VA Aid and Attendance Benefits Lawyer Missouri
A veteran or their surviving spouse can be eligible for certain benefits through the Veteran’s Administration (VA) Aid & Attendance pension.
The benefits are designed to supplement the costs of care for veterans and their spouses. For 2012, the monthly benefit for a veteran with no dependents is $1,703 per month. For a veteran with dependents, the monthly benefit is $2,022 per month and the benefit for a surviving spouse is $1,094 per month.
There are several requirements to qualify.
Military Service Requirements
- The veteran must have served at least 90 days of active duty, one (1) day of which was during a war-time period.
- The veteran must have received a discharge other than dishonorable from the service.
Medical Requirements
The veteran must be able to show that they are in need of the “aid and attendance” of another person with respect to activities of daily living (ADLs), including bathing, feeding and so forth.
Financial Requirements
The veteran or the surviving spouse must have limited assets. A house, car and personal items are exempt and not included as assets and unlike Medicaid, there is no “look back period” for transfers, which means that with some planning, an applicant with too many assets can become qualified.
The veteran or the surviving spouse must also have limited income. The monthly income cannot exceed the cost of care. This is ordinarily not a problem for most applicants, especially applicants who will be or are currently paying out of pocket for assisted living.
How a VA Aid and Attendance Benefits Lawyer Can Help
VA Aid and Attendance benefits can seriously help those in need. If you’re struggling with a disability, or require daily care in order to perform basic tasks such as feeding and bathing yourself, you may be able to receive these benefits.
Unfortunately, there’s no such thing as free money. You’ll have to meet certain requirements if you want to receive these benefits, but a qualified VA aid and attendance benefits lawyer can help you navigate all the red tape. Read on to see how Legacy Law Center can help you get the care you deserve.
Why Do I Need a VA Aid and Attendance Benefits Lawyer?
The purpose of VA aid and attendance benefits are to provide financial assistance to those who are unable to take care of themselves. In order to receive these benefits, you’ll have to complete paperwork that proves that you require daily care, or nursing home care on account of a disability. However, if you experience difficulty managing your daily routine, odds are you won’t be able to fill out and submit the required forms to receive these benefits in the first place.
A VA aid and attendance benefits lawyer can help you submit the required paperwork so you can get the care you need. However, the VA will only allow this if you contact a VA-accredited attorney for assistance. Fortunately, the professionals at Legacy Law Center have you covered.
What Else Can My Lawyer Do for Me?
Your lawyer isn’t just there to help you with your paperwork. The application itself can be a frustrating process, but when you get in touch with a lawyer, you’re also improving your chances of satisfying the requirements for the benefits. While some requirements are non-negotiable (such as being disabled), your lawyer can help you satisfy others.
For example, the VA requires that you only own below a certain amount of money in assets. Certain assets are exempt, so your lawyer can help you push around what you own to ensure your asset value comes in well below the required threshold. For another example, keep in mind the VA will only grant you these benefits if your regular income is below the maximum amount of money that can be granted as aid and assistance benefits. Your lawyer can help you determine how much money you really make per month, as well as how your regular expenses and disabilities affect your earning power.
Get in Touch with Us Today
At Legacy Law Center, we’re committed to ensuring you get the care and compensation you deserve. VA aid and assistance benefits may be a way for you to regain some kind of financial stability and independence, but it’s not the free money it sounds like. It can require frustrating paperwork, and it calls for the touch of an experienced legal professional who can ensure your claim gets processed. It’s not an ideal situation for anyone, especially if you’re struggling to perform regular tasks.
Get in touch with us today, and see how a VA aid and attendance benefits lawyer from our office can help make a difference.
