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vetadmin
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« Reply #15 on: July 25, 2012, 11:52:13 PM » |
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I know it is hard on the front end, but the good news, if you get approved, you will get the previous months that accrue while you are waiting. Try to keep the "Faith".
Yes, you can claim the financial hardsip and let them know you simply cannot pay your bills, but make sure they are for his care.
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vetwife
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« Reply #16 on: July 26, 2012, 12:38:45 AM » |
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Thank you so much for the reply, Debbie. You are right, I need to keep the faith. I really do think he will be approved since he meets all the criteria medically and financially. I hate to submit anything else at this point that we don't absolutely have to. Maybe it will just delay more. I know many others have waited much longer. Thanks again for the words of encouragement!  |
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Marp
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« Reply #17 on: July 26, 2012, 09:42:31 AM » |
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Or not...  We are at just about four months now. Claim was received in Milwaukee on March 30th. Submitted the further info requested, received in Kentucky at the processing center June 6. Then I faxed it July 2. Spoke with a rep last week and he said it still doesn't show in the system, but that they may be working on it, just did not scan yet. He sent an inquiry checking on why the info has not been recorded yet. He said we should get a reply by mail. We are falling further and further behind. We have no savings and can barely meet our bills. I wonder if the hardship statement would help at all. It is great that there is a benefit like this for needy veterans like my husband but really sad that we have to wait so long to receive it that we are financially crushed.  The good thing about this pension, though, is that, if approved, it's retroactive to the date the VA received the application. It's just the juggling things until the decision is made that's hard. |
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vetwife
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« Reply #18 on: July 26, 2012, 11:58:44 AM » |
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Thanks Marp! |
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vetwife
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« Reply #19 on: July 31, 2012, 12:08:13 AM » |
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Latest update...We received a letter from Milwaukee Pension Center in reply to the inquiry the rep sent. It says they still have not received the requested further info, even though they received it on June 6 and it was faxed on July 2. It says if you have this info please fax it to-and goes on to give the fax number for Milwaukee office.
It is very confusing because the letter from Kentucky specifically said to send it back to them, which is what we did of course. And also faxed copies there too. I guess I should go ahead and fax copies to Milwaukee too. I am worried that they may deny the claim if they don't show that info as received.
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« Last Edit: July 31, 2012, 12:11:07 AM by vetwife »
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vetadmin
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« Reply #20 on: July 31, 2012, 07:58:14 AM » |
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Fax it to the Milwaukee office as well. If you can get confirmation of being received, get that.
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vetwife
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« Reply #21 on: July 31, 2012, 10:47:49 AM » |
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Thank you very much. I will fax it today. Because of your good suggestions, I have made sure to get confirmation of all faxed and mailed items. |
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vetwife
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« Reply #22 on: August 10, 2012, 04:48:08 PM » |
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Spoke with rep today and the info that we faxed to Milwaukee Pension Center showed up! It never registered as received in Kentucky, when we sent and faxed it. Hope this is one more step in the right direction. We are in month five now. Thanks so much Debbie! |
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« Last Edit: August 10, 2012, 04:50:03 PM by vetwife »
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vetadmin
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« Reply #23 on: August 10, 2012, 08:11:19 PM » |
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Well at least that is forward motion.
Fingers crossed!
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vetwife
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« Reply #24 on: September 03, 2012, 04:37:31 PM » |
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Five months under our belt waiting for my husbands claim now...sigh We had a call from the Kentucky processing center, the rep said everything "looked good" from their end. She said they only help with processing and forward the claim back to Milwaukee from there. It sounds like we have moved on to another phase. Hope it will bring good news soon. We need it soooo much. Now I really understand why Debbie said patience is needed to make it thru. Without Debbie and this website I don't know how I would have made it. Lots and lots of gratitude... |
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ppomer
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« Reply #25 on: September 03, 2012, 08:09:05 PM » |
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I submitted the application for A & A pension on August 27,2012 with the return receipt requested with the USPS. My question is, how long should I wait to contact the VA, and who do I contact ?
I sent my application to St. Paul Minnesota and I live in California. Also I am making Cobra payments for vision for both of us and I forgot to include that in the medical expense. I am also making payments on a dental bill for myself, should I include that? I wasnt real sure as to what to include for expenses.
Thank you for this website, it has been so informative. I basically did this on my own. Thank you for your time & assistance with this matter.
Pat
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vetadmin
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« Reply #26 on: September 04, 2012, 02:27:54 PM » |
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Pat,
At a minimum, 90 days. As long as you have confirmation that it was received.
Good luck with it all!
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Deni416
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« Reply #27 on: September 28, 2012, 03:55:43 PM » |
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Five months under our belt waiting for my husbands claim now...sigh We had a call from the Kentucky processing center, the rep said everything "looked good" from their end. She said they only help with processing and forward the claim back to Milwaukee from there. It sounds like we have moved on to another phase. Hope it will bring good news soon. We need it soooo much. Now I really understand why Debbie said patience is needed to make it thru. Without Debbie and this website I don't know how I would have made it. Lots and lots of gratitude... Similar to Vetwife, the claim I filed for my father for A & A was dated over six months ago, on 3/12/12. It went from St Paul to the Kentucky VDMAP processing center. Further paperwork that they requested, and 3rd party authorization and hardship requests, was received by them June 11. The 3rd party and hardship forms were also faxed to both St Paul and Kentucky. Numerous follow up calls showed both forms to be "seen" by the reps, but not input into the system. After more followups, inquiries were placed several times on each one. And more fax copies submitted, at their request. The third party auth form was finally ok'd on August 1. Inquiries for hardship are STILL pending as of Sept 28 (inquiries placed by the reps on June 11, Aug 1, and Aug 20, and a manager notified on 9/21). Each time I am told they have 48 hrs to input forms or so many business days to respond to me. I've yet to receive any call back. And now I can't get through to either the St Paul or Kentucky numbers no matter the time of day I try ("try back later"). Of course, the ebenefits website is not able to show anything about claim status either. Last week I was told my dad was still in the (first) developmental phase. Supposedly everything is in order. I've now contacted his senator to get help. I have worked for the VA for over 30 years, but this really takes the cake! My 91+ year old dad is trying to make it on his own with minimal caregiver hours, not trusting that the VA will come through for him. His congestive heart failure, history of falls in his home, and inability to care for himself are a real concern. Over 6 months wait WITH a hardship claim! Thanks for allowing me to vent. |
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vetwife
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« Reply #28 on: September 28, 2012, 04:43:58 PM » |
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Thanks for posting Deni416. I am sorry for your dad to be going thru this, as well as my husband and I.
Your story and timing are so closely related to ours. My husband is also quite ill with stroke, dementia, heart and more. He needs constant care. I had to quit my job to care for him so our finances have become extremely strained. He is 85 and a Korean War vet.
It seems like from posts here that six months is not so unusual. It is a pretty sad system to be stuck waiting in.
I know it is wishful thinking, but I pray that someday they will improve this process so that sick vets can receive their benefits before they have gone to the great beyond.
We certainly are not alone. Please post updates, as will I.
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maralina1
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« Reply #29 on: September 28, 2012, 06:01:01 PM » |
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Deni, have you tried the 1-877-294-6380 VA Pension Hotline?
If there is al long wait, the automated system will offer to schedule a callback appointment for you. A VA rep will call you back. You can schedule the day and time of day. Normally, they are able to call in 2 days.
Good luck
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