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DEL.ICIO.US“Little known pension could help veterans”
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
He sees it often in his line of work.
Elderly veterans in need of a care provider, but unfit financially to pay for it.
The U.S. government has a special program to benefit veterans. It’s called “Aid and Attendance,” a monthly pension benefit administered through the Department of Veteran Affairs.
Pete Ross, owner of a franchise that provides non-medical home care, comes across many veterans who could use the aid, but don’t know about it. Or don’t know how to apply.
“I don’t want to be critical of the Veterans Administration,” he said, “but whether they go the extra mile to get the information out or not, I don’t know.”
Online, I pulled up a year-old news release in which the VA acknowledged that this particular pension plan was “underused.” Jim Nicholson, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, said the agency was making a concerted effort to inform war-time veterans, and surviving spouses of deceased war-time veterans, about the assistance.
“Veterans have earned this benefit by their service to our nation,” he said in the release. “We want to ensure that every veteran or surviving spouse who qualifies has the chance to apply.”
Ross, of Suwanee, is doing his part, too.
He’s the director of operations for one of three Atlanta area ComForcare Senior Services franchises. His Norcross office covers Gwinnett and DeKalb counties. Locally, it serves 30 local clients - mostly elderly people, some veterans - who suffer from ailments or diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. They contract for a certified caregiver on an hourly basis at $16 an hour.
I know what some of you think. Ross wants to grease his palms, bolster business. He assured me he wasn’t, and reminded me that his isn’t the only game in town. The elderly have options - nursing homes, assisted-living facilities, hospice.
Besides, consider the greater good: Local veterans might get assistance that makes life a little easier. With the 66th anniversary of the Pearl Harbor attack days away, Ross thought now would be a good time to try and raise awareness.
Who’s eligible?
According to the VA, war-time veterans and surviving spouses who have in-home care or who live in nursing homes and assisted-living facilities. The veteran must have served at least 90 days of active military service (one day of which must be during war time) and have an honorable discharge.
Ross has helped vets apply and get assistance. He said couples receive about $1,900 a month; surviving spouses get about $1,000 a month.
“It’s illegal to charge a vet to help with this application process,” he told me. “It takes about three months for approval and the recipient is reimbursed from the date of the application. “The ones who really benefit from this are in the low- to middle-income range. If you’re a vet who has worked all your life, you can benefit from this.”
And you deserve it.
For more information about the Aid and Attendance benefit, contact the Department of Veterans Affairs at 1-800-827-1000 or visit www.va.gov.
Rick Badie’s column appears on Sunday, Tuesdays and Thursdays. Contact him at 770-263-3875 or e-mail rbadie@ajc.com.
Permalink | Comments (11) | Post your comment | Categories: Rick Badie
Comments
By Jim
December 2, 2007 3:07 AM | Link to this
I hope I never need this assistance but as a Vietnam vet, I’m going to store this information in my files. It might be very valuable at some point in my life.
By LB
December 2, 2007 7:49 AM | Link to this
After seeing a news story about the insurance and treatment our congressmen get, it makes me wonder why our Veterans get anything less.
Veterans deserve to be moved to the front of the line at the doctor’s office. They deserve to get a discount at all restaurants like seniors do. They deserve to get an extra 10% off at all stores on holidays like Memorial Day, Fourth of July and Veterans Day just for showing a Veteran ID. Last of all, on days we vote, they should not have to stand in line. There should be a designated table for Veterans to go to in order to sign in then be moved to the front of the line.
I don’t know if this is proper or not but I salute the Veterans for their time, effort and many times their lives in exchange for mine. Good work guys. God bless you.
By Jim
December 2, 2007 8:08 AM | Link to this
I just checked the VA web site and it appears that income limits apply to the Aid and Attendance benefit. Net worth is also considered.
If I am correct, I will never be able to use this benefit. I’m glad it is there for the poor but it is not a program for all war time veterans.
By Debbie
December 2, 2007 9:01 AM | Link to this
There are two other levels of this Pension Benefit that may be of assistance to those in need. “Basic Pension” and “Housebound” are the two lower levels of the “Improved Pension”. Additional information on these can be found at www.veteranaid.org
By Jimmy R. Stevens
December 2, 2007 11:02 AM | Link to this
Thank you so much for your article “Little known pension could help veterans” concerning “Aid and Attendance,” benefits.
Here is some personal information:
69 years old
8 years USAF 1956-1964
3 years in Europe, 1 year in remote Alaska.
No service connected disabilities.
5.. Applied for and received VA. medical benefits in 2005 because I could no longer pay for Medicare Part B, part D and Medicare supplemental insurance.
In your article you write “He sees it often in his line of work. “Elderly veterans in need of a care provider, but unfit financially to pay for it.” Also “Jim Nicholson, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, said the agency was making a concerted effort to inform war-time veterans, and surviving spouses of deceased war-time veterans, about the assistance.”
I think my government and the VA. are playing smoke and mirrors selling “veterans in need of a care provider” and applying the benefits to “war-time veterans”. The VA. tries to take care of veterans with service connected disabilities but they would not be eligible for this benefit unless they are “war-time” veterans.
I and millions of other veterans are being treated as second class veterans because we are not” war-time veterans”. We join; we serve as directed by our commanders but then the VA. Separate’ us into two classes. It just does not seem fair to me.
Please feel free to edit this rant. Thank you. Jim
By harold green
December 2, 2007 10:42 PM | Link to this
thank god for veterans and I am to be one ra 17 560 995
By Kat
December 3, 2007 8:53 AM | Link to this
Mr. Badie; you are a gem. Thank you for caring enough to post information that the VA can’t or will not get off it’s duff to do. Be Whole and many blessings.
By Me
December 3, 2007 11:21 AM | Link to this
This is a much underused benefit, and it’s not about the VA getting “off its duff”.
Lack of use is probably partly based on the income criteria, and partly because many Veterans aren’t up to speed on all of their potential benefits. Many Veterans have never registered for health care or benefits, and they are missing out.
By Michael H. Smith
December 3, 2007 12:30 PM | Link to this
Thank you veterans one and all. The country needs to do a better job with respects to your service. Most troubling are the things I read and hear that is presently being done and “not done” for the returning veterans from Iraq. Homelessness, joblessness, legitimate claims being denied by the VA. This makes my blood boil. If anybody in this country should have a place to live, a place to work and receive compensation for injuries suffered in the line of duty, it should be the veterans of this country.
It is a shame and disgrace to have fought a war over there, only to return and have to fight another war here, with your own government.
By Airborne
December 4, 2007 9:42 AM | Link to this
I really appreciate those that show gratitude for “veterans”.I’m a vietnam veteran and im still trying to figure out why it is so hard for the v.a to compensate veterans.It did’nt take long for Uncle Sam to draft me and i did what i was suppose to do while on active duty.In fact i gave uncle sam 12 years of my life.Now my knees and shoulder are starting to bother me from service connect injuries,and im still on the wait list of claims.It’s like the government is saying thanks,we’ve used you,now we don’t care about you.How do you think that makes a veteran feel?
By Joan
December 6, 2007 3:38 PM | Link to this
What is income criteria for this benefit?