Need to document expenses with A&A application?

[Caroliso]

I've searched the forum but not found an answer to this question.

What documentation do I need to include for countable expenses?

I've produced the list of countable expenses from the information here, which for my Dad include pay to caregivers and health plan premiums, all paid from his bank account.

Do I need to include with the A&A application the documentation (e.g. copy of his monthly statement with the appropriate expenses highlighted ) or does this get asked for at a later stage in the application process?

Thanks.

[VSR]

If you are just applying for the first time, you should only report expenses that are the same every month.  You can use a VA Form 21-8416 to report those expenses.

If the veteran/surviving spouse pays for reoccurring monthly care expenses, you should also provide a care expense statement containing the following information:

Date care began
Types of activities provided (i.e. assistance bathing, medication management, etc)
Monthly total cost
Monthly out of pocket cost
Whether or not Medicare/Medicaid/insurance covers any of the care
Signature of veteran
Signature of care provider
Telephone number of care provider

Also, if there was a recent monthly rate change (i.e. if the assisted living facility increased the monthly fee, you should also let VA know when that rate change occurred

Try to keep in mind that every document you submit needs to be reviewed by VA staff.  The more unnecessary documents you submit, the longer it will take to review the claim.  All you need to submit is what I just listed, nothing more, nothing less.  If VA is missing anything else, they will let you know by phone/letter.

[Caroliso]

Thank you, this is very helpful.  Now, two very specific questions as I look at filling out the form.

I hire a caregiver through an agency, but theirs is not the typical arrangement.  They consider their workers as independent contractors to the client, and have the client pay the caregiver directly.  But, they also charge an administrative fee for this service, which they have the client pay to the agency.  My checks will show payments to both the caregiver and the agency.

I was planning to list each of the 4 weekly payments for the month to each (caregiver and agency) but I started to wonder...  is that too much information, and should I bundle the info into one or two line items for this stage?

Second question...  any thoughts on whether the agency fee will be disallowed?  I would appeal, since other agencies build the fee into their rates, but I was curious.

Thanks

[VSR]

I would just put the monthly total and have the questions I listed below answered.  You can list the name of the agency.  You can even just put all of those questions/answers in the remarks section of the application.