FORMS 21-526 and Pension reimbursement for live in caregivers???

[danajurcastevens]

Can anyone help and clarify pls:

1.  For a spouse of a living Veteran claiming benefits for "Aid and Attendance"/"Housebound Pension for Reimbursement for Outside Caregiver's Agencies"  is it necessary to fill out Form 21-534, or is that Form only for surviving spouses of a deceased Veteran? 

If it is not necessary, then do you fill out Form 21-526 for both the Veteran claiming "Housebound Pension for Reimbursement for Outside Caregiver's Agencies" as well as for the Spouse of the Living Veteran who is claiming "Housebound Pension for Reimbursement for Outside Caregiver's Agencies"?

2.  If Claiming the Housebound Pension for Reimbursement for Outside Caregiver's Agencies do you fill out the same Form 21-534?


3.  For Claiming Housebound Pension, what is the limit to Reimbursement for Outside Caregiver's Agencies?


4.  Can the Reimbursement for Outside Caregiver's Agencies be retroactive to the date in which the Outside Caregiver Agency was retained due to the Veteran and Spouse being Housebound?


5.  What is the average turnaround time in getting the Reimbursement for the retroactive amount (if eligible), and for the ongoing Reimbursement for Outside Caregiver's Agencies?

[vetadmin]

If the veteran is living, then the spouse cannot file the 21-534.  The veteran has to qualify for the pension in order for the spouse to benefit.

If the veteran does not qualify for the need of assistance, and the spouse's medical expenses deplete their combined monthly income, the veteran can file as a "vet with sick spouse" and be eligible for $1266 a month.

If both the veteran and spouse qualfiy and are housebound, then the veteran files as a vet with spouse using the 21-526.

You can show on the application the expenses that are currently being paid out, but the effective date will be date of application.

The cost for the services coming in will either be covered by the amount of the pension, or if over that amount, then the veteran and family would be responsible for the difference.  There is a limit on the amount to be awarded for each level of the pension, and it will depend on the needs of the applicant as to the amount of pension they will be awarded.