War, or who were POW’s.

Widowed Spouses: 

A widowed spouse must have been married to the Veteran at the time of the Veteran’s death and never remarried.  The widowed spouse must have been married to the Veteran for at least one (1) year or have had children by the Veteran. The widowed spouse must also have been living with the Veteran at the time of the Veteran’s death, unless the separation was due to medical or military reasons.

Financial Qualification: 

Total household assets (stocks, bonds, CDs, IRAs, 401(k)s, annuities, savings, cash, cash value of whole life insurance policies, checking, appraised value of business or second property, etc.) cannot exceed $80,000.  In the case of a married Veteran, both spouses’ assets count, even if assets were premarital.  Exceptions may exist in the case of jointly-owned assets where another adult is co-owner of the assets.  You may also qualify under a “Low Income” provision if the net monthly income after certain medical expenses is low enough and meets the U.S. Department of Veterans’ Affairs criteria.

Homebound Status:

Housebound certification is required by the individual’s doctor stating that they are in need of assistance due to an existing medical condition.

What Are the Benefits?

The Veteran’s Pension fund can cover up to 60 hours each month for care needed by a qualified U.S. Armed Forces Veteran with spouse, or up to 50 hours each month for a Veteran who is single.  Surviving spouses can receive up to 30 hours of care each month for home care. (These guidelines may vary each year.)

Benefits are available for both service related and non-service related disabilities. 

A Veteran or Veteran’s widow in receipt of service-related compensation may be able to receive an increase if they are certified as housebound and in need of personal care.

Once approved for the Aid & Assistance Allowance, Veterans may qualify for free medications, medical equipment, hearing aids, and incontinence supplies.

(2a) Respite Service

A VA physician must write the order, and the client must say that they want to use A First Name Basis as the care provider agency.

This service provides 6-hour days for 30 calendar days in one years’ time.  The 30 days can be used all in a row or spread out over the year (one time per week, etc.)  The schedule is completely up to veteran.

 

(2b) Personal Care Assistance (“PCA”) Respite Service

A VA physician must write the order and the client must say that they want to use A First Name Basis as the care provider agency.

This service is for a set number of hours determined by the VA and must also be used in one calendar year.

The allotted hours vary per client, but these shifts are typically shorter and range between 3 and 5 hours.

 

(3)  Veterans’ Non-Service Connected Improved Pension Benefit:

This pension benefit is federally funded for veterans and/or their surviving spouses.  It’s designed to fund in-home care for those who meet established criteria.  It may be used in addition to a VA Pension or a VA Compensation.

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