WORKING TOGETHER TO HELP VETERANS

1. WORKING TOGETHER TO HELP VETERANS

2. Access to VA Benefits presented by: Cheryl Beck, PCOS VBA Regional Office in every state. • OEF/OIF/OND Advocates at every VA Medical Center • Wounded Warrior Liaisons • Vet Centers & Voc. Rehab • Social Security Administration • Community Resources

9. Service Connected Terms • Acute disability – short duration, clear without residuals • Common cold, Flu • Chronic disability – long term duration, never goes away • Hypertension, Arthritis, Migraines • In the Line of Duty – injury or disease incurred while serving on active duty

11. VA Compensation – Current Rates S = Spouse C = Child(ren) Rates effective Dec. 1, 2012

12. Special Monthly Compensation (38 CFR 3.350) • Additional compensation for the loss or loss of use of specific organs or extremities. • Loss, or loss of use, is either an amputation or having no effective remaining function • Special Monthly Compensation may be granted for: Loss, or Loss of use, of a hand or foot Complete loss, or loss of use, of both buttocks Immobility of a joint or paralysis Loss, or loss of use, of a reproductive organ Inability to communicate by speech Loss of sight of an eye (only light perception) Deafness of both ears (absence of air and bone conduction) Loss of a percentage of tissue from a single breast, or both breasts, from Mastectomy or Radiation Treatment

13. Aid and Attendance or Housebound Benefits The veteran and/or spouse may qualify for Aid and Attendance or Housebound benefits if he/she requires the regular aid of another person in order to perform personal functions required in everyday living, or is bedridden, a patient in a nursing home due to mental or physical incapacity, blind, or permanently and substantially confined to his/her immediate premises because of a disability.

14. VA PENSION for Nonservice- Connected Disabilities

15. What is VA Pension? VA Pensionis a benefit paid to wartime veterans with limited income, and who are permanently and totally disabled or age 65 or older.

16. What is the difference between VA Compensation and VA Pension? Compensation– Monthly VA benefits paid to veterans who are at least 10% disabled as a result of their military service. Pension– Monthly VA benefits paid to wartime veterans with limited income who are permanently and totally disabled or at least 65 years old.

18. WARTIME SERVICE

19. Pension • Income-Based Benefit • Following chart shows the monthly rate for veterans found eligible and who have no source of countable family income that would reduce the rate • If there is countable family income, the monthly rate is reduced, dollar-for-dollar, by the amount of countable family income

20. PensionSample Annual Rates Rates effective Dec. 1, 2012

21. What is countable income for pension eligibility purposes? • Income received by the veteran and his or her dependents, if any, from most sources, including earnings, disability and retirement payments, interest and dividends, and net income from farming or business. • All of a child's income is presumed available to or for the veteran.   VA may grant an exception in hardship cases.

22. How Does VA Calculate Annual Pension Benefit? • Totals all countable income • Subtracts all deductions • Deducts remaining countable income from the appropriate annual pension limit which is determined by the number of dependents, if any, and whether or not veteran is entitled to housebound or aid and attendance benefits • Divides net amount by 12 and rounds amount down to the nearest dollar

23. What areAid and AttendanceandHouseboundbenefits? • Aid and Attendance (A&A) and Housebound are VA benefits paid in addition to monthly pension.   • These benefits may not be paid without eligibility to pension. (Must apply for this additional benefit.) • A veteran cannot receive both Aid and Attendance and Housebound benefits at the same time.

24. Additional considerations • A veteran cannot receive a VA nonservice-connected pension and service-connected compensation at the same time. However, if both are applied for, VA will pay whichever benefit is the greater amount.

25. Net worth . . .$$$ • Includes the cash and the value of assets of the veteran and his or her dependents.   • Excludes the veteran's residence and a reasonable lot area. • The current limit on net worth for a veteran and his dependents is $80,000. Net worth cannot be “excessive.” 

26. Effect of net worth on eligibility . . . • The decision as to whether a claimant's net worth is excessive depends on the facts of each individual case.   All net worth must be reported and VA will determine if a claimant's assets are sufficiently large that the claimant could live off these assets for a reasonable period of time.   • VA's needs-based programs are not intended to protect substantial assets or build up an estate for the benefit of heirs.

27. $90 Rate • VA pays a special $90 monthly rate to pension-eligible veterans or surviving spouses with no dependents who receive Medicaid-covered nursing home care.  • These funds are available for the beneficiary’s personal use and may NOT be used to offset the cost of his or her care.

28. What is VA Death Pension? VA Death Pensionis a benefit paid to low income surviving spouses and eligible dependents of deceased wartime veterans.

31. VA Home Loan Guaranty • Buy a home. • Build a home • Refinance existing loan • MUST OCCUPY THE PROPERTY • Problems making payments 1-877-827-3702

32. VA Home Loan Guaranty • Lenders make the loan and VA guarantees it • No downpayment • Must qualify for loan with sufficient income and satisfactory credit • No prepayment penalty

36. In accordance with title 38, United States Code (U.S.C.), sections 2303 (a) and (b), effective October 1, 2011, burial and plot benefits are increased from $300 to $700 for burial reimbursement for Veterans who died while properly hospitalized by VA, and plot reimbursement for Veterans who are entitled to receive compensation or pension benefits, or are otherwise eligible for a plot allowance.

40. Questions?