application questions

[dm2kittys]

Hi--thanks to Debbie and everyone else for creating this forum--it is indispensible!!

I am completing the application for Aid and Attendance for a 91 yr old veteran and his wife.  He is afraid to spend money on additional home help or move to alternative facility due to cost.  They deperately need additional help.  They have in home assistance for 3 hrs daily to help with personal care, meals, laundry, cleaning, errands, and supervsion as she has alzheimer's disease.  They have $24, 557 in yearly income, and we deducted only the recurring medical expenses--Medicare B and Humana ins premiums, and in home assistance costs of $1084 per month.  They have additional medical costs--dr appointments, medication, incontinence supplies but is says not to include those decuctions correct?

We end up with countable income of $9672--which is a monly income of about $806.  If they would qualify for the veteran with a sick spouse pension, would the $806 be subtracted from the total amount of $1291?

Their assets are at about $60,000--due to their age I wondered if this would effect the eligibility as well.

We have the application together with
VA Form 21-526
Discharge papers
Income statements
marriage certif
 VA Form 21-2680  - Physician Statement for  vetaran
Form 21-2680  - Physician Statement for his wife
 Account letters from the bank
Statement from Home Instead Senior Care for In-Home Care services
Form 21-0845 (Authorization to Disclose Personal Information to a Third Party)

Do we need birth certificates for either one?
And finally are we missing anything??
Thanks for the input!

[vetadmin]

Yes, the $806 would count as income, and he would only be eligible for the difference between the two.

You don't need to include birth certificates.  Be sure to send Return Receipt and keep a complete copy of the application.

Thank you for your kind words about my efforts, and good luck with everything.

[AngelaManz]

Go ahead and send in the dr. appts, medications and incontinence garments information.  The VA may not accept the dr or the incontinence, but they absolutely will accept prescription copays.  For Rx, ask the pharmacy for a printout of the entire year for husband and wife and include that with the application.