I want to reapply for A&A as my mother was turned down. Before I do so (and get another turn down) I need to ask some questions:
1. My mother has stage 6 Alzheimer's & requires bathing, feeding & dressing care. I have been the only family caregiver for 1 year & need to return to teaching as soon as possible & I have found a good place for her for only $2,080 a month. (A miracle in itself in this age of $6,000 retirement homes.)
My mother receives $823 Social Security & $593 Army Widow's Survivour Benefits -- $1,416 total. The VA says she makes too much & has no medical expenses -- well, duh -- Medicare & Tri-Care for Life pay for all of her medical expenses & she gets all of her meds from the Navy free. So, no she has no medical expenses.
Now she & I live on her $1416 a month & it's tighter than Rosie O'Donnell in a girdle!! I was told that if I pay myself out of her money this would qualify under the VA rules as "medical" expense & may possibly qualify her for A&A?
2. It was also suggested to me that I could have the assisted living where I want to place her write a letter stating that she has been accepted into their facility & what the annual expenses would be. I should then include this in my A&A Resubmission. Has anyone had success with this? The VA rep here in Jacksonville, NC told me I'd have to have my mother in assisted living for a year before I can resubmit her package & then they would back pay. Gee, that's nice -- BUT I CAN'T GET HER INTO A HOME IF I CAN'T GET A&A CAN I? Arrrggghhh!
3. I gave up teaching last year to take full-time care of my mother so the US Government has lost my taxable income for a year. Even if I go back to teaching tomorrow morning I still need to put my mother in a facility as she needs complete help with food preparation, dressing, bathing & in a locked facility as she wanders now.
Medicare says she doesn't need skilled nursing yet; Medicaid says she makes too much in retirement income; the VA says she makes too much & has no medical expenses. Where in the USA can anyone get into an assisted living for $1416 a month? Please tell me because that's where she'll go if I can't get her on some assistance.
My last resort is to go back to Social Security & see if I can apply for SSI for my mother. She's 80 & no longer understands any of what is happening around her. Plus, she's forgotten most of her English & reverted to her mother tongue German & even that isn't understandable. She's recently started talking of her husband again (who is buried at Arlington -- 2 Bronze Stars from WWII & Korea & wounded twice.) & thinks he's going to come soon!! No chance of that. My father gave his life to his country & I'm just sick about how we treat those in need.
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So many Veterans & widow's of my mother's generation didn't have alot to begin with; didn't understand 401K's & spent most of their working lives living on an E-3 to E-7's pay, which in those day's wasn't very much at all. These days, anyone can run for Congress, spend 2 terms in office & qualify for retirement with the best health insurance!!! This is not the same country I came to in 1954!]
Back to my questions: Any suggestions would be greatly appreciately. I thank you in advance. Frau Leigh @
leighmb@yahoo.com
