A veterans benefits attorney at Biddinger & Estelle can help veterans in Michigan’s shoreline communities to take advantage of programs and services that help them as they age. Veterans have earned many benefits through their selfless service. Among those benefits are Aid & Attendance benefits, which are intended to help offset the cost of care that bedridden veterans or veterans who need caregiver support require.
If you or a loved one is a veteran and you have a need for elder care or intensive healthcare services, you should reach out to a veterans benefits attorney to find out what programs the VA offers. Many veterans don’t take full advantage of all of the benefits they are entitled to because they aren’t aware of the different programs available to them. We can help you to ensure that you’re making full use of veterans benefits to defray the cost of care and to enhance your quality of life as you get older. Just give us a call to find out more about how our firm can help you.
Key Facts to Know about Aid & Attendance Benefits
Aid & Attendance benefits increase the monthly pension that a veteran receives if certain conditions are met. In order for a veteran to be eligible for Aid & Attendance benefits, any one of the following must be true:
- The veteran must require help from another person in order for the veteran to do basic routine activities of daily living. Some of the examples of activities of daily living that a veteran may need help with in order to qualify for Aid & Attendance benefits include taking a shower or bath; getting dressed; preparing and eating food; using the bathroom; adjusting prosthetic devices; or staying protected and safe from any of the hazards and dangers that exist in the veteran’s daily environment.
- The veteran is bedridden. This does not apply if the veteran is in a period of convalescence or treatment and must stay in bed for a limited duration for treatment. To be eligible for Aid & Attendance, the veteran must be unable to get out of bed as a result of a disability or disabilities.
- The veteran is a patient in a nursing home. The veteran must be in the nursing home as a result of mental incapacity or physical incapacity.
- The veteran’s eyesight is limited. The veteran must not be able to achieve better than 5/200 visual acuity or less in both of his or her eyes. Alternatively, the veteran must have concentric contraction of the visual field to five degrees or less.
In addition to Aid & Attendance benefits, there is also a similar form of benefits available to housebound veterans. Housebound benefits provide an add-on to a veteran’s monthly pension as well. Housebound benefits are available to veterans who are permanently disabled and whose permanent disability substantially confines the veteran to his or her premises.
Biddinger & Estelle can provide assistance to veterans and their families in determining if they are eligible for Aid & Attendance benefits or determining if they are eligible for benefits for housebound veterans. The additional money added to a pension for an eligible veteran can make it easier to pay for the high costs of nursing home care or can make it easier to pay for long-term care or home health aides at home.
Costs of nursing care or basic custodial care at home can be very high, and Medicare typically provides no coverage for this type of care unless the veteran needs skilled nursing care. Most people who are bedridden or who are in nursing homes need only routine help, not skilled nursing care, so they will be reliant on Medicaid (if they are eligible) or will have to pay out of pocket to get care. Aid & Attendance can help veterans to afford the costs of these essential medical services.
Getting Help from a Veterans Benefits Attorney
Aid & Attendance benefits are just one example of the types of benefits that veterans should receive when they develop more intense care needs as they get older. There are many programs offered through the VA for elderly or sick veterans, ranging from medical foster care to hospice care to community based nursing care or adult daycare. To find out about what programs you or your family could be eligible for, give us a call at (989) 872-5601 or contact us online today.
Michelle belongs to the American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys (AAEPA), a member of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, Elder Counsel and Wealth Counsel to further develop knowledge in this area.Michelle is a proud alumnus of the University of Michigan and the University of South Carolina School of Law.
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