EVR questions

[stressedoutdaughter]

Hello -

I'm doing the EVR for my 88 year old mom (surviving spouse) for the first time.  I apologize in advance if my questions seem silly & lengthy, but I want to make sure I do this correctly.

As background info:

My mom applied for A&A in 11/09, was awarded $84 A&A in early 2010, and was awarded the full A &A benefit in June or July 2010.  

She moved into an ALF in April 2010.  

Line 8A shows her unreimbursed medical for 2010 as $31,100 which is what a full year of A&A would have cost, plus $500 for medical supplies.  However, her actual medical for 2010 is about $7,800 less, because (1) she was not in the ALF for a full year, and (2) her out of pocket medical supply/medication costs were less due to being in rehab until late February, which was covered by Medicare. I assume $7,800 is a “substantial difference,” so I'm itemizing.  

Mother’s only income is from SS ($980) and A&A ($1,056), with no assets whatsoever, other than about $150 in her checking account.  Her medical costs far outweigh her income.  I am paying the difference.

Here are my questions:

1.  When I fill in the amount for ALF, do I put only the amount that she pays out of her funds, or is there some way I separate how much she pays, and how much I pay?  If I put only what she pays, it makes it look like the ALF costs less than it does. I don’t want her expenses to look any less than they are, but it says to put “amount paid by you,”  and she isn’t paying all of it.

2.  Mother received $150 from the leukemia foundation (something they do once a year for most patients).  Do I report this as income?  

3.  My mother, like every low income elderly person in our state, receives a $100 check each year, called a tax credit for the elderly, from the state revenue department.  Is this considered income?  

4.  On line 7C, on change in income, do I need to put that her A&A increased from $84 to $1056?

5.  As for unreimbursed medical for 2011, the cost will be about $1,500 more than the pre-printed amount for 2010.  Do I need to explain this?  

6. I’m very concerned about the difference in the pre-printed amount and what was actually paid.  Although it should be very apparent that she was only in the ALF for 9 months, and her outgo was more than her income, I know how these things get messed up and I want to do it so they understand.  

Thank you so much for your help!!

[vetadmin]

1)   Her funds and it better be all of her income

2)   I don't have the answer to this question

3)   Don't know

4)   No

5)   No

6)   Write did not enter ALF until _____date

[stressedoutdaughter]

Thank you for the response.  I also contacted the VA prior to receiving your response and thought this might be of interest to others in the same situation.

The VA said that when the family pays part of assisted living costs, the claimant should provide the amount paid by the claimant for the cost of assisted living and note on form 21-8416 the full cost of assisted living and the amount paid by family members.

Also, the local Veteran's office said that as far as the money received from the leukemia foundation, and the elderly tax refund from the State, it should be reported as income, and the VA will decide whether it is counted as income.

   

[vetadmin]

Thanks for sharing.