Aid & Attendance-small deposit in account

[stressedoutdaughter]

Hello everyone –

I helped my 87 year old mother apply for aid & attendance as surviving spouse of my dad, (WWII and Korea veteran), in November.  She desperately needs to be in assisted living but does not have the income.  Today, her checking account shows US Treasury 220 VA Benefit deposit in the amount of $168.  She has not received any written notification, but I was told in January that her claim was ready for a decision.  Do any of you know if this deposit is a good or bad sign?  I am so afraid that it means all she is going to get is $168 a month.  Thanks for any insight.

[vetadmin]

This is an odd amount, and since the VA does not pro-rate, you need to call and inquire about the amount. 

Is your grandmother receiving any other pensions from the VA, on Medicaid, or her monthly income is only short this amount of being at the $1055?

[stressedoutdaughter]

Thank you for the response.

No, she doesn't receive anything from the VA, or Medicaid.  Her only income is Social Security. The only asset she has is a very small CD which wouldn't get her through the 1st month of assisted living. No property, no car, etc.  Today's VA deposit would put her monthly income a little over the $1055 amount (less than $100 over).

[vetadmin]

Her countable income is going to determine what she is eligible for.  If you have not done so, please see this link to figure what her monthly "countable" income is in the event that she is not eligible for the full amount of the award.

www.vetassist.org/eligibility.htm  Be sure to scroll down to calculate all the expenses she can claim.

[stressedoutdaughter]

Thank you for the link. I will definitely use it this evening. 

The letter from the VA came today.  It says my mother is entitled to aid and attendance, but only $84 a month.  That won't even pay for half a day's help.  I'm so disappointed.  My mother's income is so low, and my dad was in the Army for over 20 years.  I had been so hopeful of a better outcome. 

I submitted a letter from the rehab facility (she was just released 4 days ago) regarding the change in her condition since the time she applied to the VA. The letter is very detailed - a page long stating all the basic things Mother cannot do.  I faxed the letter to the Milwaukee office on  Feb. 12, and also sent it by certified mail.  The VA decision is stamped Feb. 19.  The decision does not show that they considered this letter.  I'm wondering if I should send it again as additional evidence, which the letter says can be done, or if I should go ahead and make an appeal?  I don't want to confuse things by sending it again, but it doesn't seem that the letter was taken into consideration.

Thank you so much for your help.

[vetadmin]

Without knowing all the financial pieces here, something does not seem right.  If she has no money, no pensions nothing but SS, you need to look at that link very closely to see what her countable income is.  Once you have done that let us know so we can try to determine what is not adding up here.

[stressedoutdaughter]

I used the worksheet and determined the following:  
Mother fits into the service and net worth criteria.  
According to the link, she would not be eligible for basic pension or housebound as a surviving spouse, but she is under the 11,715 per year of countable income for aid & attendance for a surviving spouse.  

The VA only allowed $500 of her medical expenses (incontinent supplies).  They did not count her prescription costs, saying it was not considered a predictable medical expense.  Prescription costs are only about $300 per year because she is on Tricare.  

The decision recounts the doctor's letter, and states that the evidence shows that she needs daily assistance in performing routine activities of daily life, and has established entitlement to special monthly pension because the need for aid and attendance is established.  
 
I suppose she would be "more eligible" if she were already in assisted living and could deduct that cost, but she couldn't live there 2 months even if I used every penny she has.  I would have to pay for it myself, and I can't risk it.  The more I look at the way the benefit is calculated, it looks like she is in a "catch-22" situation in which she doesn't have much to deduct from her income because she is at home and Medicare & Tricare pay for most of her medical, but she doesn't have enough money to get into assisted living with Social Security alone.  If I'm right, is there a way to get enough Aid and Attendance to afford assisted living if you aren't already in assisted living to be able to deduct the cost from your income? I hope that makes sense.

Thanks again for your time and help.  

[KarenO]

It is a catch 22 situation - you have to already be paying for assisted living or other services in order to put that down as an expense.   The expense has to be ongoing.  It's a tough situation.   

[stressedoutdaughter]

Thanks Karen.  I'm considering getting Mother into assisted living, then filing the form with the VA which shows a change in medical costs.  The assisted living costs alone will give her a negative 18,500 yearly income. 

Two months of assisted living will use up all of her money and then some, and my husband and I can help a little.  If something doesn't come through in two months, I'll either have to bring her home again or get her into a nursing home. There is a short waiting list at the assisted living facility.  The deposit is very small to hold a place, and they give it back if we change our mind.  The terms are month to month, so really nothing to lose if this doesn't work out. She should qualify for Medicaid by then. Mother is in such an odd situation, in that she doesn't qualify for Medicaid now, isn't able to completely care for herself, but at times isn't bad off enough to need skilled nursing care.  She falls frequently, has severe bouts with dementia, but then improves.  Her most recent fall caused a brain hemorrhage and 3 1/2 months in the nursing home. 

One of the Veteran's groups will be at an assisted living facility on Friday, so I'll try to go to that and see if they have any other ideas.

Thanks everyone, and hope your claims go well. 

[vetadmin]

Depending on which veteran's group is there, please be careful as many of the groups who say they are "veteran" are in fact financial groups.  Let us know what they say and suggest, so we can share some insights that may be needed.

[stressedoutdaughter]

Thanks for your advice.  I share your concern. My sister-in-law has been dealing with one of these groups for my mother-in-law.  She attended a local seminar, and the brochure mentions an affiliation with a financial planner, or something to that effect.  I will be careful!

Thanks again!

[vetadmin]

9 1/2 times out of 10, this is not the route to go, but the sales pitch can sure make it sound like the answer to your prayers.  Careful what you wish for.

[stressedoutdaughter]

I suspected that, and recall hearing that the speaker was overzealous. 

I will forward this to my sister-in-law so that she can also have the benefit of your experience.

Your web site is wonderful and I will suggest it to anyone in this situation! 

[vetadmin]

Thank you!

[vetadmin]

I would love to know the name of the group even if it is given in a private email to me.  There is one group in particular that is hitting ALF's pretty and a lot of people are being duped into services they don't need and are not in the best long term interest of the veteran/widow or family.  I try to keep an eye on the ones that are aggressive and making folks feel desperate to take the offer.