Pass it On!

It kind of sneaks up on you, I'm talking about OLD. You know it's just around the corner but somehow you keep taking shortcuts around Senior Citizen Blvd. We are on our way to old, a few blocks away but our parents are now living there. It's not the same neighborhood they enjoyed a few years ago when they were still independent, now there are hazards and pitfalls on every corner.

I want to tell you some valuable information that you may not be aware of. If you know someone who is now in need of assistance, they may be eligible for the Aid and Attendance Pension offered to Veterans who have served at least 90 days during a period of war. The pension provides $1600-$1900 monthly that can be used for home care, assisted living or nursing care. There are guidelines, one being they must have no more than $80,000 in assets, excluding their home and cars. Even that requirement allows the veteran to gift their savings to a relative for safekeeping, until they need it at a later date, with NO penalty or time restriction. Medicaid has a 5 year "look-back" on gifting, meaning you must gift your money 5 full years before you need nursing home care.

This VA benefit isn't new, but many never know of it's existence. It's actually been an entitlement for 60 years to veterans and their surviving spouses. Please pass this along to anyone you know that's facing these hard times. Read more about the Aid and Attendance Pension. Call or visit your Veterans Aid Benefits office for more information or an appointment.

From VeteransAid.org...

"The Veterans Administration offers Aid and Attendance as part of an "Improved Pension" Benefit that is largely unknown. This Improved Pension allows for Veterans and surviving spouses who require the regular attendance of another person to assist in eating, bathing, dressing, undressing, medication dosing, or taking care of the needs of nature to receive additional monetary benefits. It also includes individuals who are blind or a patient in a nursing home because of mental or physical incapacity. Assisted care in an Assisted Living facility also qualifies. This most important benefit is overlooked by many families with Veterans or surviving spouses who need additional monies to help care for ailing parents or loved ones. This is a "Pension Benefit" and IS NOT dependent upon service-related injuries for compensation. Aid and Attendance can help pay for care in the home, Nursing Home or Assisted Living facility. A Veteran is eligible for up to $1,632 per month, while a surviving spouse is eligible for up to $1,055 per month. A Veteran with a Spouse is eligible for up to $1,949 per month*."