A Special Veterans Day Message for Family Caregivers
When I ask people looking after elderly veterans (and their spouses) why they don’t apply for VA Pension Aid and Attendance benefits, I often hear things like this:
I didn't know there was such a thing.
It will be too hard.
It will take too long.
My loved one won’t qualify, so why bother?
No one ever gets these benefits, so why try?
If someone you love might be eligible for VA Pension Aid and Attendance, but you haven’t applied because you agree with any of the previous statements, please reconsider.
It’s no secret that the process of applying for and qualifying for VA benefits can be very challenging. It’s a given that the VA’s bureaucracy makes things harder than they need to be. There is no shortage of horror stories about lengthy delays, lost information, and senseless denials. It’s no wonder so many people want to quit before they even start.
Very few things are certain in this life. If you apply for VA Pension Aid and Attendance benefits, you might get them—and you might not. However, if you don’t apply, you have no chance of getting them.
The financial consequences of missing out on benefits your loved one might qualify for can be significant. In 2023, a single veteran may qualify for as much as $2,229 per month. A veteran with a spouse may qualify for as much as $2,642 per month. A surviving spouse may qualify for as much as $1,432 per month. Let's say that the person who qualifies lives ten more years. At these monthly rates, you don't have to be a math major to see that ten years of benefits adds up. For example, at 2023 rates, a surviving spouse who qualifies would receive $17,184 per year. That's $171,840 over ten years. The amounts for single veterans and married veterans are even higher.
What do you have to lose by applying? You might lose a little time, but would that be so bad? The worst thing the VA can do is say no, and if that happens, you can appeal their decision if you believe the VA made a mistake. Unfortunately, the VA makes a lot of mistakes, most likely due to the sheer volume of claims they process.
Filing a VA Pension Aid and Attendance claim may seem like a roll of the dice, but it’s a chance you should take if you want the best for your elderly loved one. His or her quality of life might be hanging in the balance.
Take the time to find out whether your loved one might be eligible for VA Pension Aid and Attendance. If you don't know where to start or the process seems like too much to take on, you don’t have to go it alone. Kimbrough Law can walk you through the entire process.
Remember, if you don’t apply the answer will always be no. And that would be a tragedy if the answer could have been yes.
Kimbrough Law is here for you. Just give us a call at 706.850.6910 to get started.
