We applied last year but were turned down. Got a letter recently to re-apply -income limits had been adjusted. Did so; got a call from local VA Clinic to set appointment for DH Labs tomorrow; and exam next week. Just wondering what the rest of the procedure is??? Haven't received any notification of us qualifying.
I found a thread on Veteran's Benefits and brought it to the top for you.
Update on Sid - Being in the National Guard, even during wartime (Vietnam), qualifies him for ZERO. NADA. NOTHING. I spoke to the woman at the VA office who gets everyone around here their benefits, no matter how obscure, and she said that because Sid was never called up for even one day of active duty, he is eligible for nothing. 6 years of one weekend a month, and 2 weeks in the summer = 0.
Yes, Joan, that is how it's always been for NG or Reserves. Unless they are called to active duty they receive no benefits but for their regular pay while serving.
Same here. I checked with the VA a few years ago, and they said his total income (SS + Pension) could only be about $1200/month MAXIMUM. I know a man from Charleston, SC. He and his wife formerly owned warehouses along the shipping docks and had considerable resources, but NO pensions at all. He receives VA benefits and lives in a very nice Memory Care facility near St. George. I suppose it's a matter of how he arranged his money affairs years ago. Which means we probably need Elder Law Attorneys in place before we become "elders".
no matter how we plan the govt aka medicaide will be two steps behind as usual. i have heard thru chatter the buzz was they will be trying to get into 'trusts' that are supposed to be immune to count as assets to qualify- but who knows. they need to stay on top to collect the gynormous money spent out on medicaide and they have the powers to change laws at any time. i do think its a shame if our spouses were veterans and did their time as asked -they should have the priveleges of VA benefits too and not just if you served during wartime. divvi
Jim served during the Vietnam War in the Air Force but was in intellegence and did not see combat. He is able to receive all his medical care free and a co-pay for prescriptions. We also got his wheelchair through the VA, we could have gotten a hospital bed, comode, shower chair etc. He is also eligible for the Veterans Homes (nursing homes) which are really nice. We were turned down for a small pension because we earned $1200 a year too much?????? Not sure they counted Dylan as a dependant and now with Diego, I should probably reapply, but then the tiny monthly pension could be just enough to mess up the Medicaid which is paying for the nursing home! What a miserable vicious circle.
Yes, the military counts only "active duty" for benefits. My DH is retired from Navy Reserves, put in 20 years and was served 89 days of active duty during Desert Storm, in war zone, but for that "war" they decided you needed 90 days of active duty service for benefits.
Vickie, The Va benefit guidelines have changed and they now offer a Priority 8 which may be what your husband will be getting. The income guidelines are around $38,000 per year for a veteran with one dependent. You would have co-pays with priority 8 but these changes took place in June of this year.
My dh served in the Vieynam War and was treated privately for 10 years for PTSD. He wanted nothing to do with the VA after he returned home. A couple of years ago, I knew he would need more help than I could give so he agreed to go to sign up. As the employee was doing our intake, a woman walked by the room and heard dh responding (or really barely responding) to questions about his service. She stopped and asked me if dh had dementia. I said yes. She asked if he had PTSD and I said yes. She instructed the intake worker to write down that dh was applying for comp and pension and then proceeded to tell us that she was a counselor at the vets center and that when I got the nountain of paperwork to complete to go see her. She advised me that she had many guys of dh"s age (58 at the time) that had served in Vietnam and many were collecting a disability pension because the studies done by the military showed that vets with PTSD were highly likely to get AD!!! I followed her instructions and we subsequently had an interview by a VA psychiatrist who provided me withsome very insiteful info. At any rate, about 1 year later, dh was approved for comp and pension and I got aid & attendance because I was his 24/7 caregiver. The VA is now paying for his nursing home care. Hope this info is helpful.
The VA does not notify you that you qualify, at least we have never gotten one. I fill out the paperwork every year and that is it. Our income is always below the threshold, so I don't worry about it. We do pay an $8 copay on medications. The fact they called you to start the workup would be proof that you now qualify.